Licensed Practical Nurse Resume Examples & Templates
- 30% higher chance of getting a job‡
- 42% higher response rate from recruiters‡
Our customers have been hired at:*Foot Note
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) play a crucial role in the healthcare industry. They work under the supervision of registered nurses and physicians, providing basic patient care and assisting with medical procedures. LPNs are responsible for monitoring and recording patients’ vital signs, administering medications, changing dressings and bandages, and providing emotional support to patients and their families. They also collaborate with other healthcare professionals to create and implement patient care plans. LPNs can work in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies, and their compassionate care and attention to detail make them an essential part of the healthcare team.
You need a great resume if you want a job as a licensed practical nurse, so we’re here to help you build one. Our licensed practical nurse resume examples and guide to crafting an effective resume for a licensed practical nurse job will help you learn how to write a resume that makes the most of your compassion and clinical skills to stand out from the competition.
Start by editing this sample resume for a licensed practical nurse or explore our library of resume templates to find the best one for you.
Licensed practical nurse resume sample (text version)
Jordan Hale
Montclair, NJ 07042
(555) 555-5555
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Career Objective
Versatile and adaptable nurse assistant with a comprehensive understanding of patient care protocols and a commitment to promoting positive health care practices. Experienced in supporting patients with activities of daily living, mobility assistance and therapeutic exercises. Strives for continuous professional development in a licensed practical nurse (LPN) role to contribute to the success of the health care team.
Skills
- Medication administration
- Infection control
- Respiratory maintenance
- Patient education
- Electronic charting
- Team collaboration
- Adaptability and leadership
- Problem-solving
Professional Skills
Compassionate Patient Care
- Provided daily care for an average of 10 patients, ensuring their comfort and well-being.
- Supported nurses with simple medical procedures, such as wound dressing changes.
- Assisted in reducing patient fall rates by 20% through proactive monitoring and timely assistance.
Medical Documentation
- Organized and maintained 100 patient records and charts.
- Followed facility protocols for record-keeping, reducing documentation errors by 15%.
- Collaborated with the nursing team to streamline documentation processes, saving an average of 30 minutes per nurse per shift.
Vital Signs Monitoring
- Demonstrated proficiency in monitoring and recording vital signs, contributing to a 99% accuracy rate.
- Successfully identified and reported early signs of patient deterioration, preventing adverse events.
- Implemented a proactive vital sign monitoring system, resulting in a 25% reduction in critical incidents.
Work History
June 2021 – Current
Encompass Health – Montclair, NJ
Nursing Assistant
Education
- June 2023
Jersey College Teterboro, NJ
Licensed Practical Nurse Program - June 2021
Montclair High School Montclair, NJ
High School Diploma
Licenses
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) – (2023)
5 essentials of a top licensed practical nurse resume
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your resume; otherwise, hiring managers won’t know how to contact you for an interview. Display your contact information like so: Your full name, then your city, state and ZIP code, followed by your phone number and professional email address. Add your LinkedIn profile and professional website (if you have them) last.
Want more inspiration? We have 800+ resume examples to help you create the perfect licensed practical nurse resume.
Professional summary
A professional summary is where you introduce yourself on a resume, highlighting your top qualifications for the job in three to five sentences. A resume for a licensed practical nurse must include a professional summary with appropriate skills and one or two notable accomplishments, and it should touch on how long you’ve been in the industry. If you are just starting your career, use a licensed practical nurse resume objectiveinstead.
Here’s a great example of a strong licensed practical nurse resume summary:
“Experienced and dedicated licensed practical nurse with five years of experience in various health care settings. Demonstrated ability to provide exceptional patient care, collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, and maintain accurate medical records. Skilled in performing clinical procedures, administering medications, and educating patients and families. Proven track record of handling high-stress situations calmly and prioritizing patient safety. Current CPR and First Aid certifications. Seeking a challenging position in a reputable health care facility to utilize my skills and passion for providing quality care to patients.”
Review our licensed practical nurse resume examples on this page for more inspiration.
Skills
You’ve got to let potential employers know what skills you bring to the table. Create a separate section for your job-relevant skills and display them with bullet points to make them easy to read. Add a mix of skills, such as teamwork, communication, administering medication and use of electronic medical records.
Work history
Your licensed practical nurse resume employment history section should list current and previous employers and provide business names, locations and the dates you worked for each. Start from the most recent employer and work your way down. Include three bullet points of measurable accomplishments for every job you list. If you’re applying for your first job as a licensed practical nurse, it’s acceptable to highlight relevant extracurricular activities, coursework, presentations, volunteer experience and community service.
Your licensed practical nurse resume accomplishments might look like this:
- Trained and supervised 10 new nursing assistants, resulting in improved efficiency and patient satisfaction scores.
- Collaborated with the interdisciplinary team to reduce hospital-acquired infections by 20% within the first year of employment.
- Assessed and managed the care of critically ill patients, resulting in a 90% success rate in stabilizing patients before transfer to a higher level of care.
Education
Hiring managers expect to see an education section on a resume for a licensed practical nurse job. In your education section, add all the educational institutions you’ve attended after high school and display the names of the schools and the years that you graduated, starting from the most recent.
The education requirements for a licensed practical nurse vary depending on the state or province in which the individual plans to practice. However, most licensed practical nurses typically complete a post-secondary certificate or diploma program in practical nursing, which can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months to complete. After completing the education and training program, aspiring LPNs must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) in order to obtain their license.
See why MyPerfectResume is a 5-star resume builder
Action words for a standout licensed practical nurse resume
Action words strengthen resumes because they tell the hiring manager exactly what you did and convey confidence. Use them with numbers to make a more substantial impact.
Here’s a short list of perfect action words for a licensed practical nurse resume:
- Administer
- Monitor
- Document
- Assess
- Collaborate
- Educate
- Implement
- Prioritize
- Communicate
- Manage
Need the perfect resume for a licensed practical nurse job now? Our Resume Builder has all the tools you need to craft a professional resume in minutes! You can make edits as you go, download your finished resume and save it in multiple file formats. Just plug it into a registered license practical nurse resume sample and follow the prompts.
Top skills for a licensed practical nurse resume
Review the job description carefully and match the required skills to the skills and traits that fit you.
Your skills might include the following:
- Empathy
- Compassion
- Motivation
- Leadership
- First Aid/CPR
- Interpersonal skills
- Patience
- Communication
- Perception
- Adaptability
- Flexibility
- Mental agility
- Physical agility
- Respiratory maintenance
- Electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring
- Human anatomy
Certifications for a licensed practical nurse resume
Certifications for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are specialized credentials that demonstrate a nurse’s advanced knowledge and skills in a specific area. These certifications can help LPNs enhance their professional development and career opportunities. They also demonstrate to employers and patients a nurse’s commitment to providing high-quality care. LPN certifications are typically offered by professional organizations and require additional education, training and exams to obtain.
Some of the most common certifications for licensed practical nurses include:
- IV Therapy Certification
- Wound Care Certification
- Gerontology Certification
- Psychiatric & Mental Health Certification
- Long-Term Care Certification
- Pediatric Certification
- Oncology Certification
- Hospice & Palliative Care Certification
- Diabetes Management Certification
- Medication Administration Certification
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
Licensed practical nurse resume FAQ
What does a licensed practical nurse resume look like?
There is no standard licensed practical nurse resume template; you can use any of our resume templates and customize them for the job you want. A good resume for a licensed practical nurse will look much like the licensed practical nurse resume sample on this page. It will contain the job seeker’s contact information, skills, employment history, education and certifications, if applicable. A licensed practical nurse resume might also contain sections for awards and honors if the job candidate has them to display.
To make your licensed practical nurse resume stand out, tailor your resume to the job description and add any of the following if they apply to you:
- Clinical Skills: Include your proficiency in clinical skills such as administering medication, performing wound care and monitoring vital signs.
- Knowledge of Medical Terminology: A strong understanding of medical terminology is essential for an LPN. Display your knowledge of common medical abbreviations and terminology used in patient charts and documentation.
- Infection Control and Safety: LPNs must have a strong understanding of infection control and safety protocols to ensure the well-being of patients and prevent the spread of illnesses. Include any training or experience you have in this area.
- Specialized Certifications. If you have any specialized certifications, such as IV therapy or wound care, be sure to include them in your licensed practical nurse resume to stand out from other job candidates.
- Continuing Education: Potential employers value LPNs who are committed to ongoing learning and professional development. Highlight any continuing education courses or workshops you have completed to stay up to date in the field.
How can I highlight my relevant skills and experience most effectively in a licensed practical nurse resume?
There are several ways to make your licensed practical nurse resume skills and job qualifications shine in your resume. Here are a few:
- Showcase your educational background. As a licensed practical nurse, you have completed a rigorous education and training program. Make sure to highlight your degree, certification and any relevant coursework that showcases your knowledge and expertise in the field.
- Emphasize your clinical skills. Licensed practical nurses are required to have a strong set of clinical skills. Make sure to display your proficiency in areas such as patient assessment, medication administration, wound care and other technical skills that are relevant to the job. Punctuate those skills with action words and measurable achievements for impact. Create a separate category just for your technical skills in your skills section to make them pop.
- Showcase your communication and interpersonal skills. As a licensed practical nurse, you will be working closely with patients, families and other health care professionals. Employers are looking for candidates who have strong communication and interpersonal skills. Be sure to highlight any experience you have in this area, such as patient education, team collaboration, or conflict resolution and provide concrete examples of how you have used them to make a difference in previous jobs.
- Use keywords from the job description: Many employers use applicant tracking systems to scan resumes for specific keywords. To ensure your resume gets noticed, be sure to include relevant keywords from the job description throughout your resume.
- Provide concrete examples and quantifiable achievements. Instead of simply listing your skills and experience, provide specific examples of your work and quantifiable achievements to back them up. For example, instead of saying “strong time-management skills,” you could say “Managed a caseload of 50 patients while maintaining accurate and timely documentation.”
- Use the correct resume format. A well-organized and visually appealing resume will make it easier for hiring managers to skim through and identify your relevant skills and experience. Use bullet points and headings.
What are some tips for formatting resume for a licensed practical nurse job?
Not all resumes are created equal. Here are our top tips for crafting a perfect licensed practical nurse resume:
- Use the correct resume format for your experience and career goals.
- Add separate sections for extra training, certifications, licenses and awards.
- Keep your resume short and to the point. If you have less than 10 years of experience, it should be one page long; if you have more than 10 years of experience, then it’s acceptable to have no more than two pages.
- Ensure your resume is formatted correctly, meaning margins should be one inch on all sides and line space should be single or 1.5 inches.
- Only use appropriate fonts, like Times New Roman, Arial or Helvetica, in 11-12 points on the body and 14-16 points on headers.
- Proofread your resume more than once before sending it to potential employers.
Do’s and don’ts for building a licensed practical nurse resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your licensed practical nurse abilities and experience. For example, “Successfully administered medication to an average of 30 patients per shift with 100% accuracy.”
- Use action words like “monitor,” “evaluate” and “administer” to make an impact on your licensed practical nurse resume.
- Tailor your resume to your target licensed practical nurse job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your licensed practical nurse resume.
- Format your licensed practical nurse resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your licensed practical nurse experience and skills.
- Boast about your licensed practical nurse skills. Instead, highlight previous work accomplishments like “Implemented new patient care protocols resulting in a 25% decrease in medication errors.”
- Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience that do not pertain to being a licensed practical nurse.
- Forget to proofread. A licensed practical nurse resume with errors is unprofessional.
Top 4 tips for acing a licensed practical nurse interview
Learn about the institution.
It’s vital to take the time to learn about the institution or company’s history, goals, values and people before the job interview. Doing so conveys interest, passion and commitment — traits that can set you above the competition. Plus, a glimpse of the company culture early on will help you know what to expect and can boost your confidence.
Some things to consider:
- Scope of practice: Licensed practical nurses have a specific scope of practice that varies by state. It is important to research and understand the scope of practice allowed for LPNs in the state where you plan to work. This will help you determine the level of responsibility and tasks you will be able to perform in your role.
- Work Environment: Different hospitals and clinics may have different work environments, such as acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, or outpatient clinics. Consider the type of environment you prefer and make sure the hospital or clinic you are considering aligns with your preferences.
- Patient Population: LPNs may work with different patient populations, such as pediatric, adult, or geriatric patients. Consider the patient population you are comfortable working with and if the hospital or clinic serves that population.
- Team dynamics: As a licensed practical nurse, you will work closely with other health care professionals, such as registered nurses, physicians and other support staff. It is important to consider the team dynamics and if it aligns with your working style and preferences.
- Workload and patient ratio: LPNs may have varying workloads and patient ratios depending on the hospital or clinic. It is important to understand the expectations and responsibilities of the role and make sure it aligns with your capabilities and preferences.
Practice at home.
Practice really does make perfect. To practice for your interview, start by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as “What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?” and possible behavioral questions, such as “Tell me about a time when you were forced to think on your feet.”
Also, ensure you are ready to answer questions about your licensed practical nurse experience and abilities.
For example:
- What inspired you to become a licensed practical nurse?
- What experience do you have working with patients in a health care setting?
- Can you explain your understanding of the scope of practice for an LPN?
- How do you handle difficult or challenging situations with patients?
- Can you give an example of a time when you had to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment?
- How do you ensure patient safety and maintain confidentiality in your work as an LPN?
Write down two or three possible answers as you review potential questions, then review them with a friend or a family member in a mock interview so you can get comfortable with the questions and memorize your answers.
Ask questions.
You should always have at least three questions ready to ask every job interview you encounter; those who do tend to get hired more often than those who don’t because they show motivation, keen interest and thoughtfulness.
Some questions you might ask for a licensed practical nurse job are:
- What is the typical patient caseload for licensed practical nurses?
- How is patient care managed?
- What strategies are in place to ensure patient safety?
- What technology and equipment are used in the clinic?
- What policies and procedures are in place to ensure quality patient care?
Gather references.
You’ll need professional references quickly if the hiring manager offers you the job after the interview. Having them ready will save you stress and time, so prepare a list of two former colleagues and a former manager willing to speak to your abilities to perform the job of a licensed practical nurse and who you know will give you a stellar review.
Cover letter examples for the next step in your nursing career
CV examples for the next step in your nursing career
How we reviewed this article
Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.
Sources
- Chron. Article. Decker, Fred. List of Skills Needed in Practical Nursing
- Nurse Journal. Article. How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Licensed Practical Nurses and Vocational Nurses
Rate this article
LPN Resume Example
Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with extensive experience in digital media. She is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
More Articles by Kellie Hanna, CPRW