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How to hire a geriatric nursing assistant

Geriatric nursing assistant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring geriatric nursing assistants in the United States:

  • There are currently 956,639 geriatric nursing assistants in the US, as well as 137,681 job openings.
  • Geriatric nursing assistants are in the highest demand in Baltimore, MD, with 92 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a geriatric nursing assistant is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new geriatric nursing assistant to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a geriatric nursing assistant, step by step

To hire a geriatric nursing assistant, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a geriatric nursing assistant:

Here's a step-by-step geriatric nursing assistant hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a geriatric nursing assistant job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new geriatric nursing assistant
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a geriatric nursing assistant do?

A geriatric nursing assistant is responsible for assisting elderly patients with their daily activities in a health care institution or private household setting. Geriatric nursing assistants monitor the patients' conditions, maintain an organized record of medical charts, administer medications, and update the attending physician for any health concerns. They also guide the patients with their doctor appointments, process medical documents, and coordinate with medical staff for medical procedures and payments. A geriatric nursing assistant must have excellent communication and organizational skills to ensure high-quality care services for the patients and help them improve their lifestyle.

Learn more about the specifics of what a geriatric nursing assistant does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a geriatric nursing assistant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A geriatric nursing assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, geriatric nursing assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of geriatric nursing assistants.

    Type of Geriatric Nursing AssistantDescriptionHourly rate
    Geriatric Nursing AssistantNursing assistants, sometimes called nursing aides, help provide basic care for patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas... Show more$12-22
    Medical InternshipWhen it comes to a medical internship, one of the primary duties is to attend to the patients' needs while under a more experienced physician's supervision. During this period, the medical interns must rotate in various fields of specialties or departments for exposure... Show more$15-37
    Medical ScribeAs a medical scribe, their main responsibility is to follow a physician's daily work and do charting of patient encounters in real-time by accessing their medical electronic health record (EHR). It is their duty to make sure the patient schedules are followed, generate referral letters for physicians and manage and sort medical documents within the EHR... Show more$11-18
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patients
    • Rehabilitation
    • Vital Signs
    • Home Health
    • CPR
    • Medical Equipment
    • Quality Care
    • Nursing Home
    • Hoyer
    • Compassion
    • Care Plan
    • Blood Pressure
    • Senior Care
    • Patient Rooms
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage memory unity within facility.
    • Commend for teamwork and compassion towards the residents.
    • Transport patients to the ICU or emergency department.
    • Maintain CPR certificate while practicing in a healthcare facility.
    • Complete other tasks such as feeding and assisting with activities of daily living (ADL).
    • Perform ADL's such as feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting, and personal hygiene.
    More geriatric nursing assistant duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your geriatric nursing assistant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A geriatric nursing assistant can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, geriatric nursing assistants' average salary in utah is 40% less than in hawaii.
    • Seniority. Entry-level geriatric nursing assistants 46% less than senior-level geriatric nursing assistants.
    • Certifications. A geriatric nursing assistant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a geriatric nursing assistant's salary.

    Average geriatric nursing assistant salary

    $16.63hourly

    $34,595 yearly

    Entry-level geriatric nursing assistant salary
    $25,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 18, 2026

    Average geriatric nursing assistant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$38,847$19
    2Maryland$37,407$18
    3Illinois$29,695$14
    4Arkansas$28,642$14

    Average geriatric nursing assistant salary by company

  4. Writing a geriatric nursing assistant job description

    A geriatric nursing assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a geriatric nursing assistant job description:

    Geriatric nursing assistant job description example

    Now Offering a $2000 Sign on Bonus!

    We currently have the following openings:

    • Part Time Days (7 am – 3 pm)
    • Full and Part Time Evenings (3 pm – 11:30 pm)
    • Full and Part Time Nights (11 pm – 7:30 am)

    Now Offering Daily Pay! Work Today, Get Paid Tomorrow!

    New Increased Starting Wages - earn up to $17.25 per hour based on experience!

    We offer a comprehensive benefits package:
    Daily Pay * Tuition Reimbursement * Great health plans * Uniforms * Company paid life insurance & much, much more

    PURPOSE/BELIEF STATEMENT:

    The position of GNA Geriatric Nursing Assistant exists to provide routine nursing and personal care for residents to assure that the highest degree of quality resident care is maintained at all times. This position must work effectively with team members in ensuring that work is accomplished and quality care is delivered while supporting their team members and celebrating team successes. While focusing on delivering quality resident care, the position must also manage the resources that are available to them in their job.

    QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

    • High school graduate or G. E. D. equivalent
    • Graduate of an approved Nurse Aide Training Program or be eligible to enter such a program and graduate and pass a state test within 120 days from date of employment.

    Benefits

    As a CommuniCare employee you will enjoy competitive wages and PTO plans. We offer full time employees a menu of benefit options from life and disability plans to medical, dental, and vision coverage from quality benefit carriers. We also offer 401(k) with employer match and Flexible Spending Accounts.

    About Us

    A family-owned company, we have grown to become one of the nation’s largest providers of post-acute care, which includes skilled nursing rehabilitation centers, long-term care centers, assisted living communities, independent rehabilitation centers, and long-term acute care hospitals (LTACH). Since 1984, we have provided superior, comprehensive management services for the development and management of adult living communities. We have a single job description at CommuniCare, to reach out with our hearts and touch the hearts of others. Through this effort we create Caring Communities where staff, residents, clients, and family members care for and about one another.

    #TerrapinsWest

  5. Post your job

    To find geriatric nursing assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any geriatric nursing assistants they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level geriatric nursing assistants with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your geriatric nursing assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit geriatric nursing assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit geriatric nursing assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new geriatric nursing assistant

    Once you've found the geriatric nursing assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new geriatric nursing assistant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a geriatric nursing assistant?

Recruiting geriatric nursing assistants involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $34,595 per year for a geriatric nursing assistant, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for geriatric nursing assistants in the US typically range between $12 and $22 an hour.

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