A strong cover letter can bolster your chances of landing interviews as a recent nursing graduate. It serves as a compliment to your resume, emphasizing who you are as a health care professional and the value you can bring to patients and clinical teams. This guide provides cover letter examples and expert tips to help you capture the most compelling aspects of your clinical expertise.
Nurse Grad Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Nurse Grad Cover Letter
A great nurse grad cover letter has five main elements:
1. Heading. Use a professional template to enhance the style and presentation of your cover letter. Be sure your heading includes:
- Your name, title, and contact info
- The current date
- The addressee’s details
2. Salutation. Greet the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.”
3. Introduction. Create an opening paragraph to introduce yourself and convey your interest in the job. Provide a specific achievement from your nursing externship or highlight a key clinical skill that the hospital is looking for.
Example:
I’m reaching out to apply for the licensed vocational nurse position with St. John’s Medical Center. My experiences as both a nursing student at Columbia University and a certified nursing assistant at Campbell Hospital have allowed me to cultivate a unique understanding of clinical operations and patient care. I am confident that I can provide value to both your teams and patients in acute care settings.
4. Body paragraphs. Include one paragraph and a list of bullet points that describe your professional experience. Start by mentioning something specific about the hospital’s culture, reputation, or mission statement and why this draws you to apply for the role. In your bullet points, feature any relevant clinical experience you’ve garnered while completing your nursing program.
Example:
Hockessin Medical Center’s reputation for delivering high-quality, holistic care to patients is what draws me to apply for this opportunity. I have a passion for identifying clinical enhancements to care delivery and improving quality of life. I believe I can provide value to both your team and patients based on my previous achievements:
- Delivered patient-centered care in acute care environments under the supervision of registered nurses and preceptor in a 300-bed hospital with a 1-to-5 ratio
- Educated patients on illnesses, medications, and treatment options with empathy and compassion, resulting in a 94% patient satisfaction rating
- Coordinated effectively with nurses, medical staff, physicians, and multi-disciplinary teams
5. Closing section. Think of your conclusion as a call to action. Ask the hiring manager to contact you so you can learn more about the position. Be sure to thank them for their time and consideration.
Example:
I’d like to schedule an interview to provide more insights on how my health care background aligns with your organization’s goals and needs. Feel free to contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Anthony Gentile
Nurse Grad Cover Letter Tips
1. Leverage your nurse externship or other medical experience
As a recent nurse graduate, you likely won’t have a robust work history to draw from as you build your cover letter. To maximize your chances of landing the interview, leverage any relevant clinical experience you’ve garnered in your nursing program. In particular, emphasize your externship, as this is likely the highest level of care you’ve provided thus far in your career.
2. Emphasize your commitment to patient-centered care
Patient-centered care is an important trend in health care delivery, as it helps maintain the voice of the patient throughout treatment. It also helps to align the treatment planning process according to the patient’s physical, emotional, and cultural needs. Branding yourself as a patient advocate also shows hiring managers more about who you are as a person and as a health care professional.
3. Align your cover letter with the organization you’re applying to
Before crafting your cover letter, carefully research the hospital or health care organization you’re applying to. Hiring managers aren’t impressed by generic cover letters that could be sent to any job. Mention something specific about the hospital’s reputation or mission and how this aligns with your professional values and experience. This shows prospective employers you’ve taken the time to do your research and have a genuine interest in joining their team.
Nurse Grad Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Anthony Gentile
Registered Nurse | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | New York, NY 12345 | LinkedIn
January 1, 2024
Cynthia Roberts
Talent Specialist
St. John’s Medical Center
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]’smedical.org
Dear Ms. Roberts,
I’m reaching out to apply for the licensed vocational nurse position with St. John’s Medical Center. My experiences as both a nursing student at Columbia University and a certified nursing assistant at Campbell Hospital have allowed me to cultivate a unique understanding of clinical operations and patient care. I am confident that I can provide value to both your teams and patients in acute care settings.
St. John’s Medical Center’s commitment to health equity is what draws me to apply for this position. I believe that as health care providers, we have a duty to provide the highest quality care to patients across all backgrounds. Some examples of my prior patient care delivery experience include:
- Provided high-quality care to diverse patient populations in coordination with registered nurses and clinical teams and achieved patient satisfaction scores of 93%
- Communicated diagnosis and treatment options to patients and families with compassion and served as a patient advocate
- Monitored updates to resident nurses on changes in patient medical status and symptoms
I’d like to schedule an interview to provide more insights on how my health care background aligns with your organization’s goals and needs. Feel free to contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Anthony Gentile
Nurse Grad Cover Letter FAQs
Why should I include a nurse grad cover letter?-
Although a cover letter won’t always be required for every job posting, it can be a helpful way to further differentiate yourself from the applicant pool in some situations. In the cover letter, you can speak more directly about the hospital you’re applying to. It also allows you to provide other insights into who you are as a medical professional, such as your commitment to health equity and patient advocacy.
What types of skills should I emphasize on a nurse grad cover letter?-
Featuring clinical specializations and major health care terms is an essential part of building a strong cover letter, but it’s also important to achieve a balance by demonstrating your interpersonal skills. Hospitals want to see you can interface effectively with diverse patient populations and medical staff, so be sure to provide examples of this in your content.
What are some common mistakes people make when writing a nurse grad cover letter?-
The biggest mistake job seekers make when writing cover letters is focusing too much on their excitement for the opportunity rather than emphasizing the value they can bring to patients and health care organizations. Crafting a well-written cover letter that is carefully tailored to the hospital’s needs is a much better way to show your genuine interest in the role.
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