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Registered nursing assistant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Marina Orobinskaia,

Marina Orobinskaia

Registered nursing assistant example skills

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical registered nursing assistant skills. We ranked the top skills for registered nursing assistants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 20.2% of registered nursing assistant resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a registered nursing assistant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 registered nursing assistant skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how registered nursing assistants use patients:

Assisted patients with their post-operation recovery; applied sterile dressings and maintained drainage devices
Traveled to medical facilities throughout Michigan completing psychiatric testing on geriatric patients.

2. BLS

Here's how registered nursing assistants use bls:

Provided BLS to employees within the company.

3. Surgery

Here's how registered nursing assistants use surgery:

Informed doctors and anesthesiologists of any pertinent information pertaining to patient and surgery to be performed.
Consulted and actively assisted in opening a freestanding surgery center as Director of Nursing.

4. Quality Care

Here's how registered nursing assistants use quality care:

Performed nursing assessment and delivered quality care for residents, including medication administration/monitoring and wound care.
Collaborated with other nursing staff to provide effective quality care

5. Home Health

Here's how registered nursing assistants use home health:

Provided superior home health care to people with varying ailments and needs in both home settings and long-term care facilities.
Certified Nursing Assistant with home health care and hospice care experience.

6. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how registered nursing assistants use cpr:

Nurse delegation courses CPR First Aid Mental Health
Trained in Phlebotomy, CPR, EKG, blood draws and train new staff .

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7. RNFA

Here's how registered nursing assistants use rnfa:

Graduated from the Registered Nurse First Assistant Program at UCLA Completed 150 hours as RNFA at the University of Washington Medical Center
Contracted to assist in variety of surgical procedures * RNFA call for Labor and Delivery

8. Infection Control

Infection control describes the principles and practices used in hospitals and other healthcare facilities to control and minimize the spread of infections with the aim of lowering rates of infection. Infection control refers to the process of detecting and controlling pathogens in order to reduce their spread.

Here's how registered nursing assistants use infection control:

Practice safety, environment and infection controlled and quality assurance method.
Follow isolation precautions and infection control procedures.

9. Surgical Procedures

Surgical procedures include the list of tasks that are done while doing surgery. Usually, a surgical procedure involves an incision with instruments, performed to repair damage or heal the disease in a living body. Surgical procedures are performed by trained individuals such as surgeons, doctors, and nurses.

Here's how registered nursing assistants use surgical procedures:

Coordinated outpatient services in for the veteran population First Assisted in surgical procedures Coordinated preoperative teaching program for Total Joint Replacements
Assisted in ophthalmic surgical procedures (including laser calibration and sterilization techniques).

10. Suturing

Here's how registered nursing assistants use suturing:

Assisted with all Laparoscopic and General Procedures, including suturing and cauterization of tissue.
Performed procedures in the first assistant role under the direct supervision of the surgeon Assisted surgeon with suturing and closures

11. Rehabilitation

Here's how registered nursing assistants use rehabilitation:

Provided patient education one-on-one teaching related to cardiac rehabilitation, nutrition, exercise, lifestyle and social-emotional needs.
Orchestrated and presented classroom instruction and engaged in cardiac rehabilitation exercise sessions.

12. Direct Patient Care

Here's how registered nursing assistants use direct patient care:

Direct patient care of nursing home residents including taking vitals, administering oxygen, and assisting with activities of daily living.
Provided direct patient care and care plan implementation for over 90 residents in a long term care assisted living facility.

13. EKG

Here's how registered nursing assistants use ekg:

Monitored Cardiac monitors, did EKG's 12 lead, and on occasion transferred to the CVOR to relieve Unit Techs.
Work in the emergency room assisting Doctors and RN'S, performing EKG'S and procedure setup.

14. Electrocardiogram

Here's how registered nursing assistants use electrocardiogram:

Conducted medical tests including: Blood Drawing and Electrocardiogram analysis.
Obtain electrocardiogram and inform physicians of any abnormal findings.

15. Medication Administration

Here's how registered nursing assistants use medication administration:

Care included: medication administration and monitoring, transportation, assisted with activities of daily living.
Practiced medication administration in the nursing rehab facility and medical-surgical unit at the local hospital.

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What skills help Registered Nursing Assistants find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on registered nursing assistant resumes?

Marina Orobinskaia

Program Coordinator, Bellevue College

Experience, good program attended.

What soft skills should all registered nursing assistants possess?

Marina Orobinskaia

Program Coordinator, Bellevue College

Friendliness, positive energy, leadership.

What hard/technical skills are most important for registered nursing assistants?

Marina Orobinskaia

Program Coordinator, Bellevue College

There are no more or less important skills. You need to learn all of them to excellence and what is most important - use your critical thinking when you do them.

What registered nursing assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Jeanne Martin PhD, MSN, RN, CNE

Clinical Associate Professor

As the nursing shortage intensifies, health care facilities are increasing their hourly wages and the supplemental wages of working off-shifts or weekends. They are enticing new graduates with sign-on bonuses that they receive in portions over a specified period of time (like 1-2 years). Many facilities are also offering tuition reimbursements so new graduates can pay off their student loans. I am sure there are other measures but these are the ones I hear most about from our graduates.

What technical skills for a registered nursing assistant stand out to employers?

Bethany Nasser Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Endicott College

They will need medical training.

Do you want to know more?

List of registered nursing assistant skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a registered nursing assistant resume and required skills for a registered nursing assistant to have include:

Patients
BLS
Surgery
Quality Care
Home Health
CPR
RNFA
Infection Control
Surgical Procedures
Suturing
Rehabilitation
Direct Patient Care
EKG
Electrocardiogram
Medication Administration
Customer Service

ICU
OSHA
Family Education
Test Results
Vital Signs
Compassion
Direct Supervision
Blood Pressure
Catheter
Patient Charts
Resuscitation
IV
Medication Management
Advanced Life Support
Visualization
Emergency Situations

Registered Nursing
Patient Education
Splints
Retractors
Good Interpersonal
Wound Closure
EMR
Orthopedics
HIPAA
Physical Therapy
Physician Orders
ADL
Medical-Surgical Nursing
GYN

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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