Nursing assistant (CNA) phone screen questions
A nursing assistant phone screen confirms the certification and the shift before anyone books an interview. Here are the questions to ask and the answers that end the screen.
The nine questions
| # | Question | Ends the screen when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Are you a certified nursing assistant in [state], and is your certification active? | Not certified, unless you hire trainees |
| 2 | Is your CPR certification current? | Only if you require it on day one |
| 3 | Where have you worked as a nursing assistant: nursing home, hospital or home care? For how long? | Only if the role needs experience |
| 4 | The shift is [nights, 11pm to 7am, every other weekend]. Can you work that schedule? | They can't work the shift |
| 5 | The job is at [facility address]. Can you get there reliably for every shift? | No way to get there |
| 6 | This job requires a background check and [the health screening your facility requires]. Are you okay with that? | They decline |
| 7 | The job involves lifting and transferring residents. Can you do that, with or without accommodation? | They can't |
| 8 | The job pays [$X an hour]. Does that work for you? | They decline |
| 9 | When could you start? | Never ends it. It sorts who to call first |
Hiring for home care? Change question 5 to "Do you have a valid driver's license and a car to travel between clients?"
What screens nursing assistants out
The usual reasons are a certification that has lapsed or belongs to another state, and a shift that doesn't fit. Ask about certification first and the shift second.
Sample text conversation
TextWorkHi Priya, this is [Company]. Thanks for applying to the night-shift CNA job. Got a few minutes for some quick questions?
PriyaYes
TextWorkAre you a certified nursing assistant in Ohio, and is your certification active?
PriyaYes, renewed in March
TextWorkGreat. Where have you worked as a nursing assistant, and for how long?
PriyaTwo years at a nursing home
TextWorkGood. The shift is nights, 11pm to 7am, every other weekend. Can you work that schedule?
Common questions
What should I ask a CNA before an interview?
Certification, shift, experience, how they'll get to work, and start date. Clinical and situational questions belong in the interview.
Can a text screen verify a CNA certification?
No. The screen asks, and you confirm the answer on your state's nurse aide registry before an offer.
Something missing? Email [email protected].