LPN Cover Letter

A strong LPN cover letter does more than list your license and certifications. It shows the hiring manager how you apply your clinical skills in daily patient care -- from monitoring vitals to administering medications and educating patients on discharge instructions. This guide covers what healthcare employers look for, how to structure each section, and includes a ready-to-use example you can adapt for your next application. For a general foundation, review our guide on how to write a cover letter.

What employers look for in an LPN cover letter

Licensed practical nurse roles require a precise combination of technical competency and patient-centered care. When reviewing LPN applications, hiring managers in healthcare pay close attention to the following:

• Medication administration -- Employers want confirmation that you are proficient in administering oral, IV, and intramuscular medications accurately and in compliance with facility protocols. Mention the medication classes you manage most frequently.
• Wound care -- Describe your hands-on experience with dressing changes, wound assessment, and infection prevention. Include any training in specialized wound care techniques.
• Vital signs and patient monitoring -- Show that you can identify and respond to abnormal readings. Employers value LPNs who document consistently and communicate changes to the supervising RN or physician promptly.
• EMR proficiency -- Familiarity with electronic medical record systems such as Epic, Cerner, or PointClickCare demonstrates that you can maintain accurate records without slowing down the unit.
• Patient education -- Highlight your ability to explain medication regimens, post-procedure care, and lifestyle modifications in clear, accessible language.
• Scope of practice -- Demonstrate awareness of your state's LPN scope of practice and your track record of working within those boundaries while collaborating effectively with RNs and physicians.

How to write an LPN cover letter that gets interviews

1. Open with a clinical result, not a personal statement

Most LPN applicants begin with a line like "I am passionate about patient care." This is too vague to make an impression. Instead, lead with a specific outcome -- a patient satisfaction score improvement, a reduction in medication errors, or a volume metric like "providing daily care to a 30-patient unit." A results-forward opening signals professionalism from the first sentence, which is equally important in registered nurse cover letters and other clinical roles.

2. Align your skills directly with the job posting

Read the description carefully and mirror its priorities. If the posting emphasizes long-term care, reference your experience in skilled nursing facilities. If it focuses on acute care, describe your floor experience and how you manage high patient volumes. Facilities want to know you fit their specific environment, not that you are a generic nursing candidate. This targeted approach applies equally to CNA cover letters.

3. Quantify your patient care experience

Numbers add credibility. Mention the patient-to-nurse ratios you have worked under, the types of conditions you manage regularly, or the number of IV lines you start per shift. If you have cross-trained in multiple units or worked across different care settings, say so. Quantified statements also strengthen nursing assistant cover letters for the same reason.

4. Close with a confident, specific call to action

End by expressing genuine interest in the facility's patient population or care model -- not just the title. Reference one last qualification and invite a conversation. A specific close, tied to something real about the organization, is more compelling than a passive sign-off.

LPN cover letter example

Replace facility names, patient volumes, and certifications with your own experience.

Subject: Application for the LPN position

Dear Hiring Manager, I am writing to apply for the Licensed Practical Nurse position at Maplewood Rehabilitation and Care Center. With three years of LPN experience in a 45-bed long-term care facility, I bring hands-on expertise in medication administration, wound care, and patient monitoring that I am confident will support your nursing team. In my current role at Riverside Skilled Nursing Facility, I manage a daily assignment of 14 to 18 residents, administer oral and intramuscular medications for complex chronic conditions including diabetes and COPD, and perform wound assessments with dressing changes per physician orders. Over the past year, I contributed to a 12% reduction in wound-related complications by implementing a consistent documentation and reassessment protocol. I am proficient in PointClickCare and maintain full compliance with state documentation standards. I collaborate closely with the supervising RN on care plan updates and communicate changes in patient condition promptly to ensure continuity of care. I also provide medication education to residents and their families before discharge, which has contributed to improved follow-through with prescribed regimens. I hold a current LPN license in the state of Ohio and am CPR certified. Maplewood's reputation for person-centered care aligns directly with the way I approach every patient interaction. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my clinical background supports your team's goals. Sincerely, Dana Reeves

Before you send your LPN application

Use this checklist to review your cover letter before submitting:

• Does your opening sentence reference a specific clinical result or patient volume metric?
• Have you named the facility and connected your experience to their care model?
• Are your LPN license, state, and relevant certifications (CPR, IV therapy) clearly mentioned?
• Did you include at least one quantified outcome -- caseload size, error rate, or patient satisfaction?
• Have you named the EMR system you use and confirmed accurate documentation experience?
• Is your letter free of vague phrases and confined to a single page?

For additional formatting reference, review new grad nurse cover letter examples and entry-level cover letter strategies if you are early in your LPN career.

FAQ

How long should an LPN cover letter be?

Keep it to one page, between 250 and 380 words. Nurse managers and HR teams in healthcare review high application volumes, so a concise letter that leads with clinical results and specific credentials performs better than a lengthy narrative.

What skills should I highlight in an LPN cover letter?

Prioritize the skills listed in the posting. Medication administration, wound care, vital sign monitoring, EMR proficiency, and patient education are the most commonly requested competencies. If the role is in a specialty setting -- such as pediatrics, oncology, or long-term care -- include examples from that specific environment.

How do I write an LPN cover letter with no experience?

Focus on your clinical rotations, practicum placements, and any patient-facing work from your nursing program. Describe the settings you trained in, the patient populations you worked with, and the procedures you performed under supervision. Our new grad nurse cover letter and no experience cover letter guides walk through this in detail.

Should I mention my LPN license number in the cover letter?

You do not need to include the license number in the letter itself. However, you should confirm the license is current and specify your state. Many facilities verify licensure through the state board before extending an offer, so accuracy matters.

How is an LPN cover letter different from an RN cover letter?

The structure and format are similar, but an LPN cover letter should specifically address your scope of practice and how you work within the supervising RN or physician relationship. Avoid implying responsibilities outside your license. For comparison, review our registered nurse cover letter to see how the framing shifts at the RN level.