Nursing Cover Letter Examples (Text Format)
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Philip Glossman
Licensed Practical Nurse | [email protected] | (540) 123-4567 | 689 Whisper Lane, Thornburg, VA 22565
January 1, 2021
Dr. Ralph Hughes
Nursing Director
Hughes Home, Inc.
(540) 098-7654
[email protected]
Dear Dr. Hughes,
When my grandmother moved into your community five years ago, I knew that I wanted to serve families at Hughes Home upon completing my nursing education. In response to your Indeed listing, I gladly offer my skills and experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
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.
Now that you have a need for a professional with my credentials, I am eager to discuss with you how I can contribute to the ongoing success of the community that cared for my grandmother. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to set up an interview.
Best regards,
Philip Glossman
P.S. I look forward to telling you how I received a community award for a volunteer nursing mission.
Zoey Logan
Registered Nurse | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 123 South St., San Diego, 12345
January 7, 2021
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.
Sarah Pettigrew
Nursing Manager | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | 123 Main St., Miami, FL 12345
January 7, 2021
David Higgins
Senior HR Manager
Mount Sinai Medical Center
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Higgins,
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.
I have over 17 years of experience in caring for patients and managing staff. I showcase a broad range of nursing experience, having worked in various wards, including pediatrics, obstetrics, trauma, and ICU. My patient care record and excellent communication skills make me a valuable addition to your medical team.
Some of my past successes include:
- Training new nurses and staff members in EMR and EHR protocols and system updates, resulting in better patient health records
- Created new scheduling systems that cut 17% 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%
I’d like to set up a meeting at your convenience to discuss how my work experience and health care knowledge could be of use to Mount Sinai Medical Center. Please feel free to contact me with a time that suits your schedule.
Best Regards,
Sarah Pettigrew
P.S. I’d like to explain my approach to using the Lean principles in a hospital setting.
Nursing Cover Letter Checklist
A nursing cover letter needs five main elements to ensure it covers everything a hiring manager would like to know:
1. Heading. A professional template helps this information stand out. Make sure to include:
- Your name and title
- Your contact information
- The addressee’s details
- The date you wrote the letter
2. Salutation. Catch the hiring manager’s eye by using their name. Address them as Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find their name, it’s best to use “Dear Hiring Manager.”
3. Introduction. This opening paragraph is your chance to entice the hiring manager into reading the rest of your letter and your resume. Introduce yourself and express your interest in the job.
4. Body paragraphs. This should be two paragraphs that reiterate your interest in the position and describe your experience and skills. A bulleted list can make it easier for a hiring manager or recruiter to see the highlights of your career.
5. Closing section. Here is where you encourage the hiring manager to act by inviting you to interview. Adding a postscript is an extra step that can draw their eye and leave a lasting impression.
Introduction
The introductory paragraph is your opportunity to express interest in the nursing job and capture the hiring manager’s interest. The best way to do this is to build your introduction around one of your top accomplishments. It’s best to choose an achievement that can be quantified with solid numbers and shows how you can meet the requirements of the job. Generic facts, like your years of experience, aren’t needed here as they can be found on your resume.
Good
Mentoring 16 RNs and NPs and helping shape them into highly skilled geriatric nurses has been one of the greatest achievements in my career. I hope to bring that level of leadership and success to Blackwell Nursing Home as a geriatric nurse practitioner.
Bad
I’m writing to apply for the geriatric nurse practitioner position you recently advertised. My 14 years of experience as an RN and NP make me highly qualified for the job.
Body Paragraphs
The first paragraph of your cover letter’s body should emphasize your interest in the position. Be specific about why you admire the organization and make sure you show your enthusiasm.
The next paragraph is your opportunity to showcase your achievements. You can include educational degrees, career advancement, or successful projects. Make sure that you choose examples related to the company’s key priorities as listed on their job description. It’s also good practice to use specific numbers to quantify your achievements, so the hiring manager can get a concrete idea of your abilities and success. Presenting your accomplishments in a bulleted list will help break up the large blocks of information and make your qualifications stand out further.
Good
With 14 years of experience nursing older adults, I’m attracted to Blackwell Nursing Home’s emphasis on maintaining the dignity and independence of their residents. Blackwell’s reputation for compassionate, high-quality care matches my own warm and empathetic style of nursing.
I’ve been involved with a number of projects that helped improve operations and patient outcomes, and I hope to bring the same success to Blackwell. My past successes include:
- Training nurses and staff members on electronic care plan records, resulting in better patient records and increased efficiency of 15% for visiting specialists
- Initiated weekly team meetings to discuss patient care issues, leading to a 10% reduction in incidents caused by miscommunication
- Supervised two RNs and four nurse aides during afternoon shift, taking responsibility for up to 60 residents
Bad
I have 14 years of nursing experience and am more than qualified for the geriatric nurse position. I would love to work for Blackwell Nursing Home.
In my current position, I am responsible for:
- Completing patient care plans
- Managing weekly team meetings
- Managing a ward during the afternoon shift
Closing
Your nursing cover letter’s closing paragraph needs to be more than just a thank you for the hiring manager’s time and consideration. It’s an opportunity to make a lasting impression and suggest that they take action by inviting you for an interview.
You can stand out from the crowd by including a postscript at the bottom of your letter. Finish with a flourish and include one final intriguing achievement to make them want to get to know you better.
Good
I’d like the chance to discuss how my experience as a geriatric nurse can help enhance Blackwell Nursing Home’s prominence as a provider of quality elder care. Please feel free to contact me with an interview time that fits your schedule.
Best regards,
Jane Doe, MSN, RN, AGNP-C
P.S. I’d love to explain how I won a Geriatrics Recognition Award from the American Geriatrics Society.
Bad
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. If you require any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
Jane Doe