As a certified nursing assistant (CNA), you’re a caregiver who’s passionate about serving others. You can perform well in high-stress situations, and your critical thinking and skills can sometimes help patients narrowly avoid negative outcomes.
At times, your chosen career path asks you to do the impossible — but landing your next job shouldn’t be one of those impossible things. If you’re a CNA preparing to find a new job opportunity in the field, here are some of the most commonly asked questions to prepare for your future job interview. If you haven’t quite found the right job to apply for yet, check our current job openings here. You’ll definitely be ready for our interview!
CNA Job Interview Questions And Answers
6 most common informational questions
When you get the call to come in for an interview, it will be time to prepare for the questions you are likely to be asked. Try to devise answers ahead of time. There are two types of questions. First are informational questions, which ask about your skills and talents.
Tell us about yourself.
Every interview has this question ⦠and it is often misunderstood. Do not answer with your life story: âWell, I was born in Pittsburgh. I met my husband in high schoolâ¦â Instead, talk about why you want to work there. âIâve always wanted to have a career in health care. Iâm good with people, and I enjoy helping others.â
Why did you decide to become a CNA?
Here is where you really âstrut your stuff.â Think of a story from your life that shows how much you like taking care of people. For example, talk about how you used to visit your grandmother in the nursing home and how you liked to do her nails or help her eat. Tell the interviewer that you know that CNAs work hard but they get to do so much for their patients. You can add that you want to be part of a team and make patients feel special and respected.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
This is a rather silly question because no one knows what the future holds. Be honest, but donât go into too much detail. Perhaps you simply want to work near home, earn a paycheck, or get the experience necessary for the job you really want. But donât say those things! A good answer might be âIâm so excited to start my career as a CNA! I know Iâll need several years of experience to really gain confidence and improve my skills.â If youâre planning on returning to school, itâs okay to say so: âAt some point, I may want to become an LPN, but for now, Iâm focusing on being a great CNA.â
What are your strengths (positive personality traits)?
For some reason, employers love to ask this question along with its counterpart, âWhat are your weaknesses?â Develop your answer now so you wonât have to fumble during the interview. Prepare to tell the interviewer that youâre organized and reliable and get along well with all kinds of people. (You have good qualities, so donât be shy!) Even better, think of times when you were awesome: âWhen I worked at the ice cream shop, we were so busy! I would come in a little early to get things set up. But it was so much fun, seeing the customers enjoying the cones and shakes that I made! My co-workers said I made the job fun for them, too.â
What are your weaknesses?
As much as we all hate the question about strengths, this one is even worse. Who wants to admit to having flaws? The truth is everyone has a few. Here are a couple of hints: First, turn a weakness into a strength. For example, if you know youâre a perfectionist, you could say, âI sometimes have a hard time being patient when others donât want to do their job well.â Second, think of a story that illustrates how you recognized a weakness in yourself and worked to overcome it. Maybe youâre a control freak. Hereâs what you could say: âI used to think that no one could do a job as well as I could. I didnât want to share tasks or ask for help. I would feel frustrated. But over time, Iâve come to appreciate having co-workers and team members who can pitch in.â
Why did you leave your last job?
After your first CNA job, you should expect this question on interviews. As much as youâd like to, you cannot say, âIt was terrible! I couldnât get out soon enough!â Never, ever bash a former workplace or supervisor. Again, you need a thoughtful, honest answer, such as, âI always enjoy patient care, I learned a lot at the job, and am ready to take my skills in a different direction.â
The most common situational questions
Other questions are situational. The interviewer will ask you these questions to help decide if you are a good fit for the job. Youâll be asked to talk about times when you h ad to solve problems or handle challenges. Each employer may ask different questions, but theyâre always looking for similar information:
Itâs a good idea to look at the list below and develop some responses based on your own experiences. Your answers can come from jobs, the community, church, or your personal life. The questions usually start with the phrase âTell us about a time whenâ¦â
You may also be asked, âWhat would you do ifâ¦â
Briefly Describe What You Understand the Duties of a CNA to Be
The first step before even going to the interview is to review the job description. It should give you a list of responsibilities and requirements for the particular role. Once you’re familiar with what the employer is asking, then you can draw parallels between what the employer wants and your talents and experiences.
In most CNA positions, you’ll find many of the same basic responsibilities. These will normally focus on providing patients with direct care and help with activities of daily living, such as dressing, changing, bathing, and eating. A CNA is typically the first line of defense and charged with keeping patients safe, clean, and comfortable.
How comfortable are you with these duties? What experiences have prepared you to provide the best care possible to your patients?
Each facility will be slightly different, so reviewing the job description will help you tailor your answer to the type of facility you’ll be working in. For example, an extended care facility will have slightly different duties and patient demographics than an intensive care floor.
Here’s how to be attentive to nursing assistant interview questions and answer them with care. Kathleen Walder, Monster contributor
Certified nursing assistants provide comfort, compassion, and hands-on care to patients in hospitals, long-term care facilities, adult daycares, and rehab centers. A CNA job is a great way to enter healthcare and gives you a solid base to build on for the rest of your career. But before your first day, youll need to interview with a hiring manager and your future team to make sure youre the right fit for the job. Heres a list of the most common CNA interview questions and answers to help you plan what youre going to say.
FAQ
What questions do they ask in a CNA interview?
- Tell us about yourself.
- Why do you want to be a CNA?
- Tell us about a time when you had to do something difficult. …
- What are your strengths and how will they help as a CNA?
- What are your weaknesses?
- As a CNA, what do you bring to the company that sets you apart from others?
What are 10 good interview questions and answers?
- Tell me about yourself.
- Walk me through your resume.
- How did you hear about this position?
- Why do you want to work at this company?
- Why do you want this job?
- Why should we hire you?
- What can you bring to the company?
- What are your greatest strengths?
How do you introduce yourself in a CNA interview?
Why do you want to work here CNA answer?
