Certified Nursing Assistant

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in assisted living facilities function as the primary care providers and the daily face of support for residents. Unlike clinical hospital environments or high-acuity nursing homes, an assisted living setting emphasizes supporting independent individuals who only need light-to-moderate assistance with daily living.

The comprehensive template below details the standard responsibilities, qualifications, and physical demands of the role.

Job Title: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) – Assisted Living

Reports To

RN Supervisor

Position Type

Full-time / Part-time / Casual (Includes rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays)

Job Summary

The Certified Nursing Assistant delivers high-quality, compassionate personal care and companion support to senior residents in accordance with their individualized service plans. The primary objective is to maintain resident safety, promote independence, preserve dignity, and ensure comfort in a home-like residential environment. [, , , ]

Core Responsibilities

• Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Assist residents with personal hygiene, including bathing, showering, grooming, dressing, and toileting or incontinence care.
• Mobility & Transfers: Assist residents with transferring in and out of beds, chairs, and wheelchairs, with use of mechanical lifts. Escort and transport residents to dining halls, physical therapy, and social activities.
• Nutrition Support: Deliver prepared meals, assist residents with eating when necessary, and carefully document food and liquid intake.
• Health & Vital Signs Monitoring: Measure, record, and track vital signs—including blood pressure, pulse, weight, and temperature—and report anomalies directly to the supervising nurse.
• Clinical Observation: Monitor residents for subtle changes in physical condition, behavioral shifts, signs of infection, or skin breakdown (such as bedsores), and report observations immediately.
• Environment Maintenance: Keep resident suites tidy, change soiled bed linens, manage laundry, and ensure pathways are safe and clear of hazards.
• Medication Assistance: Issue medication reminders or assist with self-administration of medications under nurse supervision, depending on state regulations and facility policy.
• Medication Administration: Administer medications per EMAR and ETAR.
• Documentation: Consistently log care milestones, completed tasks, and behavioral notes using electronic health records (EHR) software or manual charts.
• Companionship: Build strong, personal relationships with residents, providing emotional support, reassurance, and validation to ease anxiety or loneliness.

Qualifications & Requirements

• This position requires the use of mechanical lifts: You must be at least 18 years of age to operate mechanical lifts.
• Licensure: Active certification in good standing on the State Nursing Assistant Registry.
• Certifications: Current Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR certification.
• Experience: Prior experience working with geriatric populations or individuals with dementia/Alzheimer's is highly preferred.
• Clearances: Successful completion of state-mandated criminal background checks, drug screenings, and health clearances (such as TB testing).

Essential Skills & Attributes

• Compassion & Patience: Ability to maintain a warm, empathetic, and professional demeanor when dealing with fragile or frustrated residents.
• Strong Communication: Effective verbal and written English skills to communicate clearly with residents, families, and healthcare teams.
• Adaptability: Flexibility to handle unpredictable schedules, rapid changes in resident health status, or rotating floor demands.

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of standing, walking, bending, stooping, and reaching.
• Ability to safely lift, push, pull, or carry up to 100 pounds independently.
• Physical stamina to safely perform two-person transfers or manipulate mobility equipment like Hoyer lifts.

Pay: $21.00 - $26.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20.0 – 40.0 per week

Benefits

• Continuing education credits
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Paid training
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person