When writing your patient care technician cover letter, focus on how you can help provide versatile, daily medical care at the hospital or facility that posted the job. Also, emphasize your related skills like teamwork, patient education, or task prioritization.
This guide will help you write a cover letter that gets you interviews for your next job as a patient care technician.
Patient Care Technician Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Patient Care Technician Cover Letter
An effective cover letter usually has six sections outlined below. When possible, connect each section to the health organization and its hiring needs. The following advice and examples will show you what to include in your cover letter so it’s optimized for each application in your job search.
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 letter as an email message, as long as your contact details are part of your email signature.)
Example
Jessica Lang
123 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]
May 27, 2024
Ms. Rachel Johnson
Hiring Manager
ABC Hospital
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
2. Salutation
Address your recipient by name – this is the quickest way to signal you’re sending a job-specific letter, 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.
Examples
Dear Ms. Taylor:
Dear LMN Hospital Hiring Manager:
3. “Hook” or introduction
Catch the reader’s attention by citing an achievement from your resume or a key credential the organization seeks in applicants. Then, connect that highlight to your main strengths and overall candidacy for the advertised patient care technician role. Refer to the hospital by name here to further convince the recipient you’re applying to them specifically.
As an alternative to the work highlight, 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 at the organization alerted you to the job, use a line like “I was excited to hear from your colleague [Name] about [Hospital]’s new patient care technician opening.” 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
Through my 10 years of experience as a patient care technician, I’ve gained advanced skills in electrocardiography, hemodialysis, and compassionate patient care. I’m thrilled by the opportunity to apply these skills at your hospital.
4. Body paragraph(s)
This section is critical, so think it through fully for each application. On a separate document or sheet of paper, take 10 minutes to brainstorm why this patient care technician job or employer interests you. What details on the job posting caught your attention, and how do they compare to your past health care positions?
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 at least two or three concise sentences that speak to the job opening. By making these sentences a central part of your letter, you’ll have the best chance of persuading the manager to call you.
Example
Your requirement for a “true team player” caught my attention. Nothing motivates me more than collaborating with other health care workers to improve patient outcomes.
5. Career highlights
After expressing interest in the job, cite a few more of your patient care technician skills or achievements, possibly as bullet points. Again, view this section through the lens of the employer’s needs and choose your highlights accordingly.
Example
Through my recent experience, I’ve also shown a talent for:
- Helping individuals with various activities of daily living (ADLs) such as meals, bathing, dressing, dental care, phone calls, and basic mobility
- Building positive relationships with patients and providing them with emotional support to foster a positive outlook throughout the treatment process
6. Closing
Finally, request an interview and thank the hiring manager for their time and attention. Consider briefly restating why this job opportunity interests you. You can also use this section to refer to your resume or other application materials. To end your cover letter, use a simple closing like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and then your name.
Example
These are just some of the strengths I bring to the role of patient care technician. I would be very interested in discussing my credentials with you further. Please contact me by the phone number or email address above to arrange an interview. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Aliya Jackson
Patient Care Technician Cover Letter Tips
1. Show you excel at daily bedside care
Start your letter strong with a clear example or measure of your success as a patient care technician. Consider how you’ve taken on both nurse and nurse assistant duties, helping fill staffing gaps at hospitals or other health facilities. You might also describe how you’ve worked with nursing staff to find more efficient workflows.
Example
During my past year at XYZ Medical Center, I’ve been praised in all four quarterly reviews for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. I would love to now bring that same standard of excellence to your advertised patient care technician role.
2. Tell why you’re drawn to this patient care technician job
For example, maybe it calls for strong task prioritization, a focus of your recent experience. Or maybe the organization’s mission or values around patient comfort and mobility resonate with you. Also, consider the type of health facility you’re applying to (regional hospital, skilled nursing, long-term care…) and how that compares to your recent work history.
Example
Your job posting jumped out at me, particularly the requirement for a patient care technician who “can move nimbly between CNA and nurse duties in a constantly changing environment.” This is a key skill I’ve gained at PQR Hospital. The hospital has seen many changes and challenges recently, but I’ve consistently drawn praise for adapting to new duties and priorities.
3. Highlight your health care skills
Add a short list of bullet points to show your success in key work areas for a patient care technician, such as patient education or vital signs monitoring. You may also use this section to highlight your expert cooperation with nurses, nurse assistants, and physicians.
Example
This varied experience has also allowed me to hone skills in:
- Working with nurses and other health professionals to continually enhance operations and drive better treatment results
- Motivating patients to regain, build, and maintain basic mobility
- Monitoring patients’ vital signs and baseline mental status and reporting any changes to nursing staff
Patient Care Technician Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Aliya Jackson
123 Pine Brook Dr, Miami, FL 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]
May 27, 2024
Ms. Lori Taylor
Hiring Manager
LMN Hospital
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
Dear Ms. Taylor:
During my five years of clinical experience as a patient care technician, I’ve repeatedly partnered with nursing staff to find new, more efficient workflows. I’m very interested in bringing that same spirit of continual improvement to your healthcare facility.
Your job posting jumped out at me, particularly the requirement for a patient care technician who “can move nimbly between CNA and nurse duties in a constantly changing environment.” This is a key skill I’ve gained at PQR Hospital. The hospital has seen many changes and challenges recently, but I’ve consistently drawn praise for adapting to new duties and priorities. I’ve also shown a talent for:
- Using advanced conflict resolution methods to help prevent and manage high-stress situations with combative patients
- Proactively educating patients about their upcoming treatments, helping open the door to more positive nurse-patient communications
These are just some of the strengths I bring to the role of patient care technician. I would be very interested in discussing my credentials with you further. Please contact me by the phone number or email address above to arrange an interview. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Aliya Jackson
Patient Care Technician Cover Letter Frequently Asked Questions
Do hiring managers still read cover letters?-
Some don’t, but many do. And all hiring managers seek fast ways to cut a large pile of applications down to just a few promising candidates. One common way they do this is by focusing on applications that include cover letters, then on cover letters that speak to their hiring needs. Send a custom cover letter with your resume, and you can be confident you’d make that select group.
What’s the most important part of a cover letter?-
Tied for most important are:
- Paragraph(s) explaining why you're interested in the job. This explanation distinguishes the cover letter from your resume and can help you get past applicant tracking systems (ATS). It also sets up a good interview discussion about how you fit the role and the facility's work culture.
- Your contact information. No matter how persuasive your cover letter is, it's essentially useless if hiring managers can't reach you. Double-check that your phone number and email address are current and accurate. These may be the simplest and easiest details on your document, but they also make or break its performance.
How should I format my cover letter?-
Like your resume. A cover letter and resume should have different content, but similar style. Carry over all your resume's basic format settings, such as font, line spacing, and page margins.
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