Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Memphis, TN
Certified nursing assistants in Memphis work hospital floors from the Medical District to East Memphis, plus rehab and hospice units across Shelby County. Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis offers up to a $3,000 sign-on bonus for CNAs. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get on the Tennessee registry.
Current certified nursing assistant Openings in Memphis, TN
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Certified Nursing Assistant Work in Memphis
Memphis is a hospital town, and CNAs are the hands-on staff that keep those hospitals running. Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis on Park Avenue hires CNAs for its med-surg floors on days and nights, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis on Walnut Grove Road staffs patient care assistants on cardiac, ICU and med-surg units, and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare hires nursing assistants for settings such as its Hospice Residence. Rehab is a second pillar: Encompass Health runs inpatient rehabilitation hospitals on Union Avenue in the Medical District and on Austin Peay Highway in north Memphis, and both post nursing assistant roles.
The market is tri-state. Baptist also hires patient care assistants at BMH DeSoto in Southaven, Mississippi, and BMH Collierville, so a CNA living anywhere along I-240, Poplar Avenue or I-55 has options within a short commute. Nursing assistants make up one of the larger healthcare support groups in the metro, with about 4,930 jobs in the latest federal wage survey.
Top Memphis Employers Hiring Certified Nursing Assistants
These Memphis-area hospitals and rehab providers post CNA and nursing assistant openings on their own career sites:
- Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis - the 479-bed Tenet hospital on Park Avenue hires CNAs for med-surg on days and nights and requires an active Tennessee nurse aide certification.
- Baptist Memorial Health Care - posts patient care assistant roles at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, BMH Collierville and BMH DeSoto in Southaven.
- Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare - the Memphis health system hires nursing assistants, including PRN day shifts at its Hospice Residence, and asks for a nursing assistant diploma.
- Encompass Health - the rehab hospital operator hires CNAs on Austin Peay Highway and nursing assistants at its Union Avenue hospital.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries in Memphis
- Entry level: about $15 to $17 per hour for newly certified aides.
- Experienced: roughly $18 to $20 per hour, in line with the metro median near $18.30.
- Senior / top of range: $21 to $22 per hour or more for experienced aides on nights, weekends or specialty units.
These are estimates built from federal wage survey data for the Memphis metro and pay posted by local employers, such as an $18 to $22 an hour range on an Encompass Health CNA posting. Hospital night shifts, weekend premiums, sign-on bonuses and hospital experience all move pay up, and full-time hospital roles usually add benefits that nursing home and home care jobs may not.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Memphis
To work as a CNA in Tennessee you complete a state-approved nurse aide training program, pass the state competency exam and get listed on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry. The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission oversees approved training programs, and Credentia has run the registry and the knowledge and skills exam since June 1, 2026. Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Memphis offers a 120-clock-hour Nursing Aide (CNA) certificate at its Main Campus on Alabama Avenue near the Medical District. Training and testing are free when you train in a nursing home based program. Certification lasts 24 months, and to renew you need proof of at least eight hours of paid nursing work in a licensed facility during that time. Hospitals also require a BLS or Heartsaver CPR card.
What the Job Involves
CNAs help patients with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and moving safely, under the direction of a registered nurse or LPN. Daily tasks include taking and recording vital signs, turning and repositioning patients, changing linens, answering call lights, tracking intake and output, and reporting changes in a patient's condition to the nurse. On hospital floors the pace is fast and shifts often run 12 hours.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active Tennessee nurse aide certification
- BLS or Heartsaver CPR certification
- Accurate vital signs and charting
- Safe patient transfers and lifting technique
- Patience and clear communication with patients and families
- Reliability on 12-hour and weekend shifts
Career Path and Advancement
In Memphis the CNA job is the classic first rung of the nursing ladder. Many aides move into patient care technician roles with added skills, then into Practical Nursing at TCAT Memphis to become an LPN. From there, Southwest Tennessee Community College's LPN Mobility Track at its Union Avenue Campus leads to the RN license and the higher pay that comes with it.
Related Careers in Memphis
If CNA work interests you, these related Memphis roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to work as a CNA in Memphis?
Yes. Tennessee requires nurse aides to complete an approved training program, pass the state competency exam and be listed on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry. Hospitals such as Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis list an active Tennessee nurse aide certification as a requirement for CNA roles.
How much do CNAs make in Memphis?
Most Memphis CNAs earn roughly $15 to $22 an hour, with the metro median near $18.30. Night shifts, weekend work and hospital experience push pay toward the top of that range, and some hospitals add sign-on bonuses.
How long does CNA training take in Memphis?
The Nursing Aide program at TCAT Memphis is listed at 120 clock hours and leads to a certificate. After training you still need to pass the state knowledge and skills exam before you can work as a certified aide.
Can I get CNA training for free in Memphis?
Tennessee says training and testing are free for candidates who train in a nursing home based program. Other programs, including college certificates, set their own tuition and fees, so ask each program about cost and aid before you enroll.
How do I renew my Tennessee CNA certification?
Certification lasts 24 months. To renew, you show proof of at least eight hours of paid nursing work in a licensed or certified healthcare facility during that period, using a pay stub, payroll printout or notarized attestation. Private duty and sitter work do not count.
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