LPN to RN resume help

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I've been an LPN since 2008 and recently became licensed as an RN in June of this year.

I'm having a hard time redoing my resume. How would one, who is a new grad/licensed RN with LPN work experience, do a resume? I've looked at new grad nurse resumes and they all seem more focused on skills/clinical rotations etc. I would do something like that but since I was an LPN, I was able to skip the first year of the nursing classes and clinicals...which means if I listed clinical rotations I'd have some from 2007-2008 and others from 2012-2013. I've looked at other examples of experienced nurse resumes it doesn't really highlight my new grad skills/rotations etc..ughh! If I try to incorporate both the new grad style resume w/the experienced LPN one, the resume gets out of control in terms of length.

I am looking for something that shows that while I'm a new grad RN I do have several years of LPN experience under my belt. Something that will highlight my 25+ years of health care experience (all different aspects from pharmacy tech to nurse and pretty much everything in between) but is on the shorter side.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Use a template from Microsoft office or some other software and just fill in the blanks. Forget about clinical content. The hiring manager is already aware of what clinicals entail if you have a valid nursing license. If you already have a resume, simply update it with the new education as you would update with new work experience. Some templates have pre-filled examples to provide some ideas. Create a cover page to accompany the resume as a way of 'selling' yourself. You cannot compare yourself to those who have no work experience as a nurse. Although you are a new RN, you're not in the same category.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

If you just feel compelled to discuss clinical content, incorporate that within the cover letter. Otherwise, from my experience as an LPN-turned-RN, they view this as a nurse who is advancing her knowledge within the same field, just as an ASN in pursuit of a BSN and a BSN in pursuit of the MSN.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

Thank you, LYNDAA. What you suggested is how I have already updated my resume to include my new RN license number and college degree. I know that LPN experience does not equal RN experience but thought there was a way to showcase/highlight my experience other than just the 'work' section which would show my work years as an LPN (although I had spoken to some Nurse Managers during a career fair/student day and they did mention that they do look upon X amount of years as an LPN as equal to 1/2-1 yr of RN so they would not really look upon me as a new grad RN with no experience, luckily for me)

I didn't even think to 'jazz' up a cover letter to highlight my LPN work experience and other healthcare positions. I guess I can leave the resume as is and get creative w/my cover letter.

Thanks again!

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Great! I know all areas are different. But that is what I did and so far, it has worked well for me. I'm sure it will for you, too. Here, they allow credit for half of the total years of LPN experience when determining RN pay. So, with my first RN job, I received credit as if I had been an RN for 13 years as opposed to entry level pay. Good luck!

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

Great! I know all areas are different. But that is what I did and so far, it has worked well for me. I'm sure it will for you, too. Here, they allow credit for half of the total years of LPN experience when determining RN pay. So, with my first RN job, I received credit as if I had been an RN for 13 years as opposed to entry level pay. Good luck!

Where is 'here'? I'm in CT and I know of several hospitals that allow credit for LPN experience. I remember being told by one nurse manager, that it was something like 2 yrs of LPN = 1/2 yr of RN.