Healthcare

Licensed Practical Nurse cover letter example & template

A licensed practical nurse cover letter that answers the posting line by line: the license and IV authorization it asks for, the assignment size you already carry, and one example of catching a problem early.

  • Opens by matching two requirements from the posting to the nurse's current job.
  • Uses one concrete medication catch as proof of judgment instead of adjectives.
  • Shows how the nurse directs aides, which separates an LPN from a CNA.
100%
Latoya Simmons, LPN
latoya.simmons@email.com(614) 555-0142Columbus, OHlinkedin.com/in/latoyasimmonslpn
September 15, 2026
Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber
Columbus, OH
Re: LPN, Short-Term Rehabilitation (Evening Shift)
Dear Hiring Manager,

Your posting for an evening LPN on the short-term rehab unit asks for IV therapy authorization and experience with hospital transfers. Both describe my current job. For three and a half years I have been the evening charge nurse on a 32-bed post-acute rehab unit at Brookhaven Health and Rehabilitation, and I hold an active Ohio LPN license with IV therapy authorization.

Most of my shift is admissions and med passes. I carry 16 residents, run two passes in PointClickCare, and take in five to seven hospital transfers a week. Reconciliation is where I slow down. Last spring a resident arrived with warfarin listed twice, once by brand and once by generic name. I held the second dose and called the attending, and our DON added an anticoagulant double-check to every admission. I also hang IV hydration for several residents each shift and do wound vac changes with our wound nurse.

Before rehab I spent almost two years on a long-term care hall at Maple Ridge Care Center, passing meds for 28 residents, and I started as an STNA while in practical nursing school at Columbus State. I remember what a good handoff felt like from the aide's side, so I give my STNAs a clear assignment at the start of the shift and check in with each of them halfway through.

I would welcome the chance to shadow an evening shift or meet with your director of nursing. I am available any weekday before 2 p.m. at (614) 555-0142.

Sincerely,
Latoya Simmons, LPN

How to write a licensed practical nurse cover letter

What the people reading these letters look for, and what makes them stop.

What to lead with in an LPN cover letter

Open by matching the posting. If it asks for IV therapy certification, a specific shift, or long-term care experience, say in the first two sentences that you have it and where you use it now. Name the unit type and bed count. A DON reading a stack of applications for a hard-to-fill evening shift wants to know quickly whether you can take a full assignment without a long orientation.

Proof that makes an LPN letter credible

Give your assignment size and med pass load, admissions per week if you work post-acute, and the charting system you use. Then add one short story where your judgment mattered, such as a medication discrepancy caught on admission or a change in condition you escalated. If you direct CNAs or STNAs, say how you run that part of the shift. State license and any IV authorization should appear by name, described within your state's scope.

What to leave out

Skip opening lines about always wanting to help people. Every applicant has one and it pushes your real qualifications down the page. Do not repeat your resume bullets in order, and do not describe tasks your state reserves for RNs, such as initial assessments or IV pushes. Leave salary and scheduling negotiations for the interview, and keep the whole letter under a page.

Licensed Practical Nurse cover letter FAQ

Quick answers before you start writing.

What should a licensed practical nurse cover letter include?

A strong licensed practical nurse cover letter opens with a specific hook tied to the role and company, proves your fit in one or two middle paragraphs with concrete, quantified examples, and closes with genuine interest and a clear next step. The example above shows that structure end to end.

How do I make a licensed practical nurse cover letter stand out?

Skip the generic opening and lead with something specific: a result you're proud of or a reason this company in particular. Back every claim with a number or a concrete example, and mirror the language of the job posting so it reads as tailored, not templated.

How long should a licensed practical nurse cover letter be?

Keep it to three or four short paragraphs on a single page, roughly 250 to 400 words. Hiring managers skim, so be specific and stop once you've made your case.

Can I tailor this licensed practical nurse cover letter to a specific job?

Yes. Create a free account, edit any section, switch the style and accent colour, and let Lucipath draft a version tailored to a specific posting from your profile and then download it as a PDF.

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