Writing a Cover Letter for Nursing Job (Best Samples & Templates)

Writing a great nursing cover letter can, at times, be as challenging as finding the perfect nursing job. In fact, most job seekers usually tend to forget to include a cover letter when sending in their resumes. They tend to spend more time updating their resumes and adding more details to their certifications, education, accomplishments, and achievements.

When applying for any job position, it is always recommended to include a cover letter when sending in your resume. Other than acting as an introduction, the cover letter will help set you aside from other applicants. Even if the hiring manager only skims it, if something in the letter captures their attention, it can mean the difference between you and other applicants getting the job.

A cover letter (also referred to as a covering letter or an application letter) is a brief document that introduces a job seeker’s professional skills, personal interest, and work history in applying for a job. A cover letter acts as an invitation to the recipient of the letter to read your resume.

A nursing cover letter’s key objective is to showcase your personality as a nurse, expand upon your achievements in your resume, and explain to the hiring manager why you would be the best candidate for the position. Simply put, your cover letter, together with your resume, should help guide the recruiters and the hiring managers to screen your job application with ease.

With the constant change in the nursing field, there are several different types of nurses that you can be. However, with so many nursing specialties, it can be hard for one to decide on what type of nurse would be a great fit for them. From a nurse educator to a registered nurse, there is a type of nurse for every interest. Here are the different types of nurses and descriptions for the top five growing nurse specialties.

Nurse educators are tasked with teaching nursing students how to care for their patients. They may teach comprehensive lessons about nursing in general or simply focus on key areas of nursing.

The task of a nurse manager is that of a supervisory clinical path. Most nurse managers move into an administrative duty and handle tasks that include creating schedules, recruiting nurses, and making decisions regarding budgeting and management.

Nurse practitioners serve as basic and specialty care providers. They deliver advanced nursing services to their patients and families’. Nurse practitioners, depending on their main area of specialization and the state in which they practice, may also perform physical examinations on their patients, diagnose illnesses, provide evidence-based health education, and treat conditions.

A Registered Nurse (RN) provides and coordinates patient care, educate the patients and the public about various health conditions, and offer advice and emotional support to the patients and their families. Most RNs work in a team with other health care providers and physicians in various settings.

A school nurse has a vital role in the seamless provision of health services to the students and adults in a school. School nurses help in providing preventive services, interventions, early identification of problems, and referrals to foster health and educational success.

They also facilitate positive student responses to normal development; intervene with actual and potential health issues; promote health and safety; and actively coordinate with others to build students and family capacity for adaptation, self-advocacy, learning, and self-management.

When drafting a great nursing cover letter, most people misunderstand how to get the most bang for their buck. Having a solid resume and a well-drafted cover letter are key factors in advancing one’s nursing career.

Here is how you should draft your cover letter:

Starting your cover letter with a generic greeting is one of the biggest nursing cover letter mistakes that one can make when applying for a job. It is a red flag for the hiring manager that you did not take your time writing the letter. It also shows that you did not take your time to research the organization to try and find out who handles looking over applicants.

Attention to detail is a crucial element for any position but even more so in health-related careers. In your duties as a nurse, making mistakes can have a significant impact on your patients.

It is important to show your potential employers that you are serious about your work by taking your time to format your letter properly. This implies crafting a great header that matches your resume, ensuring that all the key areas and fonts are consistent, and double-check your work to ensure that it is free of errors.

When drafting your nursing cover letter, you want to focus on showing your skills and experience in the best way possible. However, this does not imply that you should only focus on yourself. When writing, always keep in mind that you are trying to convince the reader that you are the best candidate to fill a position. Remember that they are looking for someone to help them out and not the other way around. Highlight your skills, experiences, and qualifications so that it shows the recipient what you are bringing to the table.

Try as much as you can to set yourself apart from other applicants as possible. Avoid using generic phrases like “detail-oriented” and “team player.” Most applicants will, in most cases, use these generic phrases. To set yourself apart, try and include specifics – the more numbers and statistics you include, the better- to set yourself apart.

When writing, try, and answer the following questions; What are you applying for? How many years of experience do you have? Have you had any achievements? What are some of the things you’ve been able to do?

If you are a member of any professional body, make sure to mention it. This can help convince the employer that you are serious about your career. It is also a great way for you to participate in events that can help you learn valuable things that you can use at the job.

Even as a new graduate, you still have some level of experience working with patients, and you would want to ensure that you include this in your cover letter. Think of some of the areas or things that you may have excelled in either in school or while working as an attaché or intern and the impact you made. You also want to mention some of the things that you are looking forward to when it comes to working with patients.

End your cover letter with a positive and friendly note. Since most of the candidates will, in most cases, have the same ending, set yourself apart by thanking the potential employer/hiring manager for their time and consideration, show them that you are serious about the nursing position that you are applying for by giving them a time frame for when you will check back in with them to get their feedback on your application. Don’t forget to invite them to review your resume.

There are a few Do’s and Don’ts you must keep in mind in the process of prepring a cover letter for nursing jobs. for, the importance of Introducing Yourself properly can simply not be stressed upon enough. So remember that a cover letter is simply a highlight of who you are and why you are applying for a specific position.

Don’t forget to introduce yourself properly at the very beginning of the cover letter. A proper introduction can motivate the hiring manager to go through your resume to find out more about you. apart from that, you must write properly and confidently. Confidence is very important when drafting a cover letter. However, do not be overconfident about yourself. Tell the hiring manager why you believe you are the best candidate for the position and mention some of the things that you believe will set you apart from other applicants.

Lastly, don’t forget to highlight what matters to you. Do some research and try to put your focus on what the employer is most interested in. Focusing on these points can help convince them that you are the best candidate for the position. You can include some anecdotes that better showcase your qualifications for the role you are applying for and expand upon your skills and achievements to convince the hiring manager that you are the ideal candidate.

Here are some tips that you should consider when drafting your nursing cover letter:

Research: It is important to always research the company before drafting and sending in your application letter. Knowing the company’s culture can help you come up with the right words for your letter giving you a competitive edge against other applicants.

Prioritize your network: When you are looking for a job, it is important to start by contacting the people around you for leads on where to start. Communication, just like networking, is very important- Ask your friends and former colleagues for any leads and follow those leads to find your way to job interviews.

Be relevant: Don’t just write for the sake of writing – for a nursing job, in particular, you should tailor the letter towards the healthcare sector and only include content that is relevant to the nursing field that you are applying for.

Include soft skills: As a nurse, the more skills you have, the better your chances of getting the role that you are applying for. For instance, you may want to include skills such as communication skills and any general skills that you have to help convince the employer that you have the capacity to handle your patients.

Proofread: Just like any other job, it is important to show your potential employer that you are a detail-oriented person. To do this, ensure that you follow the application guidelines and countercheck your work to ensure that it is free of any errors.

Follow up: If you have indicated in the letter that you will follow up after one week, it is important that you do so. Showing the employer that you are dedicated and you really need that job can go a long way in convincing the employer/hiring manager that you are the right candidate.

Stay confident: No matter how many times you send in your application and get rejected, never give up. There is always someone/an organization somewhere looking for the skills that you possess. Keep sending the applications, and don’t let the length of your search influence your attitude.

Know what you are doing: when you are looking for a job, it is important to know what you are looking for. Decide on what role you are applying for, your goals, and the steps you need to take to achieve those goals.

We understand that keeping track of all the elements that need to be covered during the process of preparing your cover letter for nursing job can be challenging, which is why we have gone one step further in providing you with assistance by providing our free-of-cost and fully customizable nursing jobs cover letter templates below!

When drafting a nursing cover letter, it is important to tailor it to the specific role or medical facility that you are applying for. You must share your goals and vision with the hiring manager and the company. Keep your cover letter brief, and make sure to highlight your strengths, skills, qualifications, and accomplishments. Each cover letter you draft should properly highlight your nursing talents and your unique skills and experience. After drafting the cover letter, make sure to go through it several times to ensure that it is free of any errors.