Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Charlotte, NC
Certified nursing assistants in Charlotte work hospital floors at Carolinas Medical Center and Presbyterian, plus a long list of senior living campuses, with a metro median near $19 an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires CNAs and how to get on the North Carolina registry.
Current certified nursing assistant Openings in Charlotte, NC
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Certified Nursing Assistant Work in Charlotte
Two hospital systems set the pace for nurse aide hiring in Charlotte. Atrium Health staffs Nurse Aide and healthcare technician roles across Carolinas Medical Center in Dilworth, Atrium Health Mercy and Atrium Health University City, while Novant Health hires CNAs for Presbyterian Medical Center in Elizabeth and Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital. Hospital titles vary, so search for "nurse aide" and "healthcare technician" as well as CNA.
The other half of the market is long-term care. Continuing care retirement communities such as Aldersgate in east Charlotte and The Sharon at SouthPark on Sharon Road run skilled nursing and assisted living around the clock, and rehab centers along the Plaza-Shamrock corridor fill weekend and night shifts. Many aides commute in on I-85, I-77 and Independence Boulevard from Gaston, Union and York counties.
Top Charlotte Employers for Certified Nursing Assistants
These Charlotte employers hire nurse aides for hospital units, skilled nursing and home care:
- Atrium Health - hires Nurse Aide I and CNA/healthcare technician staff for units at Carolinas Medical Center, Atrium Health Mercy and Atrium Health University City.
- Novant Health - hires CNA I staff at Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital and outpatient areas at Presbyterian Medical Center, with a Nurse Aide I registry listing required.
- Aldersgate - the nonprofit retirement community in east Charlotte hires CNAs for skilled care, weekend Baylor shifts and its home care service, plus medication aides.
- The Sharon at SouthPark - the continuing care community on Sharon Road hires full-time CNAs for skilled nursing and assisted living.
- Pinecrest Health and Rehab - the skilled nursing and rehab center in the Plaza-Shamrock area staffs CNA shifts for rehab and long-term residents.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries in Charlotte
- Entry level: about $16 to $18 per hour for newly listed nurse aides.
- Experienced: roughly $19 to $22 per hour, more on nights and weekends.
- Senior / specialty units: $22 to $24 or more per hour for experienced aides on hospital units or with Nurse Aide II.
These are estimates built from federal wage data for the Charlotte metro and local postings. Hospital units generally pay more than home care, where some posted rates start well below the metro median. Shift differentials, weekend Baylor schedules, Nurse Aide II status and a medication aide listing all move pay up.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Charlotte
To work as a nurse aide in North Carolina you complete a state-approved Nurse Aide I training program, pass the competency exam and get listed on the N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry, which is run by the Division of Health Service Regulation at NC DHHS. Central Piedmont Community College offers its Nurse Aide program at Central Campus and Levine Campus in 16 weeks or less, and Carolinas College of Health Sciences at The Pearl in Midtown runs a Nurse Aide program tied to Atrium Health. Nurse Aide II is a separate, higher listing kept by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. Hospitals also ask for BLS certification.
What the Job Involves
CNAs help patients and residents bathe, dress, eat, move and use the bathroom, take vital signs, record intake and output, turn and reposition bedbound patients and report changes to the nurse in charge. In hospitals the job adds glucose checks, specimen collection and helping with admissions and discharges; in skilled nursing it centers on daily care for the same residents shift after shift.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry listing
- BLS certification
- Accurate vital signs and charting
- Safe lifting, transfers and fall prevention
- Patience and clear communication with patients and families
- Reliability on nights, weekends and holidays
Career Path and Advancement
Many Charlotte aides use CNA work as the first step into nursing. The common ladder runs from Nurse Aide I to Nurse Aide II or medication aide, then into the Dickson Practical Nursing Program or the ADN at Central Piedmont, and on to LPN or RN roles at Atrium, Novant or a retirement community.
Related Careers in Charlotte
If nurse aide work interests you, these related Charlotte roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a certification to be a CNA in Charlotte?
Yes. North Carolina requires nurse aides to finish a state-approved Nurse Aide I program and pass the competency exam to be listed on the N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry. Charlotte hospitals and nursing homes check that listing before you start.
How much do CNAs make in Charlotte?
Federal wage data puts the Charlotte metro median for nursing assistants near $19 an hour, with most aides between about $16 and $24. Hospital units and night or weekend shifts tend to pay at the top of that range.
How long does CNA training take in Charlotte?
Most Nurse Aide I programs take a few weeks to a few months. Central Piedmont lists its Nurse Aide program at 16 weeks or less, and the state exam follows soon after you finish.
What is the difference between Nurse Aide I and Nurse Aide II in North Carolina?
Nurse Aide I is the standard CNA listing on the state registry run by NC DHHS. Nurse Aide II is a higher level listed with the North Carolina Board of Nursing that allows more advanced tasks, and some Charlotte hospital postings accept either.
Can you get a CNA job in Charlotte without experience?
Yes. Many Charlotte postings, especially at senior living communities such as The Sharon at SouthPark, list experience as preferred rather than required. What you cannot skip is the registry listing, and hospital roles also ask for BLS.
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