Onboarding plan
Certified Nursing Assistant Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new certified nursing assistant from first day to full productivity.
Certified Nursing Assistant onboarding at a glance
Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.
Before day one
- Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
- Verify required credentials: State CNA certification, CPR / BLS (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: gait belts; mechanical (Hoyer) lifts; wheelchairs and walkers; vital-signs monitors
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Certified Nursing Assistant training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Use gait belts and mechanical lifts as the care plan requires. Never lift beyond your safe limit
- Lock bed and wheelchair brakes before every transfer
- Follow hand hygiene and standard precautions for every patient
- Report falls, injuries and changes in condition immediately
- Shadow an experienced certified nursing assistant through a full shift
- Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)
Days 1–30: learn
Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.
- Supervised practice: transfer a patient from bed to wheelchair
- Supervised practice: measure intake and output
- Supervised practice: prevent pressure injuries
- Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
- 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins
Days 31–60: contribute
Goal: handle a regular workload independently.
- Help patients bathe, dress, groom, eat and use the toilet: independently
- Turn, reposition and transfer patients safely: independently
- Measure and record vital signs, intake and output: independently
- Observe and report changes in condition, skin or behavior to the nurse: independently
- Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
- Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
- 60-day check-in
Days 61–90: own
Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.
- Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
- Begin cross-training on a secondary task
- Agree on a credential goal (for example, State CNA certification)
- Discuss the career path: Certified Nursing Assistant → Certified Medication Aide or Restorative Aide → Licensed Practical Nurse
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer a Patient from Bed to Wheelchair | |||
| Measure Intake and Output | |||
| Prevent Pressure Injuries | |||
| Activities of daily living (ADL) care | |||
| Safe patient transfers and positioning | |||
| Vital signs | |||
| Infection control |
How to measure onboarding success
- Days until the new hire works without a preceptor
- Competency sign-offs completed on time
- Documentation or charting error rate
- 90-day retention
How Certified Nursing Assistant training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Certified Nursing Assistant Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Certified Nursing Assistant Vocabulary
- Core Duties and Responsibilities
- Common Tasks, Step by Step
- Tools, Equipment and Technology
- Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
- Skills Employers Look For
- Launching Your Certified Nursing Assistant Career
- Final Knowledge Check