New Grad LPN Jobs Overview
Employment for licensed practical nurses (LPNs), referred to as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in California and Texas, is expected to grow 5% over the next decade. LPNs play an important support role for registered nurses (RNs) and physicians, with a broader scope of practice than that of certified nursing assistants (CNAs). If you’re looking at new grad LPN jobs, you’ll find that many opportunities are in post-acute settings such as long-term care, hospice, and home care.
We understand that starting your career as an LPN may seem daunting at first. IntelyCare can help you get a better idea of where you want to focus your efforts, so you can find a role that best meets your preferences.
Choosing the Right Schedule and LPN Specialty
One of the great things about the nursing profession is the wide variety of shifts, facility types, and specialties. As an LPN, you can choose from full-time, part-time, contract, temporary, per diem, and remote roles.
If you already have a focus in mind for your budding LPN career, you can also search for LPN new grad jobs by specialty, such as:
- ER LPN jobs
- Home health LPN jobs
- Hospice LPN jobs
- ICU LPN jobs
- Med-surg LPN jobs
- OR LPN jobs
- Pediatric LPN jobs
- Wound care LPN jobs
Applying for New Grad LPN Jobs: Resume and Cover Letter
Your cover letter and resume form a prospective employer’s first impression of you, so you’ll want to take your time with both. This can seem challenging for new grads, since your experience will be limited to your clinical rotations, which you absolutely should highlight on your new grad nursing resume. You’ll also want to list your non-clinical work experience — especially roles related to health and wellness — which can help illustrate your work ethic, ability to handle responsibilities, and familiarity working within a team environment.
As a new grad who has yet start work as an LPN, you might also consider including:
- Volunteer work. This always looks good on a resume and speaks to the candidate’s character and integrity.
- Awards and honors. Whether it’s scholarships, honor society memberships, or other accolades, mentioning these can help your resume rise to the top.
- Extra-curricular activities. Employers often favor candidates with diverse interests and aptitudes, which may suggest an ability to handle multiple tasks.
It’s also important to customize your resumes and cover letters for each position, making sure you match the requirements listed in the job ad. Hiring managers can tell whether you’re taking the time to apply for a specific role or simply sending out a generic resume and cover letter for a wide variety of roles. Also, be sure to highlight any specialized LPN certification you may have received, such as gerontology or hospice and palliative care, if you’re applying for a role in that particular area.
Interviewing for New Grad LPN Jobs
As a new grad, you might be a little nervous about going into your first interview. The best way to alleviate this fear is to prepare in advance by reviewing commonly asked LPN interview questions and thinking about how you might respond. Also, remember that this is your opportunity to ask questions, too, which will help you decide whether the job is right for you.
New Grad LPN Salary Range
Starting salaries for new LPNs are generally lower than the average in a given state, as one might expect. While the national average salary for LPNs (and LVNs) is $60,790 annually, or $29.23 per hour, you’ll find that state averages can vary quite a bit. Check out average annual LPN salaries in these states:
- LPN jobs in Arkansas: $49,360
- LPN jobs in Alaska: $74,260
- LPN jobs in New York: $63,020
- LPN jobs in Texas: $56,490
- LPN jobs in Washington: $75,410
Find the Best New Grad LPN Jobs Available
You’re credentialed and have outlines of your resume and cover letter ready. Now all you need are some good leads. Find your first, and next, LPN job today with the help of IntelyCare’s industry-leading job board.