How To Write a Nursing Cover Letter, Including a Sample
Writing a cover letter as a Registered Nurse is similar to writing one for any other prospective job; you’ll demonstrate your skills, experience, and education while showcasing your personality and ability to communicate all of the above. When writing your cover letter, remember that it is an opportunity to show employers why you are the best candidate for the job.
RN Sample Cover Letter
Download the following resume here as a Google Doc or Word Document.
Maria Smith
123 Hickory Lane, Sometown, GA 45678 | (770)423-6000 | Maria.smith@gmail.com
Sarah Campbell
Nurse Recruiter
R.N Medical Centre
1300 West Park Street,
Butte, MT 59701
Dear Ms. Campbell,
I’m writing in regard to the Registered Nurse position advertised on Indeed. I am an energetic and highly motivated nurse, keen to serve society by delivering the best medical services possible. My skills and qualifications make me an ideal candidate for the position.
I earned my master’s degree in nursing from the John Hopkins School of Medicine and have 6 years of experience working in the healthcare field. As an RN, I am very organized, calm, and patient. I am passionate about providing care to patients and strive to inspire other staff members.
Upon graduating, I was hired as an RN at Divine Hospital where I worked for 2 years. Currently, I am working at Memorial Hospital where my responsibilities include:
- Monitoring the condition of the patients and reporting any concerns;
- Administering medications in compliance with established policies and standards;
- Preparing and implementing a customized, interdisciplinary care plan;
- Ensuring that patients’ rooms are kept neat and clean as to minimize the risk of infection;
- Identifying the physical, psychological, and emotional needs of patients.
I believe my skills and qualifications would make me a valuable addition to your hospital. Enclosed is a resume for your review. I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Maria Smith
New vs. Experienced RNs
Whether you’re applying to your first or next RN position, you’ll need a cover letter and a resume. Each of these documents shows potential employers who you are and how you can succeed in the position for which you’re applying. If you’re an experienced RN, focus on the most recent and pertinent job titles you’ve held. If you’re a new RN who’s just graduated from school, emphasize what you’ve learned in your program. Detail both the hard and soft skills you’ve picked up along the way.
Address the Correct Person and Department
The first thing you want to do is make sure you address the correct person, department, and position for which you are applying. Misspelling a name, using the wrong name, or even getting the title of the position incorrect may rub a potential employer the wrong way and automatically put you at a disadvantage.
Format Your Cover Letter
No one cover letter works for every job, but they all follow a similar format. While you’ll want to customize your cover letter for each specific job you apply for, you’ll always include your name and contact information, an introduction, a few middle paragraphs, and a succinct closing statement.
Below details what should be included in each of those four sections:
Name and Contact Information
At the very top of your cover letter, you’ll include your name and contact information. A general rule of thumb is to use a relatively larger font size for these than for the rest of the text. You want your name to stand out and altering the font size can do that.
Introduction
An introductory paragraph tells the employer how you found the job and why you’re applying. Start your cover letter with an impressive and energetic introduction that makes you stand out from the other candidates. Show the recruiter that you are keen to work with them.
Middle Paragraphs
In the middle paragraphs of your cover letter, elaborate on your skills, qualifications, and experience. Employers need to know they are hiring the best candidate for the position. This includes finding someone with not only the right attitude, but someone who is equipped for the demands of the job as well. This is your opportunity to show them that you are qualified as well as interested. A useful framework for explaining your goals, values, and experience as a nurse may be to refer to the metaparadigm of nursing, which outlines a holistic view of the profession.
The main points of interest in the body of your cover letter are:
- Your Qualifications: Employers need to see where you received your RN education, as well as when you gained certification. Including this early on allows employers to mark off that initial box stating that you are in fact qualified for the position. You may also include any awards or special achievements received as pertinent to the position.
- Your Skills: Make sure to include what kind of duties you have performed and emphasize essential nursing skills you have acquired. Think of this section as your opportunity to show off your knowledge and expertise. Remember to discuss both the hard and soft skills you’ve picked up in your work as an RN.
- Your Experience: Lastly, employers need to know where you have worked as an RN. Be sure to include each healthcare facility you have worked at, how many years you served at each, and the title of each position held. If you’ve worked at multiple healthcare facilities or served in a variety of roles, include only the most recent and pertinent of them. A fuller depiction of your experience can be shown in your resume.
Closing Statement
The closing paragraph should restate why you are right for the job and what you can bring to the table.
If you’re looking to stand out, make sure your closing statement contains a call-to-action (CTA). Instead of ending with a “Thank you for your time,” end with a CTA that leaves them more interested in you. Include something along the lines of “I look forward to hearing from you.” The eagerness of a statement such as that encourages potential employers to reach back out to you.
Show Your Passion
Throughout the bulk of your cover letter, make sure to show your passion for nursing. Using descriptive language and speaking positively about your experiences as an RN can demonstrate to potential employers that you’re a good fit for the position and the team as a whole. Think about why you chose nursing as a career, and what you view as the benefits of working as an RN, to give a sincere description of your goals and interests.
Be Concise and Direct
Make sure everything you include in your cover letter is relevant to the position for which you’re applying. You do not need to go into specifics, as these will be discussed during an interview. Rather, you need only to give the employer a succinct understanding of your experience and capabilities as an RN.
Hiring managers may have an abundance of resumes and cover letters to go through. Writing a cover letter that is concise and direct can make it easier for them to tell right off the bat that you’re right for the job.
Reread and Revise
Always re-read and revise your cover letter to avoid making any grammatical or spelling errors. Recruit a friend or family member to read over it as well.
