TL;DR — What to learn first
Start here: Medication administration, wound care, vital signs, BLS/CPR, and one EHR system (PointClickCare or Epic). These five show up in over 80% of LPN job postings.
Level up: Add IV therapy certification (state-dependent), catheter care, NG tube feeding, and patient education competency.
What matters most: License first, med-admin safety record second, EHR fluency third. DONs can train skills, but they cannot train the discipline to administer medications without errors and document accurately.
What licensed practical nurse job postings actually ask for
Before learning anything, look at the data. Here’s how often key skills appear in licensed practical nurse job postings:
Skill frequency in licensed practical nurse job postings
Clinical skills
The core clinical differentiator between an LPN and a CNA. LPNs administer oral, topical, injectable, and (in many states) IV medications. This includes scheduled medications, PRN medications, controlled substances, and insulin. Medication administration is the single most important skill on an LPN resume.
Name your volume and error rate: “Administer medications for 20+ residents per shift with zero medication errors over 18 months.” Always specify medication types (oral, topical, injectable, IV).
LPNs assess, measure, document, and treat wounds including pressure injuries (stages I–IV), surgical wounds, diabetic ulcers, and skin tears. Wound care is the second most in-demand clinical skill for LPNs after medication administration.
Name wound types and your caseload: “Perform wound assessments and dressing changes for 8–10 residents with stage I–III pressure injuries.”
LPNs perform focused assessments including vital signs, pain assessment, neurological checks, skin assessment, and change-of-condition evaluation. Assessment findings are communicated to the RN supervisor using SBAR framework.
Describe your assessment and escalation practice: “Communicate changes in resident condition to RN supervisor using SBAR framework, escalating 2–3 critical changes per week.”
In states that permit it, LPNs with IV therapy certification can start peripheral IVs, administer IV medications, monitor IV infusions, and manage IV sites. This is one of the most valuable scope-of-practice certifications an LPN can hold.
If you have IV therapy certification, list it prominently: “IV Therapy Certified (Georgia).” This single certification can open hospital doors that are closed to LPNs without it.
Insertion, maintenance, and removal of urinary catheters (Foley and straight). Includes catheter site care, output monitoring, and infection prevention. Scope varies by state and facility policy.
Name it explicitly in your skills section and in experience bullets if you perform it regularly.
EHR systems & documentation
The dominant EHR in skilled nursing facilities and long-term care. LPNs use it for medication administration records (MARs), wound care documentation, care plan updates, and incident reporting. If you work in a SNF, PointClickCare proficiency is expected.
Name it with specific use cases: “Documented medication administration and wound care progress in PointClickCare for 20+ residents per shift.”
An EHR used in some skilled nursing and senior living facilities. Less common than PointClickCare but still relevant in certain facility chains. LPNs use it for MARs, care plans, and clinical documentation.
List it if you have used it. EHR breadth signals adaptability.
The dominant EHR in hospitals. LPNs in hospital and outpatient settings use Epic for medication administration, vital signs, patient intake, and clinical documentation. If you are targeting hospital LPN roles, Epic experience is a significant advantage.
If you used Epic in a physician office or hospital, mention it: “Performed patient intake and medication reconciliation in Epic for 25–30 patients per day.”
Certifications & credentials
The non-negotiable credential. You must pass the NCLEX-PN and hold an active, unrestricted license in the state where you practice. Without it, your resume will not be reviewed.
List state and status: “LPN (Georgia) — Active, unrestricted.”
Basic Life Support certification through the American Heart Association. Required by virtually every employer. Must be current (renewed every 2 years).
List it in certifications. Ensure it is current before applying.
State-specific certification that expands LPN scope to include IV starts, IV medication administration, and IV site management. Not all states allow LPN IV therapy, but in those that do, this certification significantly increases your employability and earning potential.
If you have it, list it prominently. It is one of the strongest differentiators on an LPN resume.
A specialty certification for wound care competency. While not required for most LPN roles, it signals advanced wound care skills and can open doors to wound care specialist positions in SNFs.
If you have it, list it. If pursuing it, mention it in your cover letter as evidence of professional development.
How to list licensed practical nurse skills on your resume
Don’t dump a wall of keywords. Categorize your skills to mirror how job postings list their requirements:
Example: LPN Resume
Why this works: The Certifications line is the most important on an LPN resume. State LPN license and BLS are the first things a DON scans for — without them, the rest of the resume does not matter. IV therapy certification is the strongest differentiator after the license itself.
Three rules for your skills section:
- Only list what you’ve used in a real project. If you can’t answer a technical question about it, don’t list it.
- Match the job posting’s terminology. If they use a specific tool name, use that exact name on your resume.
- Order by relevance, not alphabetically. Put the most important skills first in each category.
What to learn first (and in what order)
If you’re looking to break into licensed practical nurse roles, here’s the highest-ROI learning path for 2026:
LPN training program (practical nursing diploma)
Enroll in a state-approved practical nursing program at a community college or vocational school. Programs are typically 12–18 months and include classroom instruction (pharmacology, anatomy, nursing fundamentals) and clinical rotations in hospitals and SNFs. Many programs accept students with a CNA background, which strengthens your application.
NCLEX-PN exam + state licensure
After completing your program, register for and pass the NCLEX-PN. Apply for state LPN licensure. Most states require a background check and verification of program completion. Once licensed, you can begin working as an LPN.
BLS/CPR + IV therapy certification
Get BLS/CPR certified through AHA or Red Cross if not already done during your program. In states that allow LPN IV therapy, pursue IV certification immediately — it is the single most impactful post-licensure certification for expanding your employability.
First LPN role (SNF or physician office)
Most new LPNs start in skilled nursing facilities or physician offices. SNFs offer the highest volume of medication administration and wound care experience. Physician offices offer exposure to outpatient workflows and different EHR systems. Both settings build the clinical foundation for hospital roles.
Specialty skills + hospital transition
After 1–2 years of floor experience, pursue hospital LPN roles. Hospital positions require IV therapy certification (in most states), strong assessment skills, and EHR fluency. Consider wound care certification or other specialty credentials to increase competitiveness.
Bridge to RN (ADN or BSN)
Enroll in an LPN-to-ADN (12 months) or LPN-to-BSN (18–24 months) bridge program. Many hospitals offer tuition reimbursement for LPNs pursuing RN degrees. The bridge to RN roughly doubles your earning potential and dramatically expands your scope of practice.