Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is a registered nursing assistant and how to become one
Registered nursing assistants (RNA) work under the supervision of registered nurses and provide basic patient care. They assist with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and feeding patients, and may help with mobility. RNAs communicate patient needs to the nursing staff, monitor changes in patient condition, and provide emotional support to patients and their families. They play a crucial role in providing compassionate care to patients in a variety of healthcare settings including hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies.
What general advice would you give to a registered nursing assistant?
Jeanne Martin PhD, MSN, RN, CNE
Clinical Associate Professor
Avg. Salary $50,644
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 9%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.93%
Asian 7.48%
Black or African American 7.96%
Hispanic or Latino 14.38%
Unknown 4.97%
White 64.27%
Genderfemale 85.96%
male 14.04%
Age - 41American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 41Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a registered nursing assistant?
Pros
Job stability and demand
Access to continuing education and training programs
Opportunity to work with a diverse patient population
Chance to develop strong relationships with patients and families
Wide range of job responsibilities and duties
Cons
Physically and mentally demanding work
Exposure to contagious diseases and illnesses
Emotionally taxing patient interactions
Risk of injury from lifting, moving, or repositioning patients
Limited autonomy in decision-making processes
Registered nursing assistant career paths
Key steps to become a registered nursing assistant
Explore registered nursing assistant education requirements
Start to develop specific registered nursing assistant skills
Skills Percentages Patients 20.19% BLS 11.71% Surgery 6.94% Quality Care 5.36% Home Health 4.22% Complete relevant registered nursing assistant training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New registered nursing assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a registered nursing assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real registered nursing assistant resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed registered nursing assistant usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed registered nursing assistant in most of states. 25 states require registered nursing assistants to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License url Alaska Degree required Third-party exam required Nurse Aide Arkansas Specific course required Both state and third-party exams required Nursing Assistant (Certified) California Specific course required State exam required Certified Nurse Assistant Colorado Specific course required State exam required Nurse Aide Connecticut Specific course required State exam required Nurses Aide Gain additional registered nursing assistant certifications
More About CertificationsRegistered nursing assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific registered nursing assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for registered nursing assistants include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.
Research registered nursing assistant duties and responsibilities
- Train in Phlebotomy, CPR, EKG, blood draws and train new staff.
- Provide ACLS care to patients.
- Learned how to use a Hoyer lift, sit-to-stand, and automatic blood pressure machine.
- Select to train new staff in resident care, resulting in more team cohesion/increas collaboration and compassion for residents.
Prepare your registered nursing assistant resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your registered nursing assistant resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a registered nursing assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable registered nursing assistant resume templates
Build a professional registered nursing assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your registered nursing assistant resume.
Apply for registered nursing assistant jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a registered nursing assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first registered nursing assistant job
Are you a registered nursing assistant?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average registered nursing assistant salary
The average registered nursing assistant salary in the United States is $50,644 per year or $24 per hour. Registered nursing assistant salaries range between $31,000 and $80,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do registered nursing assistants rate their job?
Registered nursing assistant reviews
Very fulfilling and rewarding
Hard work, not enough staff, mandated a lot. Under appreciated!
How employers and our patients or clients appreciate what we do for them
What is there not to like? It's such a rewarding job!
The ability to show care, love & compassion to those whom have none or family can't give time to show any. It's like being the missing piece to a puzzle we all if lucky enough get to live long enough to experience. It's making someones day by just remembering to watch their hands and face before/ after meals. To give proper attention to teeth, to let dressing am or pm still br a choice they make. I know im a good human with an oversized caring heart and although sometimes its exhausting working extra hrs or having to do all or extra work on short staffed days it's worth it. And slow and steady wins the day. They are people whom have gone through & experienced more then we will ever get too.
All the changes with certification and how you can be on the floor of a facility and know not even common sense. How they have hospitality aides, hca, and people going to start a free class. Back in the day we were called glorified babysitters I never agreed until we have just a warm body with no license(s) whom can't do anything even as small as getting ice waters. I've worked hard tobe where i am and these people take a computer class and pass we would call that our continuing education hrs but what do i know after 23 yrs. I once REALLY loved my job and still do but it's almost like being in grade school with people who have phone's lol It bothers me that many new or non licensed bodies have the audacity to come in these facilities and act like the residents are on their time! We are in their home to help provide ADL's amongst other things like them still trying to be & keep their independence. The ridiculous amount they have to spend to have the care they get from some people makes me wanna die young!! Our system sucks unless its the government making the dollar. I just wish they'd spend an 8 hr shift in these facilities before signing off on some rules & regs. Im not political by any means but those who take the dollar should get to live and experience a day of what our elderly lived ones are forced to experience daily , monthly, yearly! In fact the state hasn't even done the 18 month annual expectation in over 2 yrs at the place im contracted at 👍way to keep up on stuff and by stuff I mean our elderly living human beans. People who deserve to be served on gold plates or at least gave better food then what they serve daycares and if not that at least for it to be at high minimum warm food !! In 23 yrs of being a CNA I can only try to write a book to get out all the things I've seen ,heard. & witnessed in the years.
Updated January 8, 2025
