--- title: "Hiring Excellence: Essential Traits to Seek in Top Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Candidates | Melissa Mills" description: Melissa is an accomplished nurse whose expertise spans leadership, education, curriculum development, and operational management. Her clinical experience is deeply rooted in long-term care, home care, and hospice settings. She enjoys investing in the future of the healthcare workforce by creating compelling content rooted in best practices and empowerment for bedside caregivers. She is also deeply committed to addressing critical issues within the nursing profession, including the nursing shortage, burnout, and the need for robust workforce development initiatives to enhance care across the nursing continuum. Melissa holds a BSN from Chamberlain University and an MHA from the University of Cincinnati. --- [Skip to content](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/author/melissa-mills#main-content) [![Screen Shot 2023-06-02 at 11.29.26 AM](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%2011.29.26%20AM.png?width=500&height=129&name=Screen%20Shot%202023-06-02%20at%2011.29.26%20AM.png)](https://www.cinematichealtheducation.com) - Home - Products - Pricing - Blog - Company Open main navigation Close main navigation - Home - Products - Pricing - Blog - Company # Blog Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. [![nursing homes and SNFs doing in-house CAN training](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hubfs/blog%20images%20(5)-1.png)](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/how-to-build-a-cna-talent-pipeline-with-on-the-job-training) [hiring excellence](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/tag/hiring-excellence) ## [How to Build a CNA Talent Pipeline with On-the-Job Training](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/how-to-build-a-cna-talent-pipeline-with-on-the-job-training) [Melissa Mills](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/author/melissa-mills) Jul 25, 2025 12:34:46 PM According to a 2025 article in the Gerontologist, CNAs make up over 30% of the nursing home workforc... [Read more](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/how-to-build-a-cna-talent-pipeline-with-on-the-job-training) [![Effective cna and hha training for retention](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hubfs/blog%20images%20(4)-1.png)](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/effective-aide-training) [hiring excellence](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/tag/hiring-excellence) ## [How Effective Aide Training Reduces Turnover and Boosts Retention](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/effective-aide-training) [Melissa Mills](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/author/melissa-mills) Jul 14, 2025 1:14:54 PM Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and home health aides (HHAs) leave their jobs at unexpectedly hi... [Read more](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/effective-aide-training) [![healthcare team collaborating](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hubfs/blog%20images%20(3).png)](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/reducing-nurse-aide-turnover-an-effective-onboarding-guide) ## [Reducing Nurse Aide Turnover: An Effective Onboarding Guide](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/reducing-nurse-aide-turnover-an-effective-onboarding-guide) [Melissa Mills](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/author/melissa-mills) Jul 1, 2025 4:15:19 PM Caregiver retention in today’s healthcare environment isn’t just a problem. It’s a crisis, with the ... [Read more](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/reducing-nurse-aide-turnover-an-effective-onboarding-guide) [![Your culture is your brand](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hubfs/blog%20images%20(2)-1.png)](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/enhancing-cna-recruitment-and-retention-through-employer-branding) [hiring excellence](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/tag/hiring-excellence) ## [Enhancing CNA Recruitment and Retention Through Employer Branding](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/enhancing-cna-recruitment-and-retention-through-employer-branding) [Melissa Mills](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/author/melissa-mills) Jun 25, 2025 1:32:42 PM High CNA turnover significantly impacts your facility’s ability to provide holistic and comprehensiv... [Read more](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/enhancing-cna-recruitment-and-retention-through-employer-branding) [![RNs, Doctors and CNAs working together ](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hubfs/blog%20images%20(1)-1.png)](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/5-ways-to-foster-teamwork-and-communication-for-your-cnas) [hiring excellence](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/tag/hiring-excellence) ## [5 Ways to Foster Teamwork and Communication for Your CNAs](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/5-ways-to-foster-teamwork-and-communication-for-your-cnas) [Melissa Mills](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/author/melissa-mills) Jun 9, 2025 12:56:12 PM The call light blinks, signaling a need. The resident wonders when and who will answer the call. CNA... [Read more](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/5-ways-to-foster-teamwork-and-communication-for-your-cnas) [![](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hubfs/blog%20images-1.png)](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/the-power-of-recognition-celebrating-your-staffs-achievements) [hiring excellence](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/tag/hiring-excellence) ## [The Power of Recognition: Celebrating Your Staff's Achievements](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/the-power-of-recognition-celebrating-your-staffs-achievements) [Melissa Mills](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/author/melissa-mills) May 14, 2025 11:03:35 AM Gone are the days when you could throw a pizza party for your nursing team and expect everyone to wa... [Read more](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/the-power-of-recognition-celebrating-your-staffs-achievements) [![](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hubfs/Stress%20Awareness%20Month%20(1)-1.png)](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/preventing-and-recognizing-burnout-in-your-nursing-assistant-workforce) [hiring excellence](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/tag/hiring-excellence) ## [Preventing and Recognizing Burnout in Your Nursing Assistant Workforce](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/preventing-and-recognizing-burnout-in-your-nursing-assistant-workforce) [Melissa Mills](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/author/melissa-mills) Apr 14, 2025 11:46:44 AM It's a harsh truth – the CNA burnout rate is soaring, and we can't ignore it. A recent focus group s... [Read more](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/preventing-and-recognizing-burnout-in-your-nursing-assistant-workforce) [![CNA classroom](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(78)-1.png)](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/meeting-the-diverse-needs-of-learners-in-the-cna-classroom) ## [Meeting the Diverse Needs of Learners in the CNA Classroom](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/meeting-the-diverse-needs-of-learners-in-the-cna-classroom) [Melissa Mills](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/author/melissa-mills) Mar 24, 2025 10:50:15 AM If you observed a nurse aide training classroom, you would likely see students from various cultural... [Read more](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/meeting-the-diverse-needs-of-learners-in-the-cna-classroom) [![](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(76)-1.png)](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/technology-in-cna-training-utilizing-online-tools-and-resources) [hiring excellence](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/tag/hiring-excellence) ## [Technology in CNA Training: Utilizing Online Tools and Resources](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/technology-in-cna-training-utilizing-online-tools-and-resources) [Melissa Mills](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/author/melissa-mills) Mar 14, 2025 3:39:53 PM The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the country needs nearly 65,000 new CNAs between now a... [Read more](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/technology-in-cna-training-utilizing-online-tools-and-resources) [![](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(75)-1.png)](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/preparing-new-grad-cnas-4-strategies-for-nursing-facilities) [hiring excellence](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/tag/hiring-excellence) ## [Preparing New Grad CNAs: 4 Strategies for Nursing Facilities](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/preparing-new-grad-cnas-4-strategies-for-nursing-facilities) [Melissa Mills](https://blog.cinematichealtheducation.com/hiring-excellence/author/melissa-mills) Mar 4, 2025 8:00:00 AM Well-prepared CNAs are not just “nice to have” in senior living facilities. They are a necessity for... 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