Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) resume examples & templates

Between the global health crisis and an aging population, there’s a continued shortage of healthcare workers. Licensed Practical Nurses, or LPNs, help fill the gaps by providing the basic care that allows doctors and RNs to treat more people at a time.

Even with this shortage, landing an LPN job requires a standout resume. Because nurses are on the front lines of patient care, they must have exceptional patient care skills, empathy, and knowledge of nursing procedures. 

LPNs are essential to the healthcare field and can find positions in several settings. All it takes is a great LPN resume to help you land the interview and get started making a difference in the medical field. 

Resume guide for a licensed practical nurse resume

Luckily, Resume.io is here to help. With 500+ resume examples and writing guides, and a helpful resume builder, we’re an expert resource for professionals across industries and experience levels.

This resume guide, along with the corresponding LPN resume example, will cover the following topics:

• How to write an LPN resume
• The best format for an LPN resume
• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Adding your nursing experience
• Listing your education and credentials
• Picking the right resume design and layout
• What the LPN market looks like and what salary you can expect

How to write a licensed practical nurse resume

The very first step in writing your LPN resume is understanding what sections to include. Your resume should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

By following this structure, you’ll be able to create an LPN resume that shows organization and seriousness about the position, both of which are important for the medical field. You’ll want to take a balanced approach to writing your LPN resume. While practical skills are the basis of your work, your resume is also a good place to show your empathetic nature and commitment to a high standard of patient care. This all comes together to form your unique value proposition. 

For the best LPN resume, follow this formula:

• Highlight your accomplishments, rather than your responsibilities. It’s clear to most people what a nurse does in their day-to-day job, but you can stand out by sharing your specific accomplishments and achievements.
• Tailor your resume to the job. Read the job description closely to understand the employer’s ideal candidate and the duties of the particular job. A position in a pediatric private practice will look a lot different than that of an assisted living facility.
• Convey a professional, organized image with a resume template that’s polished and easy to read.
• Fill your resume with the relevant keywords that make your talents clear whether your resume is reviewed by a human or ATS screening software.

Choosing the right resume format for licensed practical nursing

The best resume format for LPNs with some amount of previous experience is the reverse chronological format. This is the “traditional” resume format that focuses on the employment history section. 

A functional format, which focuses more on skills and less on employment history, is not the best choice for a role in medicine. However, if you’re just setting off on your LPN career and want an alternative format, you could consider a hybrid format that includes your prior experience but also showcases your transferable skills.

Whichever you choose, we have several resume templates in our resume builder, along with versions of the three formats available as resume examples.

As for the layout, consider using a clear, well-formatted simple layout. 

Include your contact information

The header occupies the space at the very top of your resume and serves as your resume’s business card. In other words, it showcases your name and contact information so it’s easy for the hiring manager to get in touch. 

It’s most important to present this information in a professional, accessible way. Follow these best practices:

• Full name & title. List your first and last name and the title of the role you are pursuing.
• Professional email address. Use a simple format like [email protected], not anything silly or unprofessional.
• Phone number. List a number where you can be readily contacted, with a professional voicemail greeting and an inbox that isn’t full.
• Location. List only your city and state, not your zip code or full street address (that’s both outdated and unsafe). If you’re willing to relocate, note “ Willing to Relocate” here.
• LinkedIn. While LinkedIn is less common among nursing professionals, if you have a LinkedIn profile that is active, relevant, and shows your network, include it here.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth. This isn’t necessary and could open you up to age discrimination.
• Personal details. Leave off your marital status, social security number, passport number, etc.
• Photo or headshot. It’s not customary to include a headshot for medical resumes, so leave off the photos.

Make use of a summary

When you meet a new patient, you don’t just get their vital signs. You introduce yourself, share more about what they can expect at their appointment, and start building a relationship. 

Your resume summary, or profile, serves a similar purpose. In 2-3 sentences, you can introduce yourself to the employer as an empathetic, patient-focused nurse. It allows you to call the hiring manager’s attention to your education and experience, while also offering a touch of your personality.

Use action verbs to show your relevant qualifications and past achievements. Include quantifiable accomplishments where you can, rather than simply repeating what’s elsewhere on the page. For instance, you might include a line stating, “Consistently exceeded the goal for patients per hour with high patient satisfaction ratings.” 

You can find adaptable LPN resume example summaries below:

Outline your LPN work experience 

For a strong LPN work experience section, start with your current or most recent job and work your way back. Only go back the last 10-15 years and stick to experience that’s directly related to the role you’re targeting. 

Include the job title, employer name, dates worked, and location. Then offer 4-5 bullet points that summarize your responsibilities, achievements, and skills. Omit the use of pronouns like “I” or “my” and be as concise as possible. 

Don’t just list past job duties or responsibilities. For example, you’ve probably seen a task-based resume with bullet points like this:

• “Provide patient care.”
• “Attend to patients’ needs at appointments.”
• “Complete necessary documentation.”

While that makes it clear what sort of work you did, it doesn’t show off how you uniquely benefited the company or the patients. Replace vague bullets like these with numbers, statistics, or other results-based points to show off your impact. See how it transforms the content:

• “Provide 10 patients per hour with optimal care in close collaboration with physicians and interdisciplinary nursing team.”
• “Attend to patients' daily needs, including assistance with cleaning and mobility, administering medication, and monitoring IVs.”
• “Ensure patients were fully outfitted for admittance and release, including 100% on-time completion of necessary documentation and education on effective recovery techniques.”

Take a look at the LPN employment history resume sample below:

How to write an LPN resume with no experience

While you’ll need a certification to work as an LPN, everyone starts somewhere. If you’ve just earned your certification but haven’t yet worked as a nurse, there are ways you can emphasize your transferable skills, education, and passion for the field to land the job even if you lack direct experience. 

Focus on your education and certification(s), making it clear that you’ve recently undergone relevant nursing training. This will show that you’ve taken the necessary steps to enter the industry and that you have the required medical knowledge.

Then, call out your transferable skills. For instance, working with patients requires excellent customer service and communication skills. You must be able to work well in a fast-moving, sometimes chaotic environment. 

Don’t overlook relevant experiences like volunteer work. Maybe you’ve helped organize blood drives or vaccine clinics. Even if you weren’t the one providing the direct care, the experience can bolster your candidacy as an LPN. Plus, it shows your passion for the medical field. 

Include the relevant key skills that make you a great LPN

The skills section is a roundup of all your top qualifications. Include both hard and soft skills to showcase your comprehensive nursing expertise. Hard skills are demonstrable, measurable skills like knowledge of specific medical procedures, the ability to check vital signs, medication administration, CPR, or electronic health record (EHR) systems.

Soft skills are also important, like empathy, patient service, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.   

Our resume builder offers plenty of pre-written skills to choose from as well as the option to write in your skills.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our LPN resume template. 

However, this section isn't the only place to show off your LPN skills on your resume. Instead, include them throughout your resume to show them in action. Specific examples and metrics will bring your skills to life and add credibility. 

For example, in your work history and summary sections, highlight your

• Nursing expertise by describing your medical experience, types of patient care you’ve provided, and any specialties you’ve focused on.
• Customer service skills by showing how you support patient needs, offer a welcoming environment, and provide a calming presence in high-stress appointments.
• Technical knowledge by demonstrating your experience with electronic healthcare systems or other relevant software.

Read the job description and pull out specific skills the hiring team is looking for. 

Detail your education & relevant nursing certifications

The education section on a licensed practical nurse resume is fairly straightforward. Simply list your educational credentials and achievements. If you have a college degree, there’s no need to include high school information. Include the details of where you completed your education. Of course, be sure to add the details of your LPN exam and license number.  

This section is also a great opportunity to list other certifications or medical training. For example:

• Training and certifications. Additional nursing-related training, certificates, or even webinars or on-the-job training courses.
• Internships or apprenticeships. Any nursing-related apprenticeships or internships. Training that isn’t related to nursing may also be helpful if it adds to your value as a nurse, like, for instance, training in customer service that helped you work with patients.
• Professional development. Memberships in business or trade associations, like the National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (NALPN) show your commitment to your career.

Pick the right resume layout and design for an LPN resume

LPNs need to be efficient and organized, so your resume layout should be, too. A clean, easy-to-read design goes a long way in showing the hiring manager you’re a professional candidate serious about the position.

Make sure to use consistent font styles and sizes throughout your resume and include clear section titles like “Employment History” or “Education.” Keep a balance between text and whitespace to ensure your resume is easy to read.

Avoid flashy or eclectic resume designs with bright color schemes or graphics. A neutral or monochromatic look can still be stylish while conforming to the norms of hiring in the healthcare field.

Resume.io’s collection of professional resume templates can take the guesswork out of resume designs and allow you to focus on writing compelling content. 

LPN text-only resume example

LPN job market and outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the demand for LPNs to rise by 3 percent over the coming decade. Most of these new jobs will be found in residential care facilities and home health environments. Additionally, as chronic conditions like diabetes become more prevalent, there will be a need for LPNs to care for patients with such conditions. 

What type of salary you can expect in licensed practical nursing

Per the BLS, LPNs earn a median salary of $59,730 per year. They are typically paid hourly and are eligible for overtime hours when they work outside of a standard work week. 

The lowest 10 percent of LPNs earn under $45,670, while the highest 10 percent earn over $77,870. This may be impacted by the fact that LPNs can have flexible schedules, with some working more or less than full-time. 

Key takeaways for building an LPN resume

A career as a licensed practical nurse lets you serve as the helping hand of the medical field and is a highly in-demand role. Effective communication, customer engagement, and medical skills are paramount for success. Your LPN resume should reflect these skills to make a strong first impression. 

Kickstart your nursing job search with our online resume builder, then supercharge it with resume.io. 

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