Licensed Practical Nurse cover letter example
A strong licensed practical nurse cover letter helps you show a facility you can deliver hands-on patient care reliably under an RN's direction. This example shows what that looks like in practice, and the guide below walks through how to write your own — what to include, how to format it, and the mistakes to avoid.
Jordan Ellis Licensed Practical Nurse Austin, TX | (555) 123-4567 | jordan.ellis@email.com Dear Ruth Camara, I'm applying for the Licensed Practical Nurse position at Fairhaven Care Center. Long-term care rewards patience and consistency, and after three years on a skilled nursing unit, that steady, hands-on presence is what I bring to every shift. In my current role I manage medication administration, wound care, and vital signs monitoring for a caseload of 12 to 15 residents per shift, and I was recognized last year for catching an early sign of infection in a resident that led to prompt treatment and a faster recovery. I work closely with the RN team to keep care plans current, and I document thoroughly enough that oncoming shifts never have to guess where things stand. I'd welcome the opportunity to bring that same reliability to Fairhaven's residents. Thank you for considering my application. Sincerely, Jordan Ellis
How to write a licensed practical nurse cover letter
Healthcare hiring managers screen for licensure, patient-care judgment, and reliability before anything else — a strong licensed practical nurse cover letter proves all three, then show a facility you can deliver hands-on patient care reliably under an RN's direction.
Your resume lists your credentials and clinical history; the letter's job is to show the judgment and bedside manner behind them — a specific situation you handled well, in your own words.
Follow these steps to write yours.
1. Lead with your license and one patient-care example
State your license or certification clearly near the top, then open with one concrete example of care you provided and the outcome — not a general claim of being compassionate or dedicated.
2. Show you work well within a care team
Reference how you collaborate with physicians, other clinicians, or support staff, and how that teamwork affected a patient outcome. Healthcare hiring managers are screening for someone who fits their unit's workflow, not just an individual skill set.
3. Close with your credentials and availability
Restate your license or certification status, note any relevant availability (shifts, on-call, per diem), and invite a conversation. Keep the sign-off professional and brief.
Key skills for a licensed practical nurse cover letter
- Medication administration
- Wound care
- Vital signs monitoring
- Patient documentation (EMR)
- Long-term & skilled nursing care
- Active LPN license
- Care plan collaboration
Formatting tips
- Keep it to one page — save clinical history and certification detail for your resume.
- State your license, certification, or registration status clearly near the top of the letter.
- Use a single-column, ATS-safe layout with a standard, professional font.
- Match the header and formatting to your resume so the application reads as one package.
- Export a text-based PDF unless the employer's application system requests another format.
ATS tips
- Use the exact license, certification, and specialty terms from the licensed practical nurse posting (e.g., "BLS," "ACLS," "RN") rather than paraphrasing them.
- Spell out acronyms at least once so both parsers and non-clinical HR staff can follow.
- List certifications and equipment experience as plain text — avoid icons or graphical skill ratings.
- State license numbers or verification details only if the posting specifically requests them.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Claiming to be compassionate or dedicated without a specific example that proves it.
- Burying your license or certification status instead of stating it clearly near the top.
- Describing duties instead of a specific patient-care outcome relevant to the licensed practical nurse role.
- Disclosing identifiable patient details — describe situations generally to protect confidentiality.
- Sending an identical letter to every posting instead of matching it to the facility's setting and patient population.
Frequently asked questions
Should an LPN cover letter mention license status?
Yes, clearly and near the top. Active LPN licensure is typically a hard requirement, so state it directly rather than implying it through your experience.
How do I show clinical judgment in a cover letter?
Describe a specific situation where you noticed something and acted on it — without identifying the patient — rather than making a general claim about attentiveness.
Should I mention caseload size?
Yes — the number of patients or residents you typically care for per shift gives a hiring manager a quick sense of the pace and complexity you're used to.
What if I'm applying to a different care setting than my current one?
Emphasize the core clinical skills that transfer — medication administration, documentation, patient monitoring — and note genuine interest in the new setting.