So, you’ve qualified as an LPN, but you don’t know what to do from here? Well, as you know here are many LPN jobs available, but in order to get one of those jobs, you will have to write an LPN resume that really shines and makes you look like the best option. This is not the easiest task in the world, but with a little thought and time you should be able to write the perfect LPN resume.
How to Write a LPN Resume
There are a few basic steps you can follow when writing an LPN resume.
- You have to start off with rough work. What you should do first is make a very rough draft of what you have already done as a LPN. Separate your work experience from your education, and just scribble everything down very quickly. Remember to include the years that you worked or studied for and the institutions you worked for or studied at. Don’t worry if it is not in chronological order. Just write down what you remember and sort it out afterwards.
- Writing your cover letter is very important. This is basically your introduction and it is your chance to make yourself look good to your potential employer. However, be careful about simply rewriting the information that will be in your resume in prose form. Give an overview of yourself and your intentions, and make sure that you are not too long-winded. A cover letter of a full page may be excessive, so keep it down as much as possible.
- The first thing that should appear on your resume is your contact details. This includes your name, your address, your phone number, and your email address. If you have an email address at your current position that includes the company’s name in it, then use that email address at the top of your LPN resume as this will make you appear more professional and qualified.
- Once you have done this, draft your objective. An objective is a very short statement about what your desired position in the company is. This is very important and it will be one of the first things that your potential employer reads, so you want to spend a bit of time and effort on getting it perfectly right. Make sure that it is clear and to the point, and rewrite as many times as necessary.
- Draft the section about your educational background, and include everything relevant to the field of LPN nursing. This is where step number one comes in handy. When you write this section of your resume you will simply have to draw from the information you have already thought about in number one. You would usually write about your education starting at the most recent qualification you have received and working backwards. This section needs to be very simple, so don’t hesitate to use bullet points. Include all of the relevant information such as the years you studied and the place you studied at.
- Then write about your work experience, again drawing from the information you have already considered in step one, and again starting with the most recent and working backwards. Keep things simple and to the point, but include all of the relevant information. Back up your education with your experience, and include everything that is relevant to the job you are applying for. If you have work experience that is not directly relevant, be creative and make it relevant. Say how working at Blockbusters taught you interpersonal skills and how to deal with people.
- If it is relevant, add in any extra awards or achievements that you have achieved over your lifespan as this will set you apart from the other applicants as someone with special skills and an ability to shine.
There are several other considerations that you should also keep in mind:
Format
The format you choose to use is very important. There are two main types of format, and the above steps involve the chronological format. However, you also have the option of using a functional format.
Chronological Format
As seen above, this format is one where you start by listing your most recent education and experience and then work backwards from there. This is probably the most common LPN resume format. This will usually be used by someone starting out in the field.
Functional Format
This is more for an applicant who has had a lot of experience in the field of LPN nursing. A functional resume is one where you highlight your accomplishments rather than simply listing your education and experience.
Computer
When you write your LPN resume, it is better to do it in computer format because this makes it far easier for you to make changes to the document and to edit it when necessary. If you do not have a computer at home it is well worth your while to find one that you can use for a little while. You will also of course have to print it, so keep this in mind when writing your LPN resume.
Reader
It is very important that you have at least a slight idea of what kind of person is going to be reading your resume. It is very important that you know who your target audience is. This means having done a fair amount of research about the company or hospital that you are applying at and knowing who is most likely to be reading your resume. You should then tailor your resume to be as relevant as possible for that particular institute. A good way is to take the company’s mission statement and rewrite it subtly as your objective in order to indicate from the outset that you are definitely the kind of person that that company is looking for.
Tips
There are a few additional tips to keep in mind when writing an LPN resume:
- Use headings that clearly demonstrate your relevant skills for the job. For example, it is very vague to say that you have ‘Administrative Skills’, but if you say that you are skilled at record keeping and recording patient information, then you stand a better chance of being noticed.
- Remember that you are far from being the only person who is applying for the job. Often what really makes you stand out is the design of your resume rather than the actual contents. This means that deciding on the design of your resume is very important as you want it to grab the attention of your prospective employer as well as make them remember your resume, and, as a consequence, you.
- You have to sell yourself in your resume. You may shy away from blowing your own trumpet, but this is, unfortunately, the main purpose of a resume. This does not mean that you have to lie. It just means using words that show your job experience in the best light possible. If you dealt with over 100 patients at a time at your previous job, for example, be sure to mention that somewhere in your resume.
- Use action verbs, or power words, when writing about what you have done in the past. Start your sentences with bold words like “created” or “worked”. This gives the impression that you are a hardworking go-getter who knows what they want and knows what to do to get it. Also make sure that you stick to the same verb tense throughout your resume when using these verbs.
- Use key words related to the position you are applying for. You may not know what these keywords are, but you could find them by analyzing the job descriptions contained in job advertisements. You could also look at some LPN resume samples in order to see what words are most frequently used for this purpose.
- Look carefully at the job description for the job you are applying for and see if you can identify any hidden needs. Your potential employer may not openly specify what he or she needs in some instances, but the information may be there regardless. Make sure that you address these needs and keep them in mind when writing your LPN resume as well as the clearly stated needs mentioned in the job description.
- Make sure that you are clear about how your various skills have benefited you in the past, and how those skills will benefit you again in your new job. It is all very well to list your skills, but it is much more valuable information if you also provide examples and give predictions of how those skills can be an asset to your potential employer.
- Make sure that you are giving the right impression in your LPN resume. This means that you need to make sure that what you are saying about yourself is in line with the salary that you expect to be paid in the new position.
- Make sure that the information you include in your resume is in a sensible order. Some information is clearly more important than other information and it is essential that you include the important information in prominent places in your LPN resume in order to ensure that it will be seen by the person reading your resume.
- It is a very good idea to change your resume every time you apply for a different job. It is far more beneficial to send a resume and cover letter that is specifically meant for the particular company you are applying at than to send out a stock standard resume to all of your prospective employers.
LPN Resume Sample
Here are a few great examples of LPN resumes. When you look at an LPN sample resume it is important to remember that it is all very well to copy the LPN resume template as it stands, but it is better to personalize the resume that you are writing in order to make it appeal more to the particular employer with whom you are applying.
Here is a basic example of a sample LPN resume:
YOUR NAME, LPN
123 Any Street
Any Town, USA 55555
(555) 555-5555
123email@anyprovider.com
Licensed Practical Nurse
Seeking an LPN position within a progressive medical office setting, offering 10+ years of experience in Certified Nurse’s Assistant / Licensed Practical Nurse positions, along with:
- Currently enrolled in BSN Program; expect to graduate in XXXX.
- Strong observation and interpersonal communication skills; Fluent in Italian and Spanish.
- Advocate for patients rights; strive to understand a patient’s needs and concerns.
- Hardworking and energetic; flexible; adapt easily to change of environment and work schedule.
- Maintain critical thinking skills essential to providing competent and dignified patient care.
- Personable; interface effectively with patients, families, and nursing staff.
- Proven ability to create a positive working environment that uplifts patients’ spirits.
Professional Experience
10+ years of combined experience held at Name of Hospital and Name of Nursing Center:
Licensed Practical Nurse, Name of Hospital, Location date – Present
Nurse’s Assistant, Name of Nursing Center Location date – Date
Nurse’s Assistant, Name of Nursing Center, Location date – Date
Provide high quality nursing care for patients, with responsibility for:
Oxygen Therapy; Tracheotomy Care; Vital Signs; Wound Care; Nasopharyngeal and Oral Suctioning; Intravenous Therapy; Application of Dressings; Insertion of Catheters
- Follow up with timely and accurate charting procedures and verify prior shift information.
- Conduct initial assessment of patients upon admission and assist with discharge planning.
- Report changes in patients’ conditions routinely and when requiring immediate attention.
- Collect specimens from patients for laboratory testing.
- Monitor, evaluate and record food and liquid intake and output levels.
- Orientation of new personnel in areas of patient care, medical practices and procedures.
- Operate equipment and assistive devices to safely transfer patients dispensing of medications.
Education
NAME OF COLLEGE, Location
Currently enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program
Expected Date of Graduation: XXXX
NAME OF COLLEGE, Location
Licensed Practical Nurse Program
Certificate of Completion, Date
Licenses/Certifications
XXXX State Licensed Practical Nurse, Date
XXXX State Certified Nursing Assistant, Date
CPR Certified for Adults and Children
As has been said previously, do not simply take the LPN resume example and insert your own information in the blanks. How many other candidates do you think will be doing the same thing? It is better if you simply use it as a guideline and personalize it as much as possible.
