- What should your nurse cover letter include?
- What can you write in the introduction of your cover letter?
- What should be mentioned in the cover letter body for a nursing role?
- How to write a nurse cover letter closing
If you’re caring, compassionate, and a strong communicator (the three C’s!), then nursing is probably going to be a great career choice. The good news is that nurses are in high demand, so there are plenty of opportunities out there. But, there’s also a lot of competition too. Whether you’re a fledgling nurse grad or a seasoned registered nurse, ensuring you have a strong cover letter is one way to help you land those plum nursing roles.
As a nurse, you’ll be experienced in communicating and engaging with patients to build positive relationships and deliver optimal levels of care. Similarly, your cover letter also needs to engage the hiring manager and communicate your nursing prowess. This will encourage the reader to take the time to review your resume and move you forward in the hiring process.
In this cover letter guide, along with the corresponding nurse cover letter example, we’ll look at exactly how to draft a cover letter that can get you interviews, including:
What should your nurse cover letter include?
What can you write in the introduction of the cover letter
What information can you give in the body of the cover letter
How to write a cover letter closing
What should your nurse cover letter include?
Much like a smoothly running hospital ward, your nurse cover letter should be clean, precise, and super organized. This brief (usually one page) letter should explain what makes you the best nursing candidate for the job opening. Think of your cover letter as your initial pitch that will get you one step closer to an interview.
Typically your cover letter will include your contact information, details of the organization you are applying to, and a greeting. Following this you’ll need a compelling introduction to hook the reader, one or two paragraphs describing your most relevant experience and achievements, and finally, a strong closing paragraph. We’ll go over these elements in detail in the following paragraphs.
What can you write in the introduction of your cover letter?
The introduction of your cover letter is your opportunity to capture the reader's attention via a clear, targeted message. A strong intro can help set you apart from the competition, making it more likely the hiring manager will take notice of your nursing skills, experience, and accomplishments. You don’t want them to lose interest and move on to the next candidate.
Highlight your level of nursing experience and your strong commitment to patient-centered care. You also want to give the hiring manager a sense of the value you can bring to the organization. Teamwork is important in the majority of roles, but in nursing it’s critical. Hiring managers will be looking for nursing candidates who can work collaboratively to ensure positive patient outcomes, so referencing your team-focused approach is a great way to demonstrate your value.
Dear Conroy Alvina,
As an empathetic and highly experienced Registered Nurse (RN), I am well prepared to provide patient-centered care at Providence Health & Services. Confident that I will quickly prove myself as a vital member of your team, I have enclosed my resume for your review.
What should be mentioned in the cover letter body for a nursing role?
The body of the nurse cover letter is where you expand on your qualifications as a nurse, your specific expertise, and the unique value you can bring to the organization.
An effective approach is to break into it 3 different sections:
Why you. Provide a snapshot of your nursing background relevant to the job opening, with particular focus on nursing skills, expertise, and key achievements. Focus on highlighting your specific experience as a nurse in terms of roles, responsibilities, and healthcare settings. Perhaps you’ve worked in a demanding ER within a large hospital, taken care of patients in a hospice setting, or worked with young children in pediatric care. Demonstrate how you have provided optimal patient care, been a strong team-player and leader, and any certifications completed to enhance your skill set.
Why here. Addressing why you’re passionate about working at the specific healthcare facility you are targeting will really resonate with the hiring manager. If you mention something vague, such as wanting patients to regain full health, it’s not going to excite the recruiter about your candidacy. Maybe the organization is known for its progressive techniques, or you're passionate about providing support to a specific patient base the facility caters for. Communicating this via your cover letter will demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job opportunity.
Why now. What has prompted you to make this move in your nursing career? You may be an experienced RN looking to move to a supervisory role or recently completed additional certifications to change course in your nursing career. Either way, communicating your career objectives and backstory can bring your personality to the forefront via your cover letter.
Get more in-depth advice in our blog: The ultimate guide to writing short cover letters
- Use the job description as a guide when creating your nurse cover letter. Make sure to tick the boxes in terms of essential requirements.
- Proofread your cover letter carefully. As a nurse, it’s vital to display a strong attention to detail.
- Forget to sprinkle your soft skills across your nurse cover letter, with focus on communication and interpersonal skills.
- Copy and paste information from your nurse resume to your nurse cover letter.
Currently serving as an RN within a large hospital system, I provide competent patient care, facilitation, and advocacy. My background also includes serving as Staff Nurse for an ER unit, Case Manager for the home care division of a hospice organization, and Nurse Manager and Educator at large hospitals. My resume outlines over 15 years of assessing patient health status, anticipating the needs of physicians and healthcare team members, collaborating with team members, and continually ensuring compliance to policies and procedures.
Please consider additional highlights of my qualifications:
Provide excellent nursing care to diverse patient base while promoting respect and dignity.
Supervise shift nurses, monitor performance of new nurses, and accurately manage documentations and charts.
Ensure optimal staffing utilization by effectively managing schedules and skillsets.
How to write a nurse cover letter closing
Wrap up your nurse cover letter with a strong closing section. Be confident and enthusiastic in your closing, and include a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to get in touch. This doesn’t need to be a long paragraph (1-2 sentences is fine). Here’s some inspiration:
Reinforce the value you will bring to the organization. This should demonstrate your Unique Selling Point (USP). “With my expertise in overseeing the delivery of optimal patient care and support across surgical cases, I’m confident of my ability to greatly contribute to your nursing team.”
Include a Call to Action. Encourage them to take your application to the next level. “Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
Looking to create a cover letter for an internal position? Learn more here: Cover letter for an internal position
In me, Providence Health & Services will gain a diligent and focused RN with a tireless work ethic and ambition to achieve the goals set before me. As such, I believe I would be a great addition to your nursing team, and I would welcome the chance to meet in person.
Until then, thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Parker Pascale
If you’re looking to make a career change in the nursing field, check out Career.io’s Career Pathways tool. Build career pathways, bridge skills gaps, and explore job demand.
