As a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), it’s essential to have a well-crafted resume that highlights your skills and experience. A strong resume can help you stand out in a competitive job market and land the nursing job you want. Some of the key elements of a successful RPN resume include your contact information, work experience, the education section, technical skills, and interpersonal skills, among others. However, there’s an art to doing it that can’t just be done in one go.
In this article, we will guide you how to write your resume as a practical nurse, from where to place your contact information to what relevant skills beyond the clinical scope to put, like compassionate care and emotional support, all the way to a compelling professional summary that will highlight your nursing skills, your track record as one of the healthcare professionals in your area, and your overall professional development that will pique the interest of your employer.
Now let’s explore the key sections of an RPN resume. In your job search, these are the different elements that the hiring manager assigned to be will be most interested in:
Start your resume with a brief objective or summary statement that highlights your qualifications and career goals. This section should be tailored to the job you’re applying for, as this concise statement gives hiring managers a quick understanding of what the nurse can offer their organization. The objective summary helps recruiters evaluate if the nurse has the skills and certifications needed for the job and if they align well with the organization’s mission and culture.
List your education and certification credentials in reverse chronological order. Include the name of the school or institution, the degree or diploma earned, and the date of graduation. This is because education provides a foundation of knowledge and skills necessary for providing quality patient care, while certification showcases a commitment to ongoing professional development and adherence to industry standards. Including these components in their resumes can help registered practical nurses demonstrate their expertise and make them more marketable in the competitive healthcare job market.
This is the most important section of your resume. List your clinical experience in reverse chronological order as well, starting with your most recent job. Include the name of the employer, the job title, and the dates of employment. Provide a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments in each job. Use action verbs to describe your experience (e.g., “administered medication,” “monitored vital signs,” and “assisted with procedures”).
In this section, list any additional skills or qualifications that make you a strong candidate for the job. For example, you might include language skills, computer skills, or specialized training. By including additional skills and qualifications in their resumes, RPNs can showcase their commitment to ongoing professional development and their ability to offer specialized services that set them apart from other healthcare professionals.
Including a cover letter allows you to showcase your unique qualifications, experience, and passion for the nursing field in a personalized way. A well-crafted cover letter serves as an introduction to your resume and provides insight into why you are the ideal candidate for the role. By highlighting your relevant skills, achievements, and career goals, you can demonstrate your commitment to providing high-quality patient care and your ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Cover letters allow you to address any gaps or discrepancies in your resume and explain how your background aligns with the specific requirements of the job. Overall, including a cover letter demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail, setting you apart from other applicants vying for the same position.
Before we dive into the specific sections of an RPN resume, it’s essential to understand the formatting guidelines. A clean, easy-to-read resume can make a positive impression on potential employers. Here are some basic rules to follow:
Limit your resume to one or two pages. Employers don’t have time to read lengthy resumes, so focus on the most important information. With this being said, know the difference between resumes and CVs. The curriculum vitae is known to be longer and explains the candidate’s background a little more. To be more concise, come up with a brief resume summary to sum up relevant topics related to your work history, years of experience, soft skills, and expertise to catch your prospective employer’s attention.
Choose simple, easy-to-read fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. Avoid using fancy or decorative fonts that may be difficult to read. Whether it be the work experience section or portion where you put your treatment plans or patient satisfaction scores, make sure the font is readable and easy on the eyes.
Use clear headings and bullet points to organize your resume. This will make it easy for employers to skim and find the information they need quickly, like if they need quality patient care, communication skills, or someone adept with software tools, you can easily get hired by matching their job description.
Customize your resume for each job you apply for. Highlight your skills and experience that match the job description - this makes for a good resume. If they’re looking for someone good with patient education or attending to patient needs, this must be put in the resume to make it tailor-fit and help you land your goal job in health care.
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when creating a resume for a practical nursing position:
Stick to the most important information related to the job you’re applying for. Don’t include personal information like your age, marital status, hobbies, or even the social media platforms you use. This doesn’t help the employers narrow down what they need from you, and might even be grounds for job application rejection, especially if overdone.
Keep your language professional and avoid using nursing jargon that may not be familiar to all employers. Make sure as well that you don’t use any informal or colloquial terminology, as this could be indicative of a lack of professionalism on your end.
Use strong, active verbs to describe your skills and experience. For example, instead of saying “I was responsible for,” say “I managed.” Choose more professional sounding words to leave a good impression on the HR managers or the employees assigned to assess you.
Check your resume carefully for spelling and grammatical errors. Ask a friend or family member to review it as well, so that you have an extra layer of editing and proofreading from an outsider. If they notice any errors or mistakes, by all means address these concerns.
If you need a resume template for an RPN/LPN resume, then we have just the thing for you. Resume writing is understandably complicated, but it doesn’t always have to be. You don’t need to worry about where to put your knowledge of measuring blood pressure or mastering of basic patient care—we have a sample resume for registered practical nurses, as well as for other related purposes or fields in healthcare. Here’s a sample resume for practical nurses that you may consider drawing inspiration from:
As a Canadian RPN, you may be interested in using a free resume builder like the one we offer. Caring Support’s free resume builder is a convenient and practical way to create a professional-looking resume for free, as part of our mission to make job search for healthcare professionals a better experience. It’s an excellent option for Canadian RPNs who want to make a strong first impression with potential employers.
This online tool allows you to quickly and easily create a fully customizable resume for free. The number of visitors on the website is also significant enough for your resume to be viewed by the best possible companies. With your Caring Support account, you can:
Caring Support offers a range of professional templates that you can customize to suit your needs. A truly customized experience, our templates are modifiable and our array offers many choices for many colourways and styles that’s fit for any healthcare worker, especially registered practical nurses.
Simply fill in your information using the easy-to-use online form. Our cookie policy respects our users’ privacy, and our use of cookies is definitely for the benefit of the customers. With adjustable cookie settings, your information remains intact and used for the purpose of quickly making a resume.
You can customize your resume by adding custom sections or rearranging existing sections to create a personalized, professional-looking document. In Caring Support, you can choose from an array of resumes that you can customize and tailor-fit according to your desired contents and design.
Once you’ve created your resume, you can download it in various formats, including PDF and Word. Congratulations, you’re ready to go!
Registered practical nurses must use Caring Support in order to stay current in their field, remain competitive in the job market, and easily access job opportunities. We allow RPNs to create online profiles showcasing their education, certifications, and experience, making it easier for employers to find suitable candidates. Caring Support also often provides resources such as resume building tools, interview tips, and networking opportunities that can help RPNs advance their careers.
By using Caring Support, registered practical nurses can increase their visibility to potential employers and secure rewarding positions in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare settings. Overall, platforms like Caring Support are essential for RPNs looking to enhance their professional development and expand their career opportunities within the healthcare industry. Create an account with us today to experience the benefits of our comprehensive services towards your professional life.
We'll keep you updated on all new application updates and features!