INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LPN positions are at a 9% growth rate, which is as fast as average. With that said, there are currently 688,100 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 63,800 to 751,900 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the LPN jobs was $48,820 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $35,570, and the highest 10% more than $65,520.
Our conclusion? The LPN job market is wide open for candidates.
Top LPN sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write a LPN resume experience section
LPN resume experience: checklist
- Use either chronological or reverse-chronological format when listing your previous jobs;
- Mention only relevant positions that add value to your resume;
- Briefly state the challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve overcome them;
- Highlight the results from your efforts (for bonus points, add numbers, percentage rates, etc.);
- Forget about buzzwords! Use power verbs instead.
Use the examples below to build your own experience section!
- Administered feeding and medication via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy to Pediatric patients.
- Administered adequate nutritional intake and output
- Performed aseptic dressing changes to PICC line.
- Patient teaching to families on proper care for patients
- Monitored rate, depth, and patterns of respirations
- Tracheotomy care, G-Tube care, administered medication
- Provided hands on patient centered care
- Conducted patient assessments and administered medications
- Developed organizational and prioritization skills while providing care for 20+ residents
- Communicated significant changes in patient condition with physician
- Coordinate delegation of appropriate patient care to certified nursing assistants (CNA's)
- Assisted residents with ADL's, dispensing and administering medications and performing daily Medicare assessments.
- Performed admissions and discharges of residents
- I supervised CNA staff
- Monitored infection control procedures to ensure facility-wise health and safety.
- Checked in on patients at regular intervals to record food and fluid intake and output, taking measures to promote healthy levels as needed.
- I charted changes in patient conditions and discussed concerns such as adverse reactions with supervising healthcare provider.
- Received and documented physicians' orders.
- I worked with long-term care and assisted living residents.
- Conducted resident assessments and provided all aspects of patient care including medication administration, wound care, IV management, tube/feeding care and maintenance, intake and output monitoring, patient hygiene, range of motion (ROM) exercises, injection/enema preparation and dispensation, catheter/tracheotomy care, CNA supervision, admissions and discharges, and patient education and support
- Performed CNA duties such as feeding, toileting, positioning, bathing , and grooming patients
- Employed MAR and documentation processes
- Trained on professional standards including pharmacology, lab values, infection control, ethics and legal compliance (including HIPAA), resident’s rights, and care plan implementation
- Assignments included:The Gardens Health & Rehab (Greystone), 2016 – 2018 (per diem)Armor Correctional (Volusia County Jail), 2016 – 2017 (per diem)Viera Health & Rehab (Greystone), 2016-2017Kindred Hospital, 2016Solaris/Merritt Island Health & Rehab, 2015 - 2016Rockledge Health & Rehab (Greystone), 2014 - 2015 (per diem)CSI Healthcare, 2014 – 2016 (per diem)
- Provided skilled nursing interventions in the treatment of the patient's illness, rehabilitative needs and preventive care
- Utilized a holistic approach in the provision of problem-specific therapeutic interventions, teachings and training activities in accordance with the plan of care.
- Engaged with the RN supervisor regarding needed changes in the plan of treatment
- Provided hands-on care and patient education utilizing Gentiva Care Notes
- Provided quality-nursing care through professional practice and clinical competence to individuals and families as instructed by a physician
- Performed routine clinical procedures
- Participate in patient education and pain control
- Entered appropriate documentation into patient's charts
- Provided skilled nursing interventions in the treatment of the patient's illness, rehabilitative needs and preventive care.
- Utilized a holistic approach in the provision of problem-specific therapeutic interventions, teachings and training activities in accordance with the plan of care
- Responsible for pain management and assist with daily care needs
- Communicated with family and other members of hospice staff about changes in conditions
- Assisted nurse with performing wound care dressing.
- Assisted nurse with administering oral medication and IM medications.
- Assisted Registered Nurse in changing patient's position, and the gown.
- Performed data collection.
- Performed wound care dressing changes on patients.
- Obtained finger stick blood glucose test assisted by the clinical instructor.
- Assisted patients with activities of daily living.
- Performed vital signs.
- Assisted clinical instructor in performing a physical assessment, abdominal assessment.
- Supervised, oriented, and educated direct care staff at a long-term care facility.
- Reviewed for accuracy electronically entered orders and documentation.
- Attended daily and monthly meetings to review daily census, facility procedures, and specific patient needs.
- Followed and oriented staff to facility and state regulations for nursing care, safety, and infection control.
- Responsible to issue education and discipline to immediate staff
PRO TIP
In writing your LPN resume, you will no doubt want to list your previous duties - as you should. But steer clear of just listing your duties, instead of your achievements. Make your resume stand out by communicating what you have done, and not merely what the job needed you to do.
Action verbs for your LPN resume
Recommended reads:
LPN resume: the skills section!
How to write a strong LPN resume skills section?
- Make sure to include all types of skills - soft, hard, technical;
- Focus on skills that show your expertise in the field;
- Check the job description for keywords and make sure to add them to your resume – this will help you pass ATS;
- Leave room for discussion – elaborate on some of your strongest skills in other sections of your resume
Top skills for your LPN resume
Wound Dressing
IV Therapy
Medication Admini
Oxygen Therapy
Cathether Insertion
Tracheotomy Care
Diabetic Education
Colostomy Care
G Tube Feeding/Care
Communication
Compassion
Patience
Flexibility, adaptability, and emotional stability
Proactive, ethical, and responsible nature
Honesty
Team-player
Strong work ethic
Time management
PRO TIP
When picking skills to feature in your resume, make sure they'll be relevant to the position you’re applying to. The point of listing skills is for you to stand out from the competition. Stay away from repetitive, meaningless skills that everyone uses in their resumes. Or else, they’ll backfire and make you look like an average candidate.
Recommended Reads:
LPN resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your LPN resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have policies about identifying information like photos on your LPN resume. Be sure to check all the relevant rules before submitting yours. If you’re in doubt, you can always try contacting the company’s HR department to ask for their policy.
A career summary for your LPN resume
Things to include in your LPN resume summary:
- Your total years of experience in the industry;
- 2-3 of your most remarkable achievements so far;
- How your experience relates to the position you’re applying for;
- A very brief description of your strengths.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Read the job description carefully and understand what the hiring company is exactly looking for. After that, write your summary accordingly while highlighting your potential and ability to be the best at that job.
Recommended reads:
LPN resume: The education section
Things to include in your resume's education section:
- Your highest education degree – including course, year of graduation, institution;
- Awards received as part of your education;
- Extracurricular activities that have helped you gain relevant skills;
- Certifications that have helped you master new skills and increase your expertise;
- Entry-level applicants only: relevant courses and projects.
Top certifications for your LPN resume
Oracle Apps WMS and MSCA Training
Oracle EBS R12 Oracle Warehouse Management and Mobile Supply Chain Training
Key Configurations & Setups in Oracle WMS Cloud: SCM
Oracle Warehouse Management Cloud 2020 Implementation Essentials | 1Z0-1045-20
R12i Order Management Fundamentals (on R12.2.3)
Order Management is the core of an Oracle E-Business Suite Order-To-Cash (O2C) Solution
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Choosing the right format for your LPN resume
In general, there are three basic formats for your resume:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Some things to consider when choosing the right format for your LPN resume include the stage of your career, whether you have all the right skills required for the job or are looking for an industry change, and what field you’re looking to grow in.
The reverse-chronological resume format is the most common one. It lets you describe your most recent job and then move backward. This makes it great for people who have around or less than 10 years of experience and are looking to highlight only their work-related skills and qualities.
If you’re just starting your career journey and reverse-chronological resumes sound too demanding, go for the functional resume format. It’s ideal for showcasing your strengths, personal qualities, skills, education, and the courses you’ve taken, without putting too much pressure on experience and expertise.
Don’t worry if neither of these sounds suitable for you – the hybrid or combination resume format will surely match your needs. It’s similar to the reverse-chronological, but with a catchy twist. Combination or hybrid resumes are great for showcasing both your experience and work-related skills and your personal qualities. Add a “What my day looks like” section for enhancing the jaw-dropping experience!
Here are some more things worth remembering when it comes to formatting your LPN resume:
- Choose standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Go for traditional resume fonts sized 10-12p;
- Match the length of your LPN resume with your experience – choose a one-page template if you have less than 10 years of experience, and be careful with two-page templates – use them only when applying for executive positions;
- Save your resume in PDF to avoid formatting issues and potential unauthorized editing.
Tired of getting rejected? Check out this article on how to craft a resume that stands out!
Recommended reads.":
PRO TIP
If you feel that you don’t have high chances in a particular company, due to lack of relevant experience, then you can still consider using a creative layout. That might help you get noticed and invited for an interview, as most of the other applicants will have boring resume designs.
Other sections suitable for your LPN resume
Depending on the position and the industry, you can spice your resume up by adding some more sections. They will help the recruiter get a glimpse of who you are as a person, besides all your job-related skills and qualities.
Here are some examples:
How to add creativity to your LPN resume
Gone are the days when creative resumes were frowned upon by recruiters!
What’s more, the right amount of creativity will make recruiters remember you and want to learn more about who you are – both as an individual and as a professional.
There are two ways to build a creative resume - add creative sections or go for a more creative design approach in general. Go for whatever suits you, the position, and the industry most!
What makes a great LPN resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
