When writing your nursing cover letter, focus on how you can support patients’ health and recovery at the hospital or facility that posted the job. Also, emphasize your related skills like problem-solving, family relations, or medication administration.
This guide will help you write a cover letter that gets you interviews for your next job in nursing.
Nursing Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Nursing Cover Letter
Your nursing cover letter should usually have five sections, in this order:
1. Heading
At the top of the page, include:
- Your name and contact information
- The date
- The recipient’s name, title, organization, and contact information (when available)
(Note: Feel free to omit this section if you send your letter by email and your contact details are part of your signature.)
Example
Philip Glossman
Licensed Practical Nurse | [email protected] | (540) 123-4567 | 689 Whisper Lane, Thornburg, VA 22565
January 1, 2024
Dr. Ralph Hughes
Nursing Director
Hughes Home, Inc.
(540) 098-7654
[email protected]
2. Salutation
If you can’t find the recipient’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.”
Examples
Dear Ms. Stanley,
Dear Hughes Home Nursing Director:
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.
Example
As a nursing manager, I successfully modified my unit’s budget by cutting 15% of costs without sacrificing patient care. I hope to bring the same level of success to a position at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
4. Body paragraph(s)
Explain why the job or employer interests you. Then, cite a few more of your key achievements or qualifications, possibly using bullet points.
Example
Since acquiring my nursing degree and LPN license in 2017, I have set my career path toward caring for individuals living in residential facilities. As a part of your team, I can bring:
- Efficiency: I can perform many tasks, such as medication administration, injections, and catheters independently.
- Communication: My current management has commended me for excellent bedside manners and teamwork.
- Dependability: I’ve maintained a perfect attendance record at my current position.
5. Closing
Finally, request an interview for the position.
Example
I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how my patient care skills and plan-of-care knowledge would benefit the team at San Diego West Medical. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss a meeting time that would suit your schedule.
Best regards,
Zoey Logan
Nursing Cover Letter Tips
1. Show you can support and advocate for patients
Start your letter with a clear example of your success in your field. As the American Nurses Association puts it, nurses are “the glue that holds a patient’s health care journey together.” View your work experience from that perspective. How have you coordinated with doctors and other health care personnel? And how have you guided or supported patients’ progress to new stages of treatment or recovery? Your answers to these questions can help you find a powerful work highlight to open your letter.
Example
At San Diego Bay Hospital, I have been named employee of the year twice (2016 and 2018) and received numerous accolades and commendations for my excellent patient care skills. I would be proud to replicate this success at San Diego West Medical.
2. Explain why you’re drawn to the opportunity
On a separate document or sheet of paper, take 10 minutes to brainstorm why this nursing job or employer interests you. For instance, maybe the role is in pediatrics, a patient age group you’d be eager to work with again. Or perhaps the hospital or clinic has a stated mission or patient care philosophy that resonates with you.
When you’re done brainstorming, review your notes: Do any stand out as important or persuasive? Take another 10 minutes to brainstorm and elaborate on them. Repeat this process until you have two or three concise sentences that speak to the job opening. By adding these to your cover letter, you can show nurse managers you read their job posting and are responding to it directly.
Example
In addition to a master’s degree in nursing, I have over five years of proven experience in providing high levels of care to all my patients. I believe I would be a valuable addition to your nursing staff due to my extensive medical knowledge, management experience, and patient-centered focus.
3. Highlight your other work strengths
Add a short list of bullet points to cover your success in other key areas of nursing. With each bullet point, show the skill in action by giving an example of how you improved clinical operations or patient outcomes. For instance, you could display leadership by describing how you helped train nurse assistants on new department practices.
Example
Some of my past successes include:
- Training new nurses and staff members in electronic medical record (EMR) and electronic health record (EHR) protocols and system updates, resulting in better patient health records
- Created new scheduling systems that cut 17% of scheduling waste from the unit
- Designing and implementing a new nursing career development program that assisted nurses wanting to further their training, reducing the unit’s turnover by 23%
Nursing Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Zoey Logan
Registered Nurse | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 123 South St., San Diego, 12345
January 7, 2024
Jessica Stanley
Senior Hiring Manager
San Diego West Medical
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Dear Ms. Stanley,
At San Diego Bay Hospital, I have been named employee of the year twice ( 2016 and 2018) and received numerous accolades and commendations for my excellent patient care skills. I would be proud to replicate this success at San Diego West Medical.
I have a master’s degree in nursing and over five years of proven experience in providing high levels of care to all my patients. I believe that I would be a valuable addition to your nursing staff due to my extensive medical knowledge, management experience, and patient-centered focus. Some of my notable accomplishments include:
- Assisted in creating nursing schedules that helped to create a 5% reduction in scheduling waste from my unit
- Extensive experience in working in the trauma and ICU wards
- Trained seven new nursing staff in the EMR systems and best practices.
- Educated patients in post-operative care and medication before discharge
I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how my patient care skills and plan-of-care knowledge would benefit the team at San Diego West Medical. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss a meeting time that would suit your schedule.
Best Regards,
Zoey Logan
P.S. I would love to tell you about my DAISY award.
Nursing Cover Letter Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to start a cover letter?-
With a clear example of your success in the role you’re pursuing. The concept of “show, don’t tell” absolutely applies to your cover letter’s first paragraph. For instance, don’t just tell the hiring manager you’re a “proactive nurse professional.” Show you’re proactive by citing a time you exceeded expectations or found a new way to support and advocate for patients.
Should I say “My name is…” on a cover letter?-
No. As long as your name appears in the letter’s closing section, you don’t need to state it otherwise.
What traits are useful to highlight in my cover letter?-
Desired qualities in nursing professionals include empathy, precision, dedication, collaboration, and emotional resilience. Consider which of these traits best describe you, then give an example or two of how you’ve shown them in a work setting.
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