When writing your certified nursing assistant (CNA) cover letter, focus on how you can support patients’ comfort and well-being at the facility that posted the job. Also, emphasize your related skills like vital signs monitoring, first aid, infection prevention, or team collaboration.
This guide will help you write a cover letter that gets you interviews for your next job as a CNA.
Certified Nursing Assistant Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Certified Nursing Assistant Cover Letter
A good CNA cover letter usually has five sections, outlined below. When possible, connect each section back to the health organization and its stated hiring needs. The following advice and examples show how you can use this strategy to optimize your letter for each application.
1. Heading
At the top of the page, include:
- Your resume contact header, which should give your full name, address, email, phone number, and LinkedIn or other social accounts if applicable
- The date
- The recipient’s name, title, organization, and contact information (when available)
Note: Feel free to omit this section when sending your cover letter as an email message as long as your contact details are part of your email signature. Look for instructions in the job posting on whether to send by email message or attachment. When the posting doesn’t specify, it’s your choice – just bear in mind email messages are increasingly common, but an attachment is often still better for formal applications to large employers.
Example
Jessica Sanders
Certified Nursing Assistant | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 45 Address Street, Portland, OR 98765
March 1, 2024
Kelly Franklin
Hiring Manager
Copley Health
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
2. Salutation
Address your recipient by name as in the first example below – this is the quickest way to signal you’re sending a job-specific letter and not a boilerplate. If you can’t find the person’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager” so your greeting is still tailored somewhat to each job opening.
For traditional job applications, end your salutation line with a colon. But consider a comma instead if you know your recipient or the employer has a casual work culture (sometimes revealed by an employer description on the job posting). In rare cases, you may also trade out the standard “Dear” for a more casual “Greetings,” “Hello,” “Hi,” or even “Good morning.” But again, use your discretion and take cues from the job posting or employer description.
Examples
Dear Ms. White,
Dear Harris Memorial Hospital Manager:
3. “Hook” or introduction
Catch the reader’s attention by citing an achievement from your resume or a key credential the employer seeks in applicants. Then, connect that highlight to your main strengths and overall candidacy for the advertised CNA role.
As an alternative to the work highlight approach, you can set yourself apart by networking. Begin your letter by citing any personal or professional connections you have with the hiring manager. If someone on the health care team alerted you to the job, use a line like “I was excited to hear from your colleague [Name] about [Hospital]’s new CNA position.” Or, if you’ve already met your recipient, mention that with a line like “It was great speaking with you at the [event] last month.”
Example
Achieving a 97% patient satisfaction rating for this year was one of the proudest moments of my career. I achieved this goal through hard work and providing consistently excellent care to every patient I worked with.
4. Job- or employer-specific paragraph(s)
This section is crucial, so think it through fully for each application in your job search.
On a separate document or sheet of paper, take 10 minutes to brainstorm why this CNA position or employer interests you based on the job posting. (See tip No. 2 below for some related ideas.)
When you’re done brainstorming, review your notes: Do any stand out as important or persuasive? Adapt those points into one or two brief paragraphs that speak to the job opening at hand. By making this description a central part of your letter, you’ll more likely persuade the manager to give you a call.
Following this explanation, cite a few more of your skills or achievements, possibly as bullet points.
Example
I am drawn to the prospect of working for a highly regarded long-term care facility like Copley Health. I’d be a good match for your patient-driven approach to senior care. Some of my previous achievements include:
- My ability to notice subtle physical and emotional changes in patients that might signify clinical deterioration
- Assisting 14 elderly residents per shift with daily activities, as well as field trips and entertainment activities
- Building trusted relationships with patients by showing empathy and compassion
5. Conclusion
Finally, request an interview for the position. Restate your overall expertise in daily patient care and eagerness to contribute as a CNA of the hospital or facility soon. To end your cover letter, use a simple closing like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and then your name.
Example
I would love the chance to speak to you about how my years of experience could translate into improved patient care at Harris Memorial Hospital. Please feel free to contact me with a date that best suits your schedule.
Kind regards,
Mary Bergevin
Certified Nursing Assistant Cover Letter Tips
1. Show you excel at daily patient care
Start your letter with an example of your success as a CNA. For instance, maybe you stood out on your team for actively anticipating and responding to patients’ needs. Or perhaps you took on daily duties that improved focus among other nursing staff. Also, consider if you’ve earned any awards or general praise for high efficiency or adaptability in a health care setting.
Example
As a CNA at Wesley Senior Care, I received the CNA of the Year award in 2019 due to my outstanding patient care and passion for my work. In my two years of experience on the job, I helped patients complete daily activities while providing them with emotional support to improve their morale.
2. Tell why you’re a good fit
When brainstorming points for your cover letter, think about what this CNA role or employer has in common with your background or goals. For example, maybe the hospital has a strong program for daily patient mobility, similar to your last position. Or you’re applying to one of the many CNA jobs at a skilled nursing facility, a care setting you’d like to return to.
Also, scan the job posting for details on the wider health care team. Would you be working closely with occupational therapists (OTs) or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs)? View your own work from that perspective and jot down any similar experience.
Example
I see that Seattle West Hospital is expanding its trauma unit and looking for additional nursing staff. I have over 11 years of experience as a CNA in one of the busiest hospitals on the West Coast. My knowledge of patient care in emergency situations will make me an asset to your nursing team.
3. Highlight your other strengths
Add a short list of bullet points to show your success in other key CNA areas like health care documentation, vital signs monitoring, or patient and family relations.
Example
Some of the highlights of my career include:
- Assisted in caring for a daily caseload of 37 patients in the cancer ward
- Spent three years working in the emergency unit and dealt with a range of different patients on a daily basis
- Helped set up a new e-records system to manage the care of patients more efficiently in the hospital
Certified Nursing Assistant Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Mary Bergevin
Nursing Assistant | [email protected] | (123) 456 -7890 | 123 Main Street, Miami, FL 12345
January 01, 2024
Jessica White
Senior Hiring Manager
Harris Memorial Hospital
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Dear Ms. White,
Decreasing the nursing staff turnover rate by 27% at Miami Central Hospital was one of the proudest moments of my career. I believe that I can bring the same level of enthusiasm and professional experience to Harris Memorial Hospital.
I have over 9 years of experience as a certified nursing assistant working in some of the busiest hospitals in the Miami area. I believe that I would be an asset to your nursing team at Harris Memorial Hospital and that I would assist in reaching your patient care goals.
Some of the highlights of my career include:
- Assisted in caring for a daily caseload of 37 patients in the cancer ward
- Spent three years working in the emergency unit and dealt with a range of different patients on a daily basis
- Assisted in setting up a new e-records system to manage the care of patients more efficiently in the hospital
I would love the chance to speak to you about how my years of experience could translate into improved patient care at Harris Memorial Hospital. Please feel free to contact me with a date that best suits your schedule.
Kind regards,
Mary Bergevin
Certified Nursing Assistant Cover Letter Frequently Asked Questions
What traits are useful to highlight in my cover letter?-
Desired qualities in CNAs include patience, compassion, collaboration, and calm professionalism. Consider which of these traits best describe you, then give an example or two of how you’ve shown them in a work setting.
What’s the difference between a resume and a cover letter?-
A resume may show you’re qualified for the job, but a cover letter shows you want it. More than simply repeating resume points, your cover letter should explain why the job caught your eye or why the organization strikes you as a great fit, setting the stage for a positive interview. In this way, a good cover letter sharpens your application by letting you say directly what your resume can only indicate.
How do I professionally say I’m willing to learn? -
There’s nothing unprofessional about describing yourself as “willing to learn” in your cover letter. The problem with this phrase is it's too vague to impress hiring managers. To make the idea more persuasive, get specific. Give one or more examples of your training up quickly or learning new skills as a CNA, and spell out how that helped improve patient care.
Craft a new cover letter in minutes
Get the attention of hiring managers with a cover letter tailored to every job application.
