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What is a geriatric nursing assistant and how to become one
Geriatric means relating to older people, but this position can be a fun one. You hear all kinds of stories from older people, and your knowledge of the past is amplified. Plus, older people can be easy to take care of; just be their friend.
To become a geriatric nursing assistant, you must give care to elderly patients by helping them get dressed, bathed, and fed. You will need to be strong, so you can move and reposition patients to keep them comfortable. You will also need knowledge on how to take temperatures, pulse rates, and blood pressure. The best skills you can have are patience, caring, friendliness, and being helpful.
A high school diploma or GED is required for this position, and depending on where you work - hospital, nursing home, or long-term care facility - it will determine the training you need for this position. The job growth for geriatric nursing assistants is growing by almost 8% from previous years, and you can expect to make about $30,000 a year.
What general advice would you give to a geriatric nursing assistant?
Jeanne Martin PhD, MSN, RN, CNE
Clinical Associate Professor
Avg. Salary $34,595
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 9%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.19%
Asian 9.23%
Black or African American 20.31%
Hispanic or Latino 11.73%
Unknown 5.42%
White 52.12%
Genderfemale 86.61%
male 13.39%
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
Geriatric nursing assistant career paths
Key steps to become a geriatric nursing assistant
Explore geriatric nursing assistant education requirements
Start to develop specific geriatric nursing assistant skills
Skills 
Percentages Patients 26.16% Rehabilitation 12.33% Vital Signs 11.20% Home Health 9.74% CPR 9.61% Complete relevant geriatric nursing assistant training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New geriatric 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 geriatric nursing assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real geriatric nursing assistant resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed geriatric nursing assistant usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed geriatric nursing assistant in most of states. 25 states require geriatric 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 geriatric nursing assistant certifications
More About CertificationsGeriatric 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 geriatric nursing assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for geriatric nursing assistants include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Certified Nurse Technician (CNT).
Research geriatric nursing assistant duties and responsibilities
- Manage memory unity within facility.
- Commend for teamwork and compassion towards the residents.
- Transport patients to the ICU or emergency department.
- Maintain CPR certificate while practicing in a healthcare facility.
Prepare your geriatric nursing assistant resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your geriatric 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 geriatric 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 geriatric nursing assistant resume templates
Build a professional geriatric 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 geriatric nursing assistant resume.
Apply for geriatric nursing assistant jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a geriatric 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 geriatric nursing assistant job
Are you a geriatric nursing assistant?
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Average geriatric nursing assistant salary
The average geriatric nursing assistant salary in the United States is $34,595 per year or $17 per hour. Geriatric nursing assistant salaries range between $25,000 and $46,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do geriatric nursing assistants rate their job?
Geriatric nursing assistant reviews
Very fulfilling and rewarding
Hard work, not enough staff, mandated a lot. Under appreciated!
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 đź‘Ťway 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.
Nothing
Updated January 8, 2025
