Finishing practical nursing school is a big step, and you do not need paid work history to write a strong resume.
Employers look for nurses who are safe, caring and careful with medications and patient privacy, and your license, clinical hours and volunteer work can show all three.
AdvertisementBelow is a new graduate LPN resume sample with no experience, followed by a free builder with three starting points. Make your own, then print it or copy it.
The name and numbers are a fictional example. Replace them with your own true information.
New Graduate LPN Resume Sample With No Experience
Nashville, TN | (555) 010-0571 | megan.foster@email.com
SUMMARY
Licensed practical nurse and recent practical nursing graduate with 600 supervised clinical hours across long-term care, rehabilitation and a medical-surgical unit. Skilled in vital signs, medication administration, wound care and clear charting, ready to bring safe, compassionate care to your patients and dependable support to your nurses.
EDUCATION
Practical Nursing Diploma, Cedarvale Practical Nursing Institute | 2026 | GPA 3.8 | 600 supervised clinical hours | Courses: Pharmacology, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Gerontological Nursing
CERTIFICATIONS
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), passed NCLEX-PN | 2026
CPR and Basic Life Support provider (American Heart Association) | 2026
HIPAA Privacy and Security training | 2026
SKILLS
Vital signs | Medication administration | Patient assessment | Wound care | Infection control | Electronic health records | HIPAA privacy | Clear communication
VOLUNTEER WORK
Volunteer, Marrowgate Care Center, Nashville, TN | 2025 to 2026
• Assisted about 25 residents per shift with meals, walks and activities under nurse direction
• Completed 130 volunteer hours over 12 months with 0 missed shifts
• Told nurses about changes in resident comfort about 20 times, always within minutes
• Helped run 6 flu shot and blood pressure screening days for about 80 residents and neighbors
• Welcomed families at 4 holiday events and guided about 50 visitors to resident rooms
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
English and Spanish (conversational)
Valid driver’s license
Available days, nights, weekends and holidays
Free New Grad LPN Resume Builder
Step 1. Which describes you best?
Step 2. Tap the skills you really have. They appear in your resume.
Step 3. Click any text in the resume and type to make it yours.
Replace the sample name, dates, numbers and employer details with your own true information. Use a city and state only, and a professional email address. Check that your dates match your records.
DANIELLE COOPER
Columbus, OH | (555) 010-0463 | danielle.cooper@email.com
Summary
Licensed practical nurse and recent practical nursing graduate with 640 supervised clinical hours and 120 volunteer hours in senior care. Skilled in vital signs, medication administration, infection control and clear charting, ready to bring safe, compassionate care to your patients and steady support to your nurses.
Compassionate licensed practical nurse and former customer service lead with strong communication skills and 600 supervised clinical hours. Skilled in patient assessment, medication administration, HIPAA privacy and teamwork, ready to give your patients calm, respectful care and your care team dependable help.
Dependable licensed practical nurse and evening program graduate with 620 supervised clinical hours and 110 volunteer hours with seniors. Skilled in wound care, vital signs, patient safety and accurate documentation, ready to bring reliable, kind care to your residents and your nursing team.
Education
Practical Nursing Diploma, Brightwater Practical Nursing Institute | 2026 | GPA 3.7 | 640 supervised clinical hours | Courses: Pharmacology, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Anatomy and Physiology
Practical Nursing Diploma, Brightwater Practical Nursing Institute | 2026 | 600 supervised clinical hours | Courses: Pharmacology, Gerontological Nursing, Fundamentals of Nursing
Practical Nursing Diploma (evening program), Brightwater Practical Nursing Institute | 2026 | 620 supervised clinical hours | Courses: Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, Nutrition
Certifications
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), passed NCLEX-PN | 2026
- CPR and Basic Life Support provider (American Heart Association) | 2026
- HIPAA Privacy and Security training | 2026
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), passed NCLEX-PN | 2026
- CPR and Basic Life Support provider (American Heart Association) | 2026
- Bloodborne Pathogens training | 2026
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), passed NCLEX-PN | 2026
- CPR and Basic Life Support provider (American Heart Association) | 2026
- First Aid certification | 2026
Skills
- Vital signs
- Medication administration
- Patient assessment
- Wound care
- Infection control
- Electronic health records
- HIPAA privacy
- Patient safety and mobility
- Clear communication
- Compassion
- Teamwork
- Spanish conversation
Volunteer Work
- Assisted about 20 residents per shift with meals, walks and activities under nurse direction
- Completed 120 volunteer hours over 12 months with 0 missed shifts
- Reported changes in resident comfort to nurses about 15 times, always within minutes
- Helped set up 4 monthly blood pressure screening days for about 60 residents and neighbors
- Led a weekly reading hour for 8 residents
- Welcomed about 40 visitors per event at 5 community health fairs
- Completed 100 volunteer hours with 100% on-time arrival
- Handed out 300 handwashing and fall prevention guides to families and seniors
- Guided about 25 residents per week to activities and told the nurse on duty about any needs
- Trained 3 new volunteers on check-in steps and privacy rules
- Visited 12 residents per week and helped with meals and walks under nurse direction
- Completed 110 volunteer hours over 10 months
- Restocked supplies and linens in 10 rooms each shift with 0 stock-outs
- Reported 8 safety concerns, such as loose rugs, to staff the same day
- Helped 6 residents join weekly video calls with their families
Additional Information
- English and Spanish (conversational)
- Valid driver’s license
- Available days, nights, weekends and holidays
- English, fluent
- Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
- Available evenings, nights and weekends
- English and Spanish (basic)
- Valid driver’s license
- Available days, weekends and holidays
To save your resume: press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) and choose Save as PDF. Only the resume prints. To copy it, select the text inside the resume and press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.
Which Starting Point Fits You?
| Your situation | Builder starting point | What to highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Just finished a practical nursing program | Recent practical nursing graduate | GPA, clinical hours, license and senior care volunteer hours |
| Moving from another field | Career changer | Communication, reliability and the skills you bring from your last field |
| Finished an evening or part-time program | Evening program graduate | Clinical hours, patient safety and steady attendance |
How to Write a New Grad LPN Resume With No Experience
| Section | What to put in it |
|---|---|
| Summary | Two or three lines with your license, clinical hours and what you offer patients and the nursing team |
| Education | Program, school, year, supervised clinical hours and two or three courses |
| Certifications | LPN license (or NCLEX-PN passed), CPR and Basic Life Support, and HIPAA or safety training |
| Skills | 6 to 8 skills from clinicals that match the posting, such as vital signs and wound care |
| Volunteer work | One role with 5 bullets and numbers |
| Additional information | Languages, driver’s license and the shifts you can work |
- Start with a short summary. Name your license, your clinical hours and what you offer patients and the nursing team.
- Put education, certifications and skills right under it. This is your strongest proof.
- Show your clinical hours. Add the total in your education section and name the kinds of units, never patients.
- Add one volunteer work entry. Use senior care, clinic or community health work.
- Use five bullets with numbers. Count residents, events, hours and people helped.
- Match the posting. Use the same skill words where they are true.
- Add an additional information section. List your languages, driver’s license and the shifts you can work.
Choose the Volunteer Work That Fits Your Background
| Your background | What to put under volunteer work |
|---|---|
| Senior care or nursing home volunteer | Residents assisted, activities led, hours and reports to nurses |
| Hospital or clinic volunteer | Patients guided, rooms prepared and hours |
| Health fair or screening helper | People welcomed, screenings supported and guides handed out |
| Family caregiver | Daily care tasks and appointments managed, without private details |
| School or church health ministry | Events supported, visits made and volunteers trained |
LPN Facts From the BLS
| Fact (BLS, licensed practical and vocational nurses) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Median pay (May 2025) | $64,400 a year ($30.96 an hour) |
| Typical entry-level education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Required license | State license, so check your state board of nursing |
| Number of jobs (2025) | About 666,900 |
| Projected growth (2025 to 2035) | 3 percent, about as fast as average |
| Projected new jobs (2025 to 2035) | About 19,700 |
LPNs are called licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in California and Texas. Licensing rules and pay vary by state and employer, so read each posting carefully. These are national figures.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Hiding your clinical hours. Put the total in your education section and your summary.
- Claiming care you were not trained to give. Use only tasks you practiced under supervision.
- Listing duties only. Add numbers and results where you can.
- Sharing patient details. Never include names or private health information.
- Typos. Proofread twice and ask an instructor to read it.
Resume Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. You are ready to apply when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a new graduate LPN get hired with no work experience?
Yes. New graduates are hired every day. Lead with your LPN license, your supervised clinical hours and your volunteer work, and show that you are safe, caring and ready to learn the unit’s routines.
What do I put on a new grad LPN resume with no experience?
A short summary, education with your clinical hours, your LPN license and CPR, six to eight skills, one volunteer work entry with five numbered bullets, and an additional information section for languages, driver’s license and availability.
Do clinical rotations count as experience?
They count as training. List your total supervised clinical hours in your education section and in your summary, and name the types of units, such as long-term care, rehabilitation and medical-surgical, without naming patients.
Should I list my LPN license even if my state license is still processing?
List only what is true today. If you passed the NCLEX-PN and your license is pending, write that clearly, and update the resume the day your license number is issued.
What is the difference between an LPN and an LVN?
The titles mean the same job. Licensed vocational nurse (LVN) is used in California and Texas, and licensed practical nurse (LPN) is used in most other states. Use the title your state uses.
What education do LPNs need?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LPNs and LVNs typically need a postsecondary nondegree award, usually from a state-approved practical nursing program of about one year that includes supervised clinical experience. They then need a license, so check your state board of nursing.
How much do LPNs earn?
The BLS reports a May 2025 median pay of $64,400 a year, or $30.96 an hour, for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. Pay varies by state, facility and shift.
What is the job outlook for LPNs?
The BLS projects 3 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with about 666,900 jobs in 2025.
Should I list a GPA?
Only if it is 3.5 or higher and you graduated recently. Otherwise lead with your license, clinical hours and volunteer work.
How long should the resume be?
One page. Hiring managers read quickly, and one page is enough for a first nursing job.
Conclusion
You do not need paid nursing experience to write a strong LPN resume. Show your license, your clinical hours, your skills and one honest volunteer role with real numbers. Then use the builder above to write yours.
Related Reading
- Entry-level LPN cover letter sample
- LPN job description, duties and responsibilities
- Entry-level registered nurse resume sample
- Entry-level phlebotomist resume with no experience
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (May 2025 pay; 2025 to 2035 outlook). The sample resume, name, school and care center are fictional.