LVN Home Health Jobs Overview
If you prefer a more personalized approach to healthcare, a career in home health might be for you. As a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) — referred to as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) outside of California and Texas — you can hone your nursing skills in a one-to-one setting with patients who have all the comforts of home around them. Whether you’re interested in helping at-home patients with short-term rehabilitation or longer-term health conditions, opportunities to find LVN home health jobs abound as this cost-effective alternative to facility-based care gains in appeal.
As the nation’s leading job board for nursing professionals, Credenza can help you find the jobs you want, in the locations you prefer. Find the latest job offerings for full-time, part-time, and per diem work in your area, as well as for temporary or contract roles. Interested in other fields related to home health? We also have the latest hospice LVN jobs. Check them out today.
Home Health Jobs: LVN Education, Skills, and Certifications
The first step in becoming an LVN starts with basic educational requirements, namely, completing a licensed vocational nursing program that’s accredited in your state. After that, you need to pass the NCLEX-PN and obtain a license to practice in your state.
The experience required to work in home health will vary by employer, but having any of the following clinical skills and experience will certainly help during the application process:
- Performing basic assessments
- Monitoring vital signs
- Medical documentation and use of EHR systems
- Educating patients
- Responding to emergencies
Given the nature of home health, it’s also important to have certain non-clinical skills as well. For example, you’ll need to be able to work autonomously, yet still within your scope of practice, to communicate effectively, and to have strong interpersonal skills.
Having additional certifications is also a plus. Often these roles will require basic life support (BLS) certification, but you may also want to consider obtaining additional certifications in any of the following:
- Hospice and palliative care
- Long-term care
- Pharmacology
Resume and Cover Letter for Home Health LVN Jobs
Once you’ve been qualified to work in LVN home health jobs, the next step is to create a resume that will get you a job interview. The most effective resumes are ones that are tailored to each specific job that you apply to. This means that your resume should speak to an individual employer’s needs.
One of the best ways to do that is by identifying key phrases in a job description and finding ways to incorporate them in your LVN resume. As an example, if an employer’s job posting is looking for someone who “conducts family and patient education on health management,” and you have relevant experience, use the same keywords and phrases in your resume. Not only does this better align your application to an employer’s needs, it also helps your resume to get past the filters on an employer’s applicant tracking software. In other words, it’ll help your resume to get to the top of the stack.
But that’s just the beginning. Once your resume surfaces, you want to make the case for why a hiring team should interview you. That’s where your cover letter comes in. As you approach your cover letter, think of it as a way to introduce yourself and add more context to your resume. So, for example, if your resume lists experience with patient education on health management, your cover letter can dig a little deeper and address your process for doing so and any key learnings or best practices you picked up when doing so. A good cover letter should also give potential employers:
- A sense of your personality and motivation.
- A preview of what it would be like to work with you.
- A better idea of the value you would bring to their organization.
Interviewing for LVN Home Health Jobs
A strong resume and cover letter can open the door for you, but it’s the interview that will ultimately land you the job. No matter how much experience you have, it’s always a challenge to make a good first impression and persuade someone to hire you over the competition — all in such a short amount of time.
As with anything, the best way to set yourself up for success is through preparation. Start with having a better understanding of the employer, its mission, and any recent news or updates about its operations. When you can see where an organization is going, you can find places where you can make a difference.
The next step is to review some of the common home health interview questions you might be asked. Think of a few main reasons why the organization should hire you and find ways to touch on them in your answers. Going through this process will help you to not only refine your pitch during the interview, but also to feel composed and confident while doing so.
LVN Home Health Jobs: Salary Expectations
As a home health LVN, you can expect an average annual salary of $61,050. This will be based on a number of different factors like your experience and qualifications, the demand for home health services in your area, and the state where you’re licensed to practice. Generally, LVNs/LPNs earn the highest average pay in the following states:
Speed Up Your Search for LVN Home Health Jobs Today
Explore the open LVN positions in home health today. Want even more options? Check out all the latest LVN jobs on Credenza to find one that fits your needs.
