Embarking on your journey as a licensed practical nurse, you’ve diligently sent out resumes, only to discover that a compelling cover letter is what can truly open doors. Unlike the resume, your cover letter is your chance to spotlight a singular professional triumph that you're especially proud of. It's about striking the perfect balance: being formal without falling into the trap of clichés, and impactful without exceeding one page. Let's navigate this together, ensuring your cover letter resonates with your future employer.
- Including all the must-have paragraphs in your structure for an excellent first impression;
- Learning how to write individual sections from industry-leading cover letter examples;
- Selecting the best accomplishment to tell an interesting and authority-building professional story;
- Introducing your profile with personality, while meeting industry standards.
And, if you want to save some time, drag and drop your licensed practical nurse resume into Enhancv's AI, which will assess your profile and write your job-winning cover letter for you.
If the licensed practical nurse isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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Licensed Practical Nurse cover letter example
Amelia Miller
San Diego, California
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Highlighting quantifiable achievements, such as the "implementation of care plans for over 150 patients" and "reducing inpatient stays by an impactful 10%" serves to showcase the applicant's ability to deliver results and contribute positively to the organization's objectives.
- Stressing experience in relevant initiatives, like leading a "quality improvement task force," directly relates to the role and displays initiative and leadership—critical for roles that demand innovation and a proactive approach to patient care and cost management.
- Mentioning effective negotiation skills that led to a "notable 12% cutting of annual healthcare costs" is a strategic way to indicate the candidate's proficiency in financial stewardship, a valuable asset in managed care environments where fiscal responsibility is paramount.
- Proactive communication by inviting the hiring manager to "arrange a detailed conversation at your earliest convenience" demonstrates eagerness and readiness to engage, suggesting the candidate's strong interpersonal skills and professionalism.
The format of your licensed practical nurse cover letter: structure, fonts, margins, and more
Your licensed practical nurse cover letter should include a header (with your name, position, and date); a greeting and introductory paragraph; a body and closing paragraphs; and an optional signature.
Remember that you're writing your licensed practical nurse cover letter for recruiters - as the Applicant Tracker System won't scan this content.
Here are a few more tips and tricks to keep in mind when formatting your licensed practical nurse cover letter:
- Use the same font in your licensed practical nurse cover letter and resume. We recommend modern fonts, e.g. Lato and Rubik, to help you stand out, instead of the stereotypical Arial and Times New Roman.
- Each paragraph should have single spacing, which is already set up for you in our cover letter templates.
- Our cover letter builder follows industry standards for your licensed practical nurse cover letter formatting - with a one-inch margin, surrounding your content.
- Always export your licensed practical nurse cover letter in PDF to ensure the image or text quality stays the same and your writing isn't moved about.
The top sections on a licensed practical nurse cover letter
Header: This includes the nurse's full name, contact information, date, and the employer's details, setting a professional tone and ensuring the recruiter can easily follow up.
Greeting: A personal salutation addresses the hiring manager by name, demonstrating attention to detail and a personalized approach to the application.
Introduction: Outline why you are interested in the LPN position and provide a concise summary of your qualifications that align with the nursing job, establishing relevance and intent.
Body: Elaborate on specific nursing skills, experiences, and achievements relevant to an LPN's role, such as patient care, collaboration with healthcare teams, and technical competencies, to demonstrate how you would be a valuable addition to the staff.
Closing: Make a compelling final argument for your candidacy, reiterate your enthusiasm for the opportunity, and indicate a desire for a personal interview, leaving the recruiter with a strong, memorable conclusion.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Clinical skills and competency: Recruiters look for LPNs with a strong foundation in nursing practices, including administering medications, taking vital signs, and wound care, ensuring they can provide effective patient care.
- Attention to detail: Due to the hands-on nature of the job, it's critical for LPNs to accurately follow treatment plans, and document patient care, which reduces medical errors and enhances patient outcomes.
- Communication skills: Essential for interacting with patients, families, and the healthcare team, LPNs must be able to convey information clearly and compassionately, as well as listen effectively.
- Adaptability and flexibility: Since healthcare settings are dynamic, LPNs must be ready to adjust to changing situations and patient needs, demonstrating their ability to work well under pressure.
- Practical experience: Recruiters value LPNs with experience in relevant healthcare settings, whether it's in long-term care, home health, or hospital environments, indicating that the candidate can hit the ground running.
- Compassion and empathy: As frontline caregivers, LPNs must show genuine care for patients’ well-being, a quality that ensures a positive and comforting experience for those in their care.
How to address hiring managers in your licensed practical nurse cover letter greeting
Goodbye, "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To whom it may concern!"
The salutation of your licensed practical nurse cover letter is how you kick off your professional communication with the hiring managers.
And you want it to start off a bit more personalized and tailored, to catch the recruiters' attention.
Take the time to find out who's recruiting for the role (via LinkedIn or the company page).
If you have previously chatted or emailed the hiring managers, address them on a first or last name basis.
The alternative is a "Dear HR team" or "Dear Hiring Manger", but remember that a "Dear Ms. Simmons" or "Dear Simon," could get you farther ahead than an impersonal greeting.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Specific Department] Team,
- Dear [Employer's Name],
- Dear [Employer's Name] and Team,
- Dear [Company Name] Hiring Committee,
- Dear [Company Name] Recruitment Team,
Your licensed practical nurse cover letter introduction and the value you bring
Moving on from the "Dear Recruiter" to your professional introduction.
Use those first two sentences of your licensed practical nurse cover letter to present the biggest asset you'd bring to the organization.
Don't go into too much detail about your achievement or the skill set, but instead - go straight for the win.
That is - what is your value as a professional?
Would you be able to build stronger, professional relationships in any type of communication? Or, potentially, integrate seamlessly into the team?
What to write in the body of your licensed practical nurse cover letter
Now that you've got your intro covered, here comes the heart and soul of your licensed practical nurse cover letter.
It's time to write the middle or body paragraphs. This is the space where you talk about your relevant talent in terms of hard skills (or technologies) and soft (or people and communication) skills.
Keep in mind that the cover letter has a different purpose from your licensed practical nurse resume.
Yes, you still have to be able to show recruiters what makes your experience unique (and applicable) to the role.
But, instead of just listing skills, aim to tell a story of your one, greatest accomplishment.
Select your achievement that:
- covers job-crucial skills;
- can be measured with tangible metrics;
- shows you in the best light.
Use the next three to six paragraphs to detail what this success has taught you, and also to sell your profile.
Two ideas on how to end the final paragraph of your licensed practical nurse cover letter
Closing your licensed practical nurse cover letter, you want to leave a memorable impression on recruiters, that you're a responsible professional.
End your cover letter with how you envision your growth, as part of the company. Make realistic promises on what you plan to achieve, potentially, in the next six months to a year.
Before your signature, you could also signal hiring managers that you're available for the next steps. Or, a follow-up call, during which you could further clarify your experience or professional value.
What could you write about in your licensed practical nurse cover letter when you have no experience
Candidates with zero professional experience often struggle to write their licensed practical nurse cover letter.
You may lack experience, but your application could still be impressive when you focus on your strengths.
Consider your most relevant talents (and/or one achievement) that align with the role and help you stand out.
Perhaps you spent every summer volunteering at your local dog pound - think of the job-relevant skills this experience taught you.
Sharing your tangible career goals is another good strategy to stand out.
Key takeaways
Turning your licensed practical nurse cover letter into a success is all about staying authentic to yourself and relevant to the job:
- Be creative with your licensed practical nurse cover letter introduction by stating something you enjoy about the company (that is genuine) or about your skill set (to get the recruiters' interested);
- Use single spacing and have a one-inch margin wrapping all around the content of your licensed practical nurse cover letter;
- Select just one past achievement from your career or life to tell a story of how you've obtained job-crucial skills and how they'd be beneficial to the role;
- The finishing paragraph of your licensed practical nurse cover letter doesn't necessarily have to be a signature but could be a promise of what you plan to achieve in the role;
- Instead of focusing on your lack of experience, spotlight your transferable skills, one relevant achievement, and career dreams.
