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Writing a Successful Nursing Cover Letter With Examples and Templates

Jul 01 2022

Career Resources / Job Searching / Nursing Cover Letter

Reviewed by: Kiley Griffin, R.N.

Writing an effective nursing cover letter may seem unnecessary–trust us: it’s not. Roughly 45% of job seekers send resumes without a cover letter . Yet, a majority of employers prefer cover letters to go with a resume. 

When looking for a new job , nurses often spend the most time developing their resumes . Sometimes they neglect their cover letters or don’t write one at all.  

Whether you are a new grad nurse or a nurse veteran, a good cover letter is a great way to separate yourself from the pack. Even if a hiring manager only skims it, it can mean the difference between you and another candidate getting the job if something catches their eye.

In this post, we will explore the following:

• Examples and a Template for a Nursing Cover Letter

When Nursing Cover Letters Are Required

• Benefits to Writing a Cover Letter
• Steps for Writing a Cover Letter
• Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Cover Letter

Nursing Cover Letter Examples and Templates

With the right care and effort, you can craft a professional nursing cover letter that helps distinguish you from other candidates.  

We’ve provided two sample nurse cover letters and a template to help give you an idea of what to write.

Nursing Cover Letter Template

Hiring Manager name Nursing Recruitment 1234 Any Place Road Sometown, California 11111 (999)999-9999 June 16, 2021 Your Name Title Current Employer Mailing Address Phone Number Email Address Dear Hiring Manager, I am pleased to learn of this opportunity, as I found the qualities you are seeking for this position to be an excellent match for my skills, education, and experience. I have a robust background and leadership experience in emergency nursing, trauma/critical care, change leadership, and a commitment to providing high-quality care through standardizing workflows to align with best practices. It is in response to similar challenges that I have excelled during my career as a manager, director, and clinical leader.  Also, I am particularly interested in [the company] because of your excellent reputation, community engagement, and focus on delivering high-quality care to patients. My current role primarily includes providing strategic direction to the clinical operations of the Emergency Department, Trauma Base Hospital, and Crisis Stabilization Unit. I also establish and enforce policies and procedures for the hospital. Additionally, I ensure that financial targets are met within my scope of responsibility. Moreover, I am confident that I can support your strategic objectives of the ICU and provide stability in the department with regard to achieving quality outcomes, staff development, and meeting financial targets. I look forward to discussing in detail with you the ways in which my experience and determination will make further significant contributions to your organization. Respectfully, [Your Name]

Here are the most common scenarios when a nursing cover letter is required:

• Applying directly to a specific person: Suppose the job posting invites applicants to apply to a particular individual instead of a general application system. In that case, it is appropriate to include a cover letter and address it to the individual . This is especially important for new grad nurses with less experience.
• Referral for a position: Don’t skip the cover letter If you apply for work based on another professional or mentor’s recommendation. Use the cover letter to explain that someone referred you to the job and specify whom. This allows hiring managers to see that someone they value as a trusted professional in the healthcare industry believes you are qualified for a position.
• When requested in a job listing:  Some job listings specifically request candidates to submit a professional cover letter with their application. Following job listing requirements to include a cover letter shows hiring managers that you follow instructions and have an eye for detail. Both are essential qualities in the nursing profession.

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Benefits to Writing a Nursing Cover Letter

Knowing you are the best candidate for the job and proving it are two different things. You may have an impeccable nursing resume ; however, 20 other candidates are applying for the same position.

Nursing careers are in demand , but that does not mean there isn’t competition for specific nursing positions such as a nurse practitioner or nurse educator .

Resumes are neatly spun packages of information about a candidate’s education, job history (when applicable), and professional certification . They leave little room for information about who you are as a candidate. 

That is where a good cover letter comes in. With the proper cover letter format, your cover letter will offer several advantages and is a great way to showcase your nursing skills.

Identify your intent

Resumes indicate your worth. Cover letters reveal your intent . Outline how your desires and skills align with the job you are applying for. This shows the hiring manager you are interested in the position.

Hopefully, it’s not going to be just another job for you. It will become part of your mission and vision as a nursing professional . For instance, if a position will help grow your leadership skills and prepare you for an advanced nursing career, state that as part of the intent. 

Provide a more in-depth description

Your education and credentials make up only a small portion of who you are as a nursing professional. How someone looks on paper is not an indicator of how they will perform. It does not accurately gauge their character.

In that sense, a cover letter provides a sample of what the hiring manager will expect in the interview.

Using a cover letter to honestly explore your strengths, weaknesses, experiences, interests, and perspectives is an asset. Maybe your resume includes a certification or award you are proud of. Expand on it in the cover letter. 

Pro-tip: Using some of the traits and terms found in the job’s job description is a great way to stand out as a candidate, as it shows you have the qualities the employer is looking for.

What makes you proud of that achievement and how does it make you the best candidate for the position?

Explain the gaps

Hiring professionals suggest resumes span one page for new nurses and those with less than 10 years of experience. Due to length limits, it is hard to explain any gaps in work history. Also, resumes leave out room for detailing why you may have shifted gears from an earlier career into nursing. 

A cover letter provides the perfect opportunity to explain these situations.

Establish a willingness to work

Cover letters add an extra touch to a job application. As stated, nearly half of all job applicants fail to include a cover letter with their job applications unless requested.

Going that extra mile shows a hiring manager that you are willing to put the work in to get the job done right. That is a desirable quality for any business or industry, especially in nursing and other healthcare careers.

Remember that a cover letter should focus on a resume’s highlights, fleshing them out in a more meaningful way.

These are key purposes of a nursing cover letter.

Include only information that falls into one of the four benefits listed above to get the most mileage out of your cover letter.

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Steps for Writing Your Cover Letter

The nursing field requires structure and proper etiquette .

You wouldn’t walk into a patient’s room and say,

“hey, Adam, what’s up, man?” 

The same need for etiquette and structure applies to writing a cover letter. 

Accordingly, we have provided steps to writing a successful nursing cover letter. 

1. Create a header

When a nurse injects a patient with a vaccine, they clean the area first with an alcohol wipe. They don’t just stick the needle in. In the same vein, you need to start by listing your name, phone number, email, and residential address . 

Make sure you put the date under that information. 

Last, include the recipient’s contact information as well. 

2. Use a professional greeting

This is your first impression – show respect. Using “Dear” will work when sending a formal cover letter. If you don’t know the hiring manager’s name, simply write “Dear hiring manager.” 

3. Write your opening paragraph

Your first paragraph serves as the bait or pitch to get the hiring manager’s attention. Don’t bother placing a fishing lure of fluff to try and get their attention. It’s essential to lead with honesty and earnestness. 

While writing this paragraph, make sure you include the title for the position you’re applying to. If you’re applying to work as an RN , state that. Next, articulate why you applied for this job to begin with and your overall excitement to obtain this role.

Make sure that you key in on specific details about the position and how they interest you.

Here’s an example of a stellar opening paragraph:

I am thrilled at the opportunity to apply at St. Joseph’s Hospital as an ICU nurse. As an ICU nurse with over six years of experience, I have gained the necessary skills to perform my role excellently. Specifically, I am excited about the opportunity to work on a 35-bed unit with the demands it requires. I think that my experience, passion, and skill set make me an ideal ICU nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

4. Write your background paragraph

Dedicate this paragraph to your career in nursing up to this point. You want to include all the most applicable skills that pertain to this position. Be specific. Include the detailed duties that you performed that correspond to this new role. 

If you’re applying to work in oncology, but have training in wound therapy, maybe don’t lead with that. Try including only relevant examples. 

Next, include any measurable achievements you’ve had in other jobs that relate to this role. Keyword: measurable . 

Here’s an example of a job posting for an ICU nurse:

Now, here’s a great way to respond to such a job posting:

My experience as a CVICU nurse has allowed me to develop the necessary skills to provide exceptional nursing care through a continuously evolving education. One of my greatest achievements is training 10 CVICU nurses to handle the CVICU and work with external pacemakers and post-cardiac surgery care. By working alongside a variety of health care providers at all levels, I have been able to establish outstanding collaboration and delegation abilities. Through my education, a strong emphasis on patient advocacy and ethical decision-making has been incorporated. Therefore, I have learned to place patient care at the utmost importance. I have developed strong assessment and critical thinking skills. This allows me to deliver the highest quality patient-centered care.

5. Expand on qualifications

Try adding a few short stories that can highlight your primary achievements. This is a great opportunity to highlight your soft skills as well. 

Some potential soft skills include:

• Communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Ability to work under pressure

6. Craft a conclusion

In your concluding paragraph, circle back to why you’re the best candidate for this role. Try to expand on your eagerness to obtain the position. End the paragraph with a call to action . A call to action expresses your desire to hear from them soon with next steps regarding the hiring process.

7. End your letter formally

Just like you began your letter, conclude your letter professionally with a “Sincerely” or “Respectfully,” followed by your name. Ending your letter this way helps it end on a high, formal note. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your Cover Letter

In the nursing profession, a mistake can lead to a lawsuit. When writing a nurse cover letter a mistake could lead to you not getting a job. Below are some of the common mistakes to avoid when writing your cover letter.

• Typos: The nursing profession has a lot of difficult and wonky spellings. For example, you may be proficient at Arrhythmia management , but do you know how to spell it? Having typos within your cover letter sends the message to your hiring manager that you might not be detail-oriented and that’s one of the most important traits in a nurse.
• Focusing too much on yourself: According to Forbes, this is another common mistake to avoid . Often people try to list all their accomplishments in ways that don’t directly tie into how they can help the company . You want your cover letter to be strategic and it’s imperative to list ways that you can help the employer.
• Lying: This should be obvious but it’s crucial that you tell the truth in your cover letter. The truth will eventually come out. The best policy is to just practice honesty.
• Addressing the letter to the wrong person: This is a critical mistake. The recruiter or hiring manager probably will just stop reading at that point.
• Re-writing your resume: Unfortunately, this is a common error when writing a cover letter. As explained earlier: resumes explain your worth, cover letters show your intent. They are two separate documents and a hiring manager will know if you attempt to merge them.
• Using a different font than your resume: It may seem like a small detail, but using the same font on your resume shows that you pay attention to detail.

You’ve made it. Congratulations!

Writing a cover letter on its own separates you from the pack. However, writing a strong cover letter makes you an even more intriguing candidate. A nurse wouldn’t leave a stitch when sewing up a wound and neither should you leave a job unfinished when applying for a job.

Tired of applying for nursing jobs?

With Incredible Health, hospitals apply to YOU.

Nursing Cover Letter FAQs

Your nursing cover letter shouldn’t be longer than a page. The recruiter should be able to read it quickly and get a good idea of what you offer the company. Anything longer than that and you risk the recruiter tossing your letter.

It’s best to use either Times New Roman or Arial when writing a nursing cover letter.

The cover letter should expand on information found in the resume. It should provide insight into your skills, qualifications and background.

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A cover letter is your professional message to the hiring manager. It conveys how your skills match the job requirements for the position. It also states why you are applying for the job. A cover letter, in effect, is your sales pitch to sell yourself. We explore a few things you should consider when writing the perfect cover letter as a registered nurse.

Address the hiring manager

Aside from the job details, it would be best if you spotted who the contact person should be. Some job posts will tell you the name and contact details of the person you will be sending your application. A quick internet search will often give you the name and the position of the hiring manager, or jump on LinkedIn and check out the employees of the company. If there are no details, go to the institution’s website, or simply give them a call and ask who’s hiring for the role. Using “To Whom It May Concern” conveys laziness and lack of interest in the institution you wish to work for.  Take the time to do your research to show your willingness and dedication to the job.

Target the job requirements

There are keywords that you need to watch out for in the application. These state why the institution is looking for nurses like you. Use them to your advantage. State how your skills will answer the needs for the position. Be specific when you address the needs. Instead of saying experience in health care delivery, state it as: “experience in monitoring vital signs and physical assessment for formulating and implementing nursing care plan.”

Focus on the institution

Although this is your sales pitch, also be wary of not coming across overconfident. Don’t use too much “I” in your cover letter and instead shift the attention to what you can do for the organisation. Make sure that you state skills and experiences relevant to the position. This will increase the hiring manager’s faith that you are the person they are looking for.

Include a warm call to action

Finish the cover letter by stressing your desire for the position. Show appreciation to the reader for their time. Also one of the purposes of writing a cover letter is to attract the reader’s attention to your resume. Create a call to action at the end of the cover letter by inviting them to view your resume. Don’t forget to provide an opening for an interview.

Format and proofread

Keep it simple. Use standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, and Times New Roman. Use 12pt size font and do away with bolds, italics, and colours. Keep the length short and sweet, about 200-250 words long. Remember that you are writing a cover letter, not a novel.

Many hiring managers ignore applications when they see grammatical errors in a cover letter. No matter how good the content is errors in a cover letter convey carelessness, lack of professionalism, and inattention to detail. Run your cover letter through grammar checking apps, or have a friend proofread it for you.

Keep in mind that your letter is your professional message to the hiring manager. Choose your words carefully and write in the perspective of the hiring manager. Ask questions to yourself like why would they hire you? What makes you stand out above the rest? How can you help the company sustain its growth?  Keep these points in mind, and you’ll be writing a killer cover letter that will increase your chances for an interview.

Sample cover letter

January 27, 2019

Austra Smith Royal Perth Hospital 197 Wellington Street Perth WA 6000

Dear Ms. Smith

I would like to convey my interest in applying for the Staff Nurse position advertised in  NursesForHire.com. I believe my qualifications and experience appropriately reflect the skills and requirements of the role.

I wish to apply for this position because my goal for nursing is parallel to the hospital’s mission: to provide consistent high-quality healthcare. I want to be part of your continued service to the public as one of the long-standing government hospitals in Australia. My communication skills, as well as talent for time management, will be of high value when it comes to providing timely and appropriate nursing care to a large population of patients. Prioritisation and organisation are my best skills, and I believe these are necessary of a nurse when it comes to administering nursing modalities with urgency and efficiency.

I have a Bachelors Degree in Nursing. My four years of experience at Mount Hospital has honed my personal and professional skills in providing health care to patients. My tasks involved routine vital sign monitoring and physical assessment. I am comfortable in using Cerner for patient charting and remote patient monitoring, as well as collaboration with healthcare teams. These are valuable traits that can help your hospital achieve its goal for modern and efficient healthcare delivery.

Please review my resume for more details about my skills and experience. It will be an honor for me to become a part of your team. I would welcome an interview at your convenience.  Thank you for reading my application, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Jayden Wilson Tel: 08 8631 8215 [email protected]

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Nursing Cover Letter Example

In this post, nurse cover letter example.

In this post Show

A sample to use when building your nursing cover letter. Use this example as a base and adapt it to your own needs.

When creating a nursing cover letter, it’s crucial that you tailor it to the role or medical facility you are applying for. You must show your passion and share your goals and visions relative to the company.

Keep your cover letter concise and make sure you highlight your strengths, qualifications, and accomplishments. Each nursing cover letter you write should demonstrate your nursing talents and your own unique set of skills and experience if applicable.

This sample cover letter will cover working in a doctor’s office or healthcare facility. The first paragraph of a professional cover letter will explain why you are a perfect fit for the role and draw on relevant years of experience or related education obtained in the industry throughout the cover letter. Below is an example of a nursing cover letter template for an entry-level nursing position.

Nurse Cover Letter Template

This template is created for entry-level nursing roles. All you need to do is input your own information!

Once you’ve downloaded and edited your cover letter, make sure to save it with a new name (try: <Your name> Cover Letter — <Position you’re applying for>). Then, export the document as a PDF and you’re ready to submit it.

[Today’s Date]

[Your full name] [Your phone number] [Your email] [Your address, city, state, postcode] [Your LinkedIn]

[Hiring Manager’s Name] [Company Address, City, State] [Phone number] [Email address]

Dear [Hiring Manager],

RE: <insert role title> position

I’m writing to you today regarding the entry-level nursing job vacancy on XXXX. I was delighted to see that the role perfectly suits my skillset and nursing education. I am confident that I am already well equipped to rise to the challenge.

I have a XXX degree in nursing and XXX years of work experience as an XXX (nurse position). During that time, I developed the skills to deliver impeccable patient care and a variety of other health care services. I have been trained in XXX, XXX and XXX to monitor patient’s health adequately. While working at XXXX as an XXXX, I was tasked with XXXX and also XXX, which gave me all the necessary nursing skills for this particular role.

As noted on my resume, my competencies and capabilities are firmly in line with the requirements stated in your job description. For instance, while working at XXX in XXXX, I have gained a deep understanding of how to perform medical procedures such as XXX as well as other condition-stabilising interventions. Additionally, I possess excellent communication skills, which help me to interact with patients effectively, family members, physicians, and other health team members.

I look forward to hearing back from you at your earliest convenience and feel free to contact me at any time. I welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss your needs with me in detail.

Yours Sincerely,

[Your Name]

A perfect cover letter will highlight all your relevant skills and qualifications tailored to the nurse job/company a to which you are applying for. Ensure that you proofread your cover letter to avoid grammatical errors to increase your chances of receiving a job interview. Finally, be sure that your nursing resume and nurse cover letter match to ensure transparency in your job application.

The job search and job market can be hard to navigate. However, it is imperative that if you do use cover letter or resume templates, to modify it to suit your own needs – after all, your cover letter is your chance to show them why you’re uniquely suited to the role.

Cover Letters: A Comprehensive Guide [With Templates and Examples]

Learn how to create a polished, professional and personal cover letter that will grab the hiring manager’s attention for all the right reasons.

Read the Guide

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