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How to Write a Successful LPN Resume

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor
nurse using tablet

If your LPN or LVN resume’s vitals are weak, examine this sample resume for ideas on how to revitalize your document. To be a successful candidate for top jobs as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), it’s crucial to have a professional LPN resume that makes you stand out from the competition. Here are our resume-writing tips to achieve exactly that.

LPN Headline

Every resume starts with your name, your contact information, and a headline that conveys your title and your specialty. But, how do you find the right headline for you? Here are some LPN resume headline examples to help you brainstorm:

Your LPN Resume Objective

If you’re an entry-level LPN, include an LPN objective after your headline, or a professional summary if you’re more seasoned. For an objective, focus on your career goals and the type of position you’re looking for. If you have experience under your belt, instead, let your accomplishments be your sales pitch.

Explain what skills make you an excellent nurse, what settings you've worked in, and what results you achieved with your commitment to providing quality patient care. Remember to keep it short and tailor it to the specific job you’re applying for - just like you’ll do on the rest of your resume.

How to Give an LPN Job Description for a Resume

When describing past LPN job experiences, avoid simply listing responsibilities. Instead, highlight your achievements using relevant KPIs for your field. For example, you could mention how you:

  • achieved a high accuracy in medication administration
  • reduced medication errors
  • improved patient healing rates with certain techniques
  • reduced documentation time
  • improved patients’ satisfaction rates

Doing this will frame your successes as measurable and showcase what you could bring to future roles as well.

The LPN Resume Skills Section

Finally, you can include an LPN skills list as its own section. Or you can incorporate your skills into your professional experience section, demonstrating how you've put your ability to care for patients to work on the job.

Both options are effective, as long as you pay attention to using the same keywords included in your target job opening. Some of the most common skills employers look for in LPN professionals include:

  • IV Therapy
  • patient assessment
  • CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • vital sign monitoring
  • patient advocacy
  • active listening
  • empathy
  • bedside manner
  • medical record keeping
  • ability to handle stressful situations

Check out our sample for an LPN or an LVN resume to see all our recommendations in practice.

LPN Resume

Danielle Harris, LPN

Helena, MT 59601 | (555) 555-5555 | name@mail.com | linkedin.com/danielle.harris

Licensed Practical Nurse

Experience in Home-Health and Pediatric Clinical Settings

Skilled LPN offering expertise in pediatric, geriatric, rehabilitative and post-operative care. Consistently earned praise from patients, family members and supervising clinical directors for delivering excellent nursing care. Eager to secure a full-time LPN position, available for all shifts.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Company One, Helena, MT

Licensed Practical Nurse, XX/20XX to Present

Delivered in-home nursing services that included:

Wound Dressing & Care | Ventilator & Tracheostomy Suctioning/Care | G-Tube Feedings & Care | Respiratory Treatments & Assessments | IV Therapy | Patient Bathing & Hygiene Assistance | Glucose Checks & Blood Pressure Monitoring | Rehabilitation Therapy

  • Traveled throughout 40-mile territory maintaining a 95% on-time arrival record to provide home-healthcare services to pediatric, adult, and elderly patients diagnosed with chronic/terminal conditions, convalescing from surgical procedures or recovering from serious illnesses and injuries.
  • Implemented rehabilitation and treatment plans, resulting in a 25% improvement in patient mobility and a 30% reduction in pain levels.
  • Conducted glucose checks and blook pressure monitoring, keeping an average blood pressure within normal range for 98% of patients.
  • Consistently assessed, monitored, and efficiently documented patient progress, symptoms and vital signs achieving a 30% reduction in documentation time while maintaining 100% accuracy.
  • Educated clients and their families on the safe treatment of injuries, illnesses, and conditions.

Clinic One, Helena, MT

Licensed Practical Nurse, XX/20XX to XX/20XX

Provided treatment to children with diagnoses including:

Cerebral Palsy | Prematurity | Autism | PDD-NOS | Developmental Delay | Down Syndrome | Fragile X | Velocardiofacial Syndrome | Hemifacial Microsomia | Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

  • Optimized wellness levels of medically fragile children, resulting in a 20% increase in overall wellness levels.
  • Assisted RNs and MDs with treatments, therapies and interventions to improve mobility, social/cognitive skills, respiratory functions and cardiovascular health.

EDUCATION, LICENSURE & CERTIFICATIONS

College One, Helena, MT

  • A.S. degree in Practical Nursing, (GPA: X.X)
  • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), State of Montana
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), State of Montana

College Two, Helena, MT

  • Nurse's Aide Program

CERTIFICATIONS

IV Therapy | Gerontology | CPR

LPN Employment Prospects

Being an LPN is a stable career with a great outlook for the future. Job growth is expected to stay at a steady 5%, faster than the average of all the occupations.

The economy will need about 54,000 professionals per year over the next ten years. So, start thinking about which areas you’d like to work in now.

Industries with the highest level of employment for LPNs include:

  • nursing care facilities
  • home health care services
  • general medical and surgical hospitals
  • offices of physicians
  • continuing care retirement communities
  • assisted living facilities for the elderly

LPN Salaries

The wage for licensed practical nurses ranges between $22.98 and $29.86 per hour on average. That’s between $47,798 and $62,108 per year.

Of course, how much you could make in this role also depends on your industry, experience on your LPN resume and location. For instance, LPN nurses in nursing care facilities earn on average $61,690 per year, whereas those in personal care services reach around $58,620 per year.

Similarly, LPN nurses in Louisiana bring home around $54,620 per year, while in Washington they make $61,193 per year. You can find the median wage for LPNs in your area by using Monster’s Salary Tool.

Once you’re ready to start applying for jobs as a licensed practical nurse, check out all the LPN opportunities listed on Monster. Or you can search exclusively in these metropolitan areas where LPN jobs are needed the most:

Get Your LPN Resume Checked Out

Make the most of being in high demand and aim for the top jobs available. Need some help standing out to hiring managers? Use Monster’s Resume Writing Service for a complete work-up of your LPN resume. We’ll show you how to present your skills and experience in an effective way and find the best keywords for your target job.