Are you struggling to secure interviews for Nursing Assistant positions despite your compassionate care approach and healthcare experience? The nursing assistance field in Australia is both demanding and rewarding, with employers seeking assistants who can provide quality patient care while demonstrating clinical competence, empathy, and the ability to work effectively under pressure in diverse healthcare settings. Whether you’re transitioning from personal care roles, advancing from healthcare support positions, or entering the field with relevant qualifications, crafting a compelling resume is essential to showcase your ability to support registered nurses and deliver exceptional patient care.
Nursing Assistants play a crucial role in Australia’s healthcare system, providing direct patient care and support across hospitals, aged care facilities, and community health services. According to the Australian Department of Health, demand for skilled nursing assistants continues to grow as the population ages and healthcare needs become more complex. This comprehensive guide will help you create a powerful Nursing Assistant resume that highlights your clinical skills, patient care experience, and commitment to supporting healthcare teams in delivering quality patient outcomes.
Nursing Assistant Resume (Text Version)
Michelle Parker
Nursing Assistant
📧 [email protected] | 📞 0434 567 890
🏠 Brisbane, Queensland 4000
💼 linkedin.com/in/michelleparker-nursingassistant
AHPRA Registration: NAS0123456789
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Compassionate Nursing Assistant with 5+ years of experience providing direct patient care across acute care, aged care, and community health settings. Proven track record of supporting 40+ patients daily while maintaining 98% medication administration accuracy and achieving consistently high patient satisfaction ratings. Expert in personal care, vital signs monitoring, and clinical documentation with strong commitment to patient dignity, safety, and evidence-based nursing practices.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Nursing Assistant | Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital | June 2021 – Present
• Provide direct nursing care for 25+ patients across medical and surgical wards, supporting registered nurses with complex care requirements
• Monitor vital signs, assist with personal hygiene, and administer medications under RN supervision, maintaining 99% accuracy in documentation
• Implement infection control protocols and assist with wound care procedures, contributing to 15% reduction in healthcare-associated infections
• Support patient mobility and rehabilitation activities, helping 85% of patients achieve discharge goals within expected timeframes
• Mentor newly graduated nursing assistants and support students during clinical placements, improving team competency and patient care quality
Nursing Assistant | Regis Aged Care | March 2019 – May 2021
• Delivered personalised care for 30+ elderly residents with diverse health conditions including dementia, diabetes, and mobility limitations
• Assisted with activities of daily living including bathing, dressing, feeding, and medication administration following individual care plans
• Maintained detailed resident records and communicated changes in condition to registered nurses and medical staff promptly
• Facilitated social activities and therapeutic programs, contributing to improved resident engagement and quality of life outcomes
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary team including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and family members to optimise resident care
Personal Care Assistant | Blue Care Community Services | January 2017 – February 2019
• Provided in-home care services for clients with chronic conditions, disabilities, and post-acute care needs across Brisbane region
• Performed personal care tasks including showering, grooming, and medication reminders while promoting client independence
• Monitored client wellbeing and reported concerns to case managers and registered nurses, ensuring continuity of care
• Maintained client confidentiality and dignity while building therapeutic relationships that improved care compliance by 90%
• Completed detailed care documentation and participated in care plan reviews with healthcare team members
EDUCATION
Certificate III in Health Services Assistance | TAFE Queensland | 2018
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) | TAFE Queensland | 2016
Certificate II in Community Services | TAFE Queensland | 2015
KEY SKILLS
• Patient Care & Support • Vital Signs Monitoring • Medication Administration • Personal Hygiene Assistance
• Wound Care & Dressing Changes • Infection Control Protocols • Clinical Documentation • Patient Mobility Support
• Therapeutic Communication • Family & Carer Liaison • Emergency Response • Pain Assessment
• Dementia Care Strategies • Cultural Competency • Team Collaboration • Quality Improvement
CERTIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• AHPRA Registration as Nursing Assistant (Current)
• First Aid & CPR Certification (Current)
• Manual Handling Certificate
• Dementia Care Training
• Infection Prevention & Control Training
What is The Best Format for a Nursing Assistant Resume?
The reverse chronological format is the most effective choice for Nursing Assistant resumes, as it clearly demonstrates your healthcare experience progression and increasing clinical responsibilities. This format allows employers to quickly assess your most recent patient care achievements while understanding your professional development journey through various healthcare settings and patient populations.
Format specifications:
- Font: Use professional fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica that maintain readability and convey healthcare professionalism
- Font size: 11-12pt for body text, 14-16pt for your name, 12-13pt for section headings
- Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides to ensure clean presentation and adequate white space
- File type: Submit as PDF unless the employer specifically requests another format
- Length: 1-2 pages for most Nursing Assistants, focusing on relevant healthcare experience and clinical competencies
Essential resume sections:
Header: Include your full name with nursing credentials, professional title, phone number, professional email address, city/state, LinkedIn profile URL, and AHPRA registration number if applicable.
Professional Summary: A compelling 3-4 line overview highlighting your years of nursing assistant experience, patient care specialisations, key achievements, and core competencies in healthcare delivery.
Professional Experience: List positions in reverse chronological order, emphasising patient outcomes, clinical skills, safety achievements, and collaborative teamwork contributions.
Education: Include relevant qualifications, certifications, and professional development, particularly those related to nursing, healthcare assistance, or patient care.
Additional sections: Key skills, professional certifications, ongoing education, and relevant achievements that demonstrate your expertise in nursing assistance and patient advocacy.
What Experience Should be on Your Nursing Assistant Resume?
Your Nursing Assistant resume should emphasise patient-centred achievements, clinical competency demonstrations, and healthcare team collaboration experiences that showcase your ability to provide safe, compassionate, and effective nursing care. Focus on experiences that demonstrate your capacity to support registered nurses, maintain patient safety standards, and contribute to positive healthcare outcomes.
Include experiences that showcase:
- Direct patient care and clinical support achievements
- Medication administration and documentation accuracy
- Patient safety and infection control compliance
- Collaborative teamwork with healthcare professionals
- Patient and family communication and education
- Quality improvement and clinical excellence contributions
Correct Example:
Nursing Assistant | Princess Alexandra Hospital | 2020 – Present
• Provide comprehensive nursing care for 30+ patients daily across orthopaedic and rehabilitation wards
• Administer medications and monitor vital signs under RN supervision, maintaining 100% accuracy in documentation over 2-year period
• Implement fall prevention strategies and mobility support programs, reducing patient falls by 40% during tenure
• Assist with wound care procedures and infection control protocols, contributing to ward-wide reduction in hospital-acquired infections
• Provide emotional support and patient education, achieving 95% patient satisfaction scores in feedback surveys
Incorrect Example:
Healthcare Worker | Hospital | 2020 – Present
• Helped patients with daily tasks
• Worked with nurses and doctors
• Gave medications to patients
• Kept records of patient information
• Followed hospital rules and procedures
Entry-Level Nursing Assistant Resume Samples (Experience)
For entry-level Nursing Assistants, focus on clinical placements, volunteer healthcare experience, relevant training, and any caring roles that demonstrate your potential for nursing excellence and patient advocacy.
Correct Entry-Level Example:
Graduate Nursing Assistant | Mater Health Services | Mar 2024 – Present
• Support registered nurses in providing patient care across general medical wards while completing graduate orientation program
• Assist with personal care, medication administration, and vital signs monitoring for 20+ patients under direct supervision
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation and participate in multidisciplinary ward rounds and care planning meetings
• Complete mandatory competency assessments in wound care, infection control, and patient handling with 100% pass rate
• Demonstrate commitment to professional development through additional training in dementia care and pain management
Clinical Placement Student | Gold Coast University Hospital | Aug – Nov 2023
• Completed 240 hours of supervised clinical practice across emergency, medical, and surgical departments
• Assisted with patient care activities including hygiene, mobility, and nutrition support under qualified nurse supervision
• Gained experience in clinical documentation, medication safety, and infection control protocols
• Received excellent feedback from supervising nurses for professionalism, empathy, and learning initiative
Incorrect Entry-Level Example:
New Nursing Assistant | Healthcare Facility | 2024 – Present
• Learning nursing assistant duties
• Help take care of patients
• Work with nursing staff
• Attend training and orientation
• Follow supervisor instructions
How to Write the Education Section for your Nursing Assistant Resume
The education section is crucial for Nursing Assistant positions, as it demonstrates your foundational knowledge in healthcare, patient care principles, and clinical skills required for safe nursing practice. Australian employers value candidates with relevant qualifications that combine theoretical health knowledge with practical patient care competencies and ethical nursing practice understanding.
Highlight qualifications that show your understanding of anatomy and physiology, infection control, medication safety, and patient communication. Include relevant coursework, clinical placements, and academic achievements that demonstrate your commitment to professional nursing standards. Ongoing professional development in areas such as dementia care, wound management, or palliative care should also be prominently featured.
Nursing Assistant Resume Example (Education)
Certificate III in Health Services Assistance | TAFE Victoria | 2019
High Distinction – Completed 120 hours clinical placement at Monash Medical Centre
Certificate IV in Ageing Support | TAFE Victoria | 2020
Distinction Average – Specialisation: Person-centred Care and Dementia Support
Certificate II in Community Services | TAFE Victoria | 2018
Continuing Professional Development:
• Advanced Wound Care Management – Australian Wound Management Association (2023)
• Palliative Care Principles – CareSearch Professional Development (2023)
• Mental Health First Aid – Mental Health First Aid Australia (2022)
How to Write the Skills Section for your Nursing Assistant Resume
The skills section should demonstrate both your clinical competencies and caring abilities essential for successful nursing assistant practice. Include 12-15 skills that directly relate to nursing assistance work, balancing technical healthcare skills with communication and empathy capabilities. Focus on skills that show your ability to provide safe patient care while working collaboratively within healthcare teams.
Emphasise skills that demonstrate your proficiency in clinical procedures, patient advocacy, and healthcare compliance that are critical for delivering high-quality nursing assistance and supporting positive patient outcomes.
Nursing Assistant Resume Skills (Hard Skills)
- Vital Signs Monitoring & Recording
- Medication Administration & Management
- Personal Care & Hygiene Assistance
- Wound Care & Dressing Changes
- Patient Mobility & Transfer Techniques
- Clinical Documentation & Record Keeping
- Infection Control & Prevention
- Emergency Response & First Aid
- Medical Equipment Operation
- Pain Assessment & Management
Nursing Assistant Resume Skills (Soft Skills)
- Compassionate Patient Care
- Therapeutic Communication
- Active Listening & Empathy
- Cultural Sensitivity & Respect
- Team Collaboration & Support
- Stress Management & Resilience
- Attention to Detail & Accuracy
- Problem Solving & Initiative
- Time Management & Organisation
- Professional Integrity & Ethics
How to pick the best Nursing Assistant skills:
- Analyse the job requirements carefully and identify clinical competencies and personal qualities mentioned as essential for patient care
- Match your healthcare experience to the most relevant skills, ensuring you can provide specific examples of successful patient interactions
- Include both technical and interpersonal skills to demonstrate comprehensive nursing assistance capability
- Balance clinical skills with caring qualities to show you can deliver competent care while maintaining patient dignity and comfort
- Focus on current best practices such as person-centred care, evidence-based practice, and cultural competency
Nursing Assistant Resume Examples (Skills)
Skills Examples with Accomplishments:
- Medication Administration: Administered medications to 35+ patients daily with 99.8% accuracy rate, maintaining detailed documentation and zero medication errors over 18-month period
- Patient Care: Provided compassionate care for 200+ patients across diverse age groups and conditions, achieving average patient satisfaction rating of 4.9/5
- Infection Control: Implemented strict infection prevention protocols, contributing to 30% reduction in healthcare-associated infections on assigned ward
- Team Collaboration: Worked effectively with multidisciplinary healthcare teams including RNs, doctors, and allied health professionals to optimise patient outcomes
- Documentation: Maintained accurate clinical records and patient observations, ensuring 100% compliance with healthcare documentation standards
Should I Add Bonus Sections to My Nursing Assistant Resume?
Additional sections can significantly strengthen your Nursing Assistant resume by demonstrating your commitment to professional excellence and specialised expertise in healthcare delivery. These sections are particularly valuable in nursing assistance, where ongoing education, professional recognition, and specialised skills are indicators of clinical competency and patient advocacy.
Consider including:
Professional Registrations & Certifications: AHPRA registration, first aid qualifications, specialty care certifications, and other credentials that validate your expertise and compliance with healthcare standards.
Professional Memberships: Membership in nursing organisations, healthcare associations, or professional development groups that demonstrate your commitment to best practices and ongoing learning.
Specialised Training: Additional qualifications in areas such as dementia care, palliative care, mental health, or infection control that enhance your clinical capabilities and patient care expertise.
Volunteer Healthcare Experience: Community health volunteering, medical mission work, or healthcare-related community service that showcases your dedication to helping others and expanding healthcare access.
Languages & Cultural Competencies: Language skills or cultural knowledge that can benefit diverse patient populations and support inclusive healthcare practices.
Nursing Assistant Resume Examples (Other Sections)
Correct Example:
Professional Certifications:
• AHPRA Registration – Nursing Assistant (Current)
• First Aid & CPR Certificate – Australian Red Cross (Current)
• Dementia Care Specialist – Dementia Australia
• Manual Handling & Patient Transfer – WorkSafe Queensland
Volunteer Experience:
• Volunteer Patient Companion – Royal Children’s Hospital (2020-Present)
• Community Health Fair Coordinator – Local Health District (2019-2022)
• Aged Care Activities Assistant – RSL Care (2018-2019)
Professional Memberships:
• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) – Associate Member
• Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU)
• Healthcare Assistants Professional Network
Languages:
• Vietnamese (Fluent) – Supporting Vietnamese-speaking patients and families
• Spanish (Conversational) – Basic medical terminology and patient communication
Incorrect Example:
Additional Information:
• Have healthcare certifications
• Help out at community events
• Member of nursing groups
• Speak different languages
• Good with patient care
Additional sections you might consider: Awards or recognition for patient care excellence, additional training in specific medical conditions, relevant personal experiences that inform compassionate care approach, and technology proficiencies relevant to modern healthcare delivery.
How to write a Nursing Assistant Resume Objective or Resume Summary
A compelling professional summary is essential for Nursing Assistant resumes, as it immediately communicates your healthcare dedication and clinical competency to potential employers. This section should be 3-4 lines that highlight your years of nursing experience, patient care specialisations, key achievements, and core competencies that make you an effective nursing assistant.
Key elements to include:
- Years of nursing assistant or healthcare experience
- Patient populations and healthcare settings you’ve worked in
- Quantifiable achievements in patient care, safety, or quality outcomes
- Professional qualifications and certifications relevant to nursing
- Personal qualities that demonstrate compassionate, competent care delivery
Nursing Assistant Resume Summary Examples
Correct Example:
Dedicated Nursing Assistant with 7+ years of experience providing compassionate patient care across acute care, aged care, and community health settings. Proven track record of supporting 50+ patients daily while maintaining 99% medication accuracy and contributing to 25% improvement in patient satisfaction scores. AHPRA registered with expertise in wound care, dementia support, and infection control, demonstrating unwavering commitment to patient dignity, safety, and evidence-based nursing practice.
Incorrect Example:
Experienced healthcare worker seeking nursing assistant position. Good with patients and have worked in hospitals and aged care. Caring and reliable person who enjoys helping people with their health needs. Strong communication skills and team player who wants to make a difference in healthcare.
For entry-level Nursing Assistants, focus on your educational foundation, clinical training, passion for patient care, and transferable skills that demonstrate your potential for nursing excellence.
Entry-Level Nursing Assistant Resume Summary Examples
Correct Entry-Level Example:
Compassionate and newly qualified Nursing Assistant with Certificate III in Health Services Assistance and 240+ hours of clinical placement experience across medical and surgical wards. Strong foundation in patient care, vital signs monitoring, and clinical documentation with demonstrated ability to build therapeutic relationships with patients and families. Committed to delivering safe, person-centred care while supporting registered nurses and healthcare teams in achieving optimal patient outcomes.
Incorrect Entry-Level Example:
Recent healthcare graduate seeking entry-level nursing assistant position. Completed training and clinical placements in hospitals. Eager to start career in nursing and help patients with their healthcare needs. Good academic performance and positive attitude toward healthcare work.
How to Update Your LinkedIn Profile When Updating Your Nursing Assistant Resume
Maintaining consistency between your resume and LinkedIn profile is important in Australia’s healthcare sector, where 71% of healthcare managers use LinkedIn for professional networking and recruitment. When updating your Nursing Assistant resume, ensure your LinkedIn profile reflects the same professional narrative while leveraging the platform’s networking capabilities within the healthcare and nursing communities.
Your LinkedIn profile should complement your resume by providing deeper insights into your nursing philosophy, showcasing your commitment to patient advocacy, and demonstrating your engagement with Australian healthcare professionals and nursing networks.
LinkedIn Headline Optimisation for Nursing Assistants
Your LinkedIn headline should immediately convey your nursing expertise and patient care focus, making it easy for healthcare recruiters and nursing managers to identify your qualifications and specialisations.
Effective LinkedIn Headlines:
“Nursing Assistant | Patient Care Specialist | AHPRA Registered | Aged Care & Acute Care Experience”
“Registered Nursing Assistant | Compassionate Patient Advocate | Medication Management | Team Collaboration”
“Healthcare Professional | Nursing Assistant | Dementia Care Specialist | Committed to Patient Dignity & Safety”
Ineffective LinkedIn Headlines:
“Nursing Assistant”
“Healthcare worker helping patients”
“Experienced nursing professional”
LinkedIn Summary vs Resume Summary: Key Differences
Your LinkedIn summary can be more personal and story-driven than your resume summary, allowing for 3-4 paragraphs that describe your journey into nursing and your passion for patient care. Include specific examples of meaningful patient interactions (maintaining confidentiality), discuss your approach to compassionate care, and incorporate keywords that healthcare professionals commonly search for.
Unlike your resume summary, LinkedIn summaries can include your nursing philosophy, personal motivations for choosing healthcare, and calls to action encouraging healthcare professionals to connect and share experiences about nursing excellence and patient advocacy.
Showcasing Nursing Assistant Experience on LinkedIn
LinkedIn allows you to expand on your resume bullet points with detailed descriptions of your patient care approach, clinical competencies, and healthcare team collaboration achievements. Use this space to highlight specific examples of patient advocacy, quality improvement contributions, and professional development experiences that demonstrate your nursing expertise.
Include relevant media such as professional certificates, healthcare training completions, or photos from nursing conferences and professional development events. This visual content helps establish credibility and shows your commitment to ongoing nursing education.
LinkedIn Skills and Endorsements for Nursing Assistants
Prioritise LinkedIn skills that align with current nursing assistant job requirements in Australia. Focus on clinical competencies like “Patient Care,” “Medication Administration,” and “Clinical Documentation” alongside interpersonal skills such as “Compassionate Care” and “Team Collaboration.”
Actively seek endorsements from nursing colleagues, supervisors, healthcare team members, and nursing educators who can validate your clinical skills and patient care excellence. These endorsements serve as professional references for your nursing capabilities.
LinkedIn Profile Tips for Australian Nursing Assistants
Network strategically with Australian nursing professionals by joining groups like “Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation,” “Nursing Professionals Australia,” and “Healthcare Workers Network Australia.” Engage with content from Australian healthcare organisations and contribute insights about patient care and nursing best practices.
Optimise for local healthcare context by including Australia-specific keywords like “AHPRA registered,” “Australian healthcare standards,” “NSQHS standards,” and “person-centred care.” Many Australian healthcare employers search for nursing staff with knowledge of local healthcare frameworks and compliance requirements.
Share professional insights by posting about nursing experiences, patient care tips, or healthcare developments (while maintaining patient confidentiality). This content helps establish your expertise and increases profile visibility among healthcare professionals seeking competent nursing team members.
Creating an exceptional Nursing Assistant resume requires demonstrating your unique combination of clinical competency, compassionate care, and professional dedication while showcasing your ability to support healthcare teams and deliver outstanding patient outcomes. By following this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-positioned to highlight your nursing capabilities and commitment to patient wellbeing, making you an attractive candidate for leading healthcare facilities and quality care organisations.
Ready to make a meaningful difference in patient care? Enhance your application with a compelling cover letter using our cover letter guide, and explore current opportunities on SEEK and LinkedIn Jobs to find the perfect nursing assistant role that matches your passion for healthcare and commitment to patient advocacy.