As a certified nursing assistant (CNA) who loves to provide the hands-on patient care so central to your role, you may be considering a move to a doctor’s office, clinic, urgent care center, or other outpatient facility. You’ll find many choices, as outpatient CNA jobs are available in a wide range of care settings and in every state.
If you’re ready to find a new job that is the best fit for your life and career, IntelyCare has the latest full-time, part-time, contract, temporary, and per diemCNA jobs. Outpatient and in-patient facilities are waiting for you. Get started today.
Education and Skills for CNA Outpatient Jobs
Every CNA starts their career by completing a certified nursing assistant program and passing any certification exam required by the state they work in. Some CNAs then go on to specialize in a particular area like critical care or home health. CNAs may be drawn to outpatient care since the hours are often more predictable and the pace can allow nursing assistants to really connect with their patients.
However, this doesn’t mean you won’t need all your skills to meet the challenges a varied patient population can bring. As you perform tasks like taking vitals, maintaining a safe and clean area for patients, and helping the team execute care plans, you’ll want to use your communication, time management, and critical thinking skills.
Jobs may require basic life support (BLS) certification or the completion of mandatory reporter training. You can review a general CNA job description for more ideas on what employers might be looking for.
Outpatient CNA Resume and Cover Letter
If you’d like to stand out when you apply to the outpatient CNA jobs that most interest you, there are some steps you can take to make sure your CNA resume catches the attention of potential employers.
First, you should try and customize your resume to the exact job you’re applying for. If the job you’re excited about is looking for a CNA who can be responsible for pre-visit planning, as well as communicating discharge instructions, use those exact terms to highlight your experience working with patients before and after their visits or procedures.
Your cover letter shouldn’t just repeat the skills described in your resume; it should tell the story of how you use those skills in your everyday work. For example, how do you strive to bring empathic communication to each patient interaction? Those are the kinds of details that will help your application stand out in a crowd.
Interviewing for a CNA Outpatient Role
Preparation is crucial when you have an interview scheduled. Spend some time researching the employer and getting ready for the questions you could be asked by looking at sample interview questions for CNAs. The more prep you do, the more confident you’ll feel come crunch time. Remember to put together some questions of your own to ask your prospective employer. This will show you have put thought and energy into your interview and will no doubt do the same on the job.
Outpatient CNA Salary
The average annual salary for CNAs is about $39,610. However, your care setting, experience, location, and certifications can also affect your base pay. Perhaps you’d be willing to relocate for a great outpatient CNA job? If so, you should know these states have some of the highest average salaries for CNAs:
Want to Find Great Outpatient CNA Jobs Near You?
There are so many options for CNAs who are looking to practice in an outpatient care setting, be it a surgery center, doctor’s office, or clinic. But if you want even more choices for your next great job, our nationwide job board hosts a wide range of CNA jobs in just about every kind of facility, too. Start your search today.