LVN resume

Nurse Cathy Foley · Oct 6, 2010

I would certainly put clinical experience on the resume. I wouldn't go into detail of what you did and didn't do, but I would highlight what hospitals you went to for which class (IE: Happy Hospital- Maternity, Med/Surg). If it is your only experience in a hospital it will be very valuable to have this on your resume.

The most important tips I can give are:

-Make sure the resume is neat

-Have a clear objective that relates to the job you are applying for (IE: passion for caring for children for a pediatric position, passion for elderly population for a position in a LTCF)

-Always be honest

-When you write about previous jobs and describe what you did, highlight things that would be beneficial in nursing (IE: if you were a cashier at a fast food place don't write "I took orders and cleaned the store", write "I maintained high standards of customer service during high-volume, fast-paced operations". That shows that you can work well in a fast-paced environment, which is very important to be able to do as a nurse).

- Put your references on your resume. Have at least one nurse and one teacher as a reference as well.

Good luck!

Cathy Foley, LPN :nurse:

MyLady23 · Oct 6, 2010

I put in my other work experience also. It just shows that you are flexible.

@Nurse Cathy Foley:

Thank you, very well written!

kauragious · Oct 7, 2010

oh ok cool thanks... i m like in my early 20's and the first job i had was the CNA job and i was expecting that place to transfer me as a LVN to their other facility but they didn't so i don't have alot of experience in the job field i only worked as a cna for 3 years but thanks i will put down my clinicals... so hopefully i get a job soon being at home is soooo boring!

PNnurse2 · Oct 13, 2010

I would certainly put clinical experience on the resume. I wouldn't go into detail of what you did and didn't do, but I would highlight what hospitals you went to for which class (IE: Happy Hospital- Maternity, Med/Surg). If it is your only experience in a hospital it will be very valuable to have this on your resume.
The most important tips I can give are:
-Make sure the resume is neat
-Have a clear objective that relates to the job you are applying for (IE: passion for caring for children for a pediatric position, passion for elderly population for a position in a LTCF)
-Always be honest
-When you write about previous jobs and describe what you did, highlight things that would be beneficial in nursing (IE: if you were a cashier at a fast food place don't write "I took orders and cleaned the store", write "I maintained high standards of customer service during high-volume, fast-paced operations". That shows that you can work well in a fast-paced environment, which is very important to be able to do as a nurse).
- Put your references on your resume. Have at least one nurse and one teacher as a reference as well.
Good luck!
Cathy Foley, LPN

Hi Cathy Foley, I have been a CNA for 4 years and work for HH Agency for 7rs as HHA.I got my LPn August 09 and did pretty much the tips you gave, sad to say i am still unemployed. They questions asked by employers are not how long you've been an LPN , but have you been working as an lpn for a year, do you have a yr in LTC, acute,med-surg.. etc. Even my current agency won't me without a yr under my belt. Thanks for the tip i am sure it will be useful to someone.

LeapfromLVNtoBSN · Oct 14, 2010

Hi Cathy Foley, I have been a CNA for 4 years and work for HH Agency for 7rs as HHA.I got my LPn August 09 and did pretty much the tips you gave, sad to say i am still unemployed. They questions asked by employers are not how long you've been an LPN , but have you been working as an lpn for a year, do you have a yr in LTC, acute,med-surg.. etc. Even my current agency won't me without a yr under my belt. Thanks for the tip i am sure it will be useful to someone.

I am in the same boat....I'm on this site looking for help and ideas. I graduated in May, license in hand in August and nothing.......not even an interview. I started off applying even if it said one year exp. required and now I've kind of backed off from that. I don't know what to do anymore. I have became quite creative on ways to looks for my first job. I do not care where I work, I just NEED to work!

king_of_the_hill_fan · Nov 4, 2010

I too am in the unemployed boat - graduated in May, licensed in October, ready to rock and roll. I'm even IV certified! And nothing...so far it's tough for new grads. Sigh...it's gotta get better - something's gotta come up, right?

purple10 · Nov 6, 2010

here is an example of what my first resume had:

Education:

Practical Nursing [enter degree type like diploma/associate] [dates]

[enter school name, city, state]

Clinical sites:

#1

#2

#3 (and so on)

Duties performed as a student nurse: vital signs; personal care; wound care; medication administration; IVs; injections; trach care; patient education; mental health; postpartum; mother and baby; catheters; CPR; phlebotomy; peg tubes / G-tubes; charting; nurse's notes; infectious diseases; contact precautions; sexual health; vaccinations; flu clinic (or whatever you did in clinicals)

make sure all margins and indents are set, so it doesnt look like a mess

hope this helps, good luck:)

red2003xlt, LPN · Nov 7, 2010

We're in the process of writing resumes in my resumes in my LPN class.

Your resume is your sales paper, so sell your education first and foremost. Then work history especially if it's nursing related.

Where you put a summary or highlights of skills/qualifications is up to you. I put my summary of skills ahead of my history as I'm career changer.

Do not put references on your resume. Take an updated list with names and numbers with you on the interview.

Lastly,

1. are our

2. their there and they're.

:)