Highlight your clinical skills and specialties

Hiring managers want to quickly see what clinical skills and specialties you bring to the table. Highlight these prominently in your resume, with specific examples:

• Experienced in wound care, catheterization, and administering medications via IV, IM, and PO routes
• Specialized in geriatric care, with 3+ years experience in long-term care facilities
• Skilled in patient assessment, care planning, and patient education

Avoid being too general or vague about your skills:

• Clinical skills
• Patient care
• Nursing procedures

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   Quantify your achievements with numbers

Numbers jump off the page and grab a hiring manager's attention. Whenever possible, quantify your achievements and responsibilities with specific metrics. Compare:

• Administered medications to patients
• Provided wound care to residents in a nursing home

To:

• Administered medications to 20-30 patients per shift
• Provided wound care to 50+ residents, reducing infection rates by 15%

Numbers provide context and show the scope and impact of your work.

   Show your experience across different healthcare settings

LVN nurses can work in a variety of settings, from hospitals to clinics to long-term care. If you have experience across different environments, showcase that in your resume. This shows your versatility and adaptability.

Examples:

• Provided patient care in fast-paced hospital settings, including med-surg, ICU, and ER
• Experienced in outpatient clinics, delivering primary and preventive care to diverse patient populations
• Skilled in long-term care, with knowledge of geriatric conditions and end-of-life care

   Include relevant certifications and training

In addition to your LVN license, list any other relevant certifications or specialized training you've completed. This can help you stand out from other candidates.

Good examples:

• IV Therapy Certification
• Wound Care Certification
• CPR and BLS Certified
• Completed 30-hour training in Dementia Care

Leave off unrelated or outdated certifications that don't add value, like:

• Food Safety Certification from 10 years ago
• Diversity Training (if not directly relevant to the job)

   Tailor your resume to the job description

One of the biggest mistakes I see is using the same generic resume for every job application. Instead, tailor your resume to the specific job you're applying for. Look at the job description and emphasize the skills and experience that match what the employer is looking for.

For example, if a job description mentions:

• "Experience with wound care and dressing changes"
• "Knowledge of infection control practices"

Then your resume should specifically highlight:

• Performed wound assessments, dressing changes, and VAC therapy on 10-20 patients per shift
• Educated patients and families on proper wound care and infection prevention, reducing readmission rates by 10%

   Include a strong summary statement

Start your resume with a strong summary statement that encapsulates your key skills and experience. This is your chance to make a great first impression and convince the hiring manager to keep reading.

A good summary statement for an LVN nurse might look like:

Licensed Vocational Nurse with 5+ years of experience providing compassionate patient care in hospital and long-term care settings. Skilled in wound care, medication administration, and patient education. Seeking to leverage my clinical expertise to deliver high-quality care at XYZ Hospital.

Avoid generic or fluffy statements like:

Hardworking and dedicated nurse looking for a challenging position where I can make a difference.

Instead, focus on your specific skills, experience, and what value you can bring to the role.