Platform
Plateform
Platform Overview
ai icon
AI
Why Workstream
Why Workstream
compliance icon
Compliance
Integrations
Integrations
fully-supported
Fully Supported
Product
Hiring
time & scheduling icon
HR
Engagement
payroll-1
Featured Reads
Webinar
For our customers: Product roadmap sneak peek
hiring
Restaurant Payroll 101
Learn how to tackle the hardest aspects of paying restaurant workers from taxes and tip reporting to labor law compliance.

How to Hire CNAs: Streamline Certified Nursing Assistant Recruitment for Your Business

Streamline how you hire CNAs with Workstream’s all-in-one platform—automate recruitment, onboarding, and scheduling to attract top certified nursing assistants and simplify CNA staffing.

Healthcare manager using mobile platform to hire CNAs, streamlining recruitment and onboarding for nursing staff.

How to Hire CNAs: A Practical Guide for Small Business Owners

When you’re looking to hire CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants), you’re not just filling a spot on the schedule—you’re recruiting the backbone of your care team. Whether you run a skilled nursing facility, an assisted living community, or a home health agency, getting CNA staffing right can mean the difference between smooth operations and constant headaches. Let’s walk through what it really takes to recruit nursing aides who stick around, show up, and care as much as you do.

Why Hiring Certified Nursing Assistants Feels So Tough (And Why It Doesn’t Have to Be)

If you ask any operator, nursing assistant recruitment can feel like running on a treadmill—always moving, never quite arriving. High turnover, burnout, and a competitive hiring market make it challenging. But here’s the thing: with the right approach, you can build a team that’s both reliable and resilient.

The CNA Staffing Crunch: By the Numbers

So, what’s driving this? It’s a mix of pay, working conditions, lack of flexibility, and sometimes just plain burnout. But there are ways to stand out—without breaking the bank.

Building Your CNA Recruitment Game Plan

Let me explain: hiring certified nursing assistants isn’t about posting a job and hoping for the best. It’s about crafting a process that attracts the right people and helps them thrive from day one.

Crafting Job Descriptions That Actually Work

  • Be specific about duties. Don’t sugarcoat or generalize. If your CNAs will handle memory care, mobility assistance, or specialized therapies, say so. For guidance, check out these job description resources.
  • Highlight benefits and flexibility. Many CNAs are looking for a workplace that values their time and offers real perks. For tips on calling out benefits, see this guide on job descriptions.
  • Set clear expectations. Transparency about shifts, overtime, and weekend work helps weed out mismatches early.

Where to Find Qualified CNA Candidates

  • Leverage specialized job boards and local schools. Many community colleges have CNA programs—build relationships with instructors for a steady pipeline.
  • Use digital recruiting tools. Platforms like Workstream’s hiring automation let you post jobs across multiple sites (Indeed, Craigslist) with just a few clicks.
  • Tap into referral networks. Your best CNAs often know others looking for work. Incentivize referrals—sometimes a $100 bonus saves thousands in turnover costs (see cost breakdown here).
  • Don’t ignore social media. Facebook groups and Instagram can be surprisingly effective for local talent pools (see how to hire on Instagram).

Simplifying the Application Process

If your application takes longer than five minutes, you’re losing candidates. Mobile-first solutions like Workstream’s platform let applicants apply via text—no logins or resumes required. This isn’t just convenient; it’s essential when competing for hourly talent who might have three interviews lined up before lunch.

The Interview & Onboarding Experience: Make It Count

You’ve got applicants—now what? Here’s where many businesses trip up: slow responses, confusing interviews, or clunky onboarding processes can scare off great CNAs before they ever clock in.

Interviewing for Heart and Skill

Smooth Onboarding: The Secret Retention Weapon

Avoiding Common Pitfalls in CNA Staffing

No one likes learning lessons the hard way. Here are some classic mistakes—and how to dodge them:

  • Poor communication with staff. Keep everyone in the loop with announcements and shift reminders. Solutions like Axonify Communications help connect frontline staff with HQ.
  • Lack of schedule flexibility. Rigid schedules drive turnover. Consider using shift management tools that allow easy swaps and real-time updates (how Gap improved scheduling).
  • Inefficient recordkeeping or compliance gaps. Stay on top of wage records and certifications (Department of Labor wage recordkeeping guide).
  • No clear path for advancement. Even entry-level CNAs want to know they can grow. Highlight opportunities for upskilling or moving into med tech or LPN roles (retention strategies here).
  • Dismissing “soft” perks as unimportant. Recognition programs, flexible pay options (instant pay access explained here) and supportive management go further than you think.

The Role of Technology in Modern CNA Staffing

The days of sticky notes and endless phone calls are fading fast. If you want to recruit nursing aides efficiently—and keep them happy—you’ll need to embrace digital tools. Platforms like Workstream automate everything from smart screening to shift scheduling, freeing up your time for what matters most: building relationships with your team and residents.

The Bottom Line: Hire CNAs Who Will Stay—and Thrive—with You

If you take away one thing, let it be this: successful CNA staffing isn’t about luck—it’s about process, speed, and heart. From writing honest job ads to leveraging digital onboarding, every step matters. And honestly? The right technology partner makes all the difference. If you’re ready to make hiring certified nursing assistants less stressful—and more successful—consider exploring solutions like Workstream’s all-in-one HR platform. Your future team (and your sanity) will thank you.

A Few Final Resources for Smarter CNA Hiring

This article is intended as general guidance only; always consult legal counsel or HR professionals regarding compliance in your state or region.

Get the latest with Workstream

Always stay current with hiring news by subscribing to our email updates

platform

All your important HR tasks under one roof

Today’s business owners and HR teams are overwhelmed with administrative tasks: manual processes and exports, duplicative data entry, and siloed information. Workstream centralizes and simplifies people tasks so you can move fast, reduce labor costs, and simplify operations—all in one place.

Shape-1
hiring-icon-1
Hiring

Hire better quality workers, faster

HR
HR

Streamline people processes and ensure employee records are always accurate

Engagement
Engagement

Reduce turnover and increase worker engagement

Time-1
Time & Scheduling

Manage schedules and hours worked to optimize your labor costs

payroll-1
Payroll

Pay your team quickly, easily, and accurately

How we’re different

Lots of companies claim to be “all-in-one” - but aren’t a great fit for your hourly business. Here’s why Workstream stands out:

Mobile-friendly 

Mobile doesn’t just mean having an app. With Workstream, your time-sensitive people processes—from responding to candidates to reviewing shift changes and overtime alerts—happen easily on your mobile phone, so you can get things done while you’re on the go.

Built for hourly 

Whether it’s labor requirements,language diversity, meal breaks, or multiple pay rates - managing an hourly workforce comes with unique requirements. With Workstream, you’re using a system purpose-built to actually support the nuances of your hourly business.

Best in class support

When you’re trying to get a payroll run out the door, you can’t afford to wait a few days to hear back from a support team. With Workstream, our customers get a response time from our  dedicated (human) team in an average of 2 minutes. And did we mention we’ll also fully migrate your payroll data for you in about two weeks? We’re there for you, whatever you need.

resources

Become a hiring and onboarding expert.

thumb-2-1
CUSTOMER STORY

How one 26 location Burger King group streamlined staffing

unsplash_NoRsyXmHGpI-1
TEMPLATES

Download our free Hiring and Onboarding checklist

jj-customer-thumb-2-1
CUSTOMER STORY

What this Jimmy John's group did to future-proof their operations

Be smart with your hourly workforce

Book a demo