A licensed practical/vocational nurse (LP/VN) wants to secure a ...

[jrubin]

A licensed practical/vocational nurse (LP/VN) wants to secure a position at a well-known health care institution as a team leader and wants to impress the employer,
 
  so that his letter of application will be chosen over numerous other applicants wanting the position in the geriatric specialty unit. What should the LP/VN include in the letter of application to best persuade the potential employer?
  A) Briefly identify the qualifications in the letter and how the candidate will best serve the position: I am applying for the team leader position on the geriatric specialty unit. I have 10 years of experience in geriatric nursing with certification in geriatrics maintained for more than 8 years. I have served as a team leader for past 5 years and look forward to providing excellent service as a team leader in the geriatric specialty unit at Hospital Excellence.
  B) Briefly identify experience in all areas of nursing in the letter: I am applying for the team leader position on the geriatric specialty unit with 5 years of experience in pediatrics; 3 years in obstetrics, and 10 years of experience in geriatrics with current certification in geriatrics and currently serve as a team leader on the geriatric rehab unit.
  C) Include a detailed explanation of the qualifications and how the LP/VN will serve the institution as the best possible candidate and include leadership and management strengths.
  D) Explain the involvement in professional organizations and how the nurse best serves the needs of geriatric nurses and the patients through exercising political voice.

Question 2

A nursing student from a licensed practical/vocational nursing (LP/VN) program is trying to find suitable LP/VN positions to apply. Which is the first step the student should take to find a nursing position?
 
  A) Search the Internet by inserting LPN or LVN jobs into a search engine.
  B) Determine what area of nursing the student is most interested.
  C) Network with nursing students, practicing nurses the student worked with in the clinical areas, and the student's preceptor during a role transition experience.
  D) Visit area health care facilities' Web sites for job postings and apply online.

[mathjasmine]

Answer to Question 1

Ans: A
Feedback:
The nurse should include in the application letter, which is no longer than one page, the desired position being applied for and the specific qualifications the nurse offers to meet the expectations for that career. The nurse should include all areas of previous experience as a nurse and involvement with professional organizations in the rsum and not include these items in the application letter. The goal of the application letter is to spark the interest of the employer, and if this occurs, the rsum will be read. The nurse should not share a detailed explanation of the qualifications the nurse offers to serve as the best possible candidate because if the letter is more than one page in length, the employer will move on in the stack of applicants.

Answer to Question 2

Ans: B
Feedback:
The first step the nursing student wanting to find a position as a LPN or LVN is to determine the area of nursing the student is most interested. Once the student identifies the area of nursing, the student may network with other students and nurses the student has worked with during clinical and use the network to keep the student up-to-date on any openings in a potential area the student is interested. Job listings on the Internet will give the student access to information about local, national, and international jobs. Area Web sites for health care facilities are only helpful if the student plans to start the career locally.