LPN Outpatient Jobs Overview
Working in outpatient care gives nursing professionals the chance to practice in a wide variety of settings, from specialized clinics like surgery or imaging centers, to primary care offices. Also referred to as ambulatory care, this is an ideal area to build a varied set of nursing skills.
As a licensed practical nurse (LPN) — referred to as a licensed vocational nurse, or LVN, in California and Texas — working in LPN outpatient jobs can give you an excellent springboard in your career, opening up countless opportunities in a growing field. Find out more about the kinds of job opportunities available to you by viewing the most recent full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, and contract nursing jobs on IntelyCare’s nationwide job board.
Education, Certifications, and Skills for Outpatient LPN Jobs
There are just a few steps to take before you can qualify for LPN outpatient clinic jobs. It starts with completing a state-approved LPN licensing program, then passing the NCLEX-PN. Afterwards, you’re able to apply for a license authorizing you to work within the LPN scope of practice in your state.
Because of the wide assortment of nursing specialties available in LPN outpatient jobs, no experience in particular specialties is required to be successful in this career. In fact, having a range of experience may help to open up more opportunities. Obtaining additional certifications is another way to boost your chances of getting the job you want. Consider obtaining nursing certifications such as:
- Basic life support (BLS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- IV Certification
Along with these hard skills, it’s important to also highlight key soft skills that will help you succeed in any number of outpatient clinic LPN jobs, such as organization and time management, critical thinking and analysis, and clear communication. To get a better idea of the skills that are in demand, take a look at what employers include in their outpatient nurse job descriptions as you prepare your job applications.
Resume and Cover Letter for Outpatient LPN Jobs
To put your best foot forward, you want to make sure that the right employers can quickly identify your strengths. This starts with an LPN resume that efficiently presents relevant aspects of your background.
The best way to do that is to use an organization’s job posting as your guide. With the increasing use of applicant tracking software, many employers automate the resume screening process to identify resumes that best track their needs. To get your resume through the screening — and in front of a hiring team — track the specific phrasing used in a job posting and mirror it in your resume. For example, if a job posting is looking for an LPN who can “complete authorization forms and laboratory requisitions,” then include this language in your resume if it applies to you.
Once your application gets through the initial screening, you’ll want to make sure that you have an LPN cover letter that highlights the value that you can bring to a specific role. So, for example, if your resume includes your experience completing authorization and lab requisition forms, your cover letter can talk about key challenges you’ve faced when doing so, how you overcame them, and best practices that you learned along the way.
Also consider using your cover letter to address:
- What inspired you to become a nurse.
- How you handle stressful aspects of the job.
- Why you want to work at this job (versus any job).
Interviewing for LPN Outpatient Jobs
To improve your chances of getting the outpatient LPN jobs that interest you, you’ll need to deliver a strong performance during your job interview. As with anything in nursing, success will be based on preparation. Researching the hiring organization and rehearsing the process with friends or colleagues are great ways to figure out what you want to cover in the interview.
You also want to make sure that you’re ready to respond to common outpatient nurse interview questions. Going over these types of questions will not only help you to prepare effective responses that will resonate with the needs of a specific organization, but also give you confidence going into your interview.
Salary for Outpatient LPN Jobs
Nationally, the average salary for a general LPN is $60,790 annually, but this increases to an average salary of $66,740 for LPNs that work in outpatient centers. Along with the facility type, other factors like your experience and your location also play a role in what you can expect to earn in an outpatient LPN job. Where can you earn the most as an LPN? Here are some of the highest paying states for LPNs:
For a better idea of what you can earn as an LPN in your area, take a look at some of the latest openings posted on IntelyCare’s job board.
Ready to Find the Best LPN Outpatient Jobs in Your Area?
Whether you’ve been trying to find a job for some time or just started your search, our nursing-specific job board can quickly match you to the best jobs in your area. Start connecting with employers today by checking out LPN jobs near you.