How to Write a Cover Letter for Nursing

Write separate cover letters for each nursing job you apply for; it personalizes the letter and sets you apart from "form" letters.

You successfully completed your nursing course work and the time has come to find a job in nursing. While you may have the grades and the experience an employer is looking for, if you do not make a solid first impression, you probably will not even get an interview. Your nursing cover letter and resume are usually the first things an employer has to review your credentials. Learn how to draft a cover letter specifically geared towards nursing and highlighting your skills to improve your chances at landing a job.

Instructions

1. Research the hospital or health care facility where you are applying. Learn who will be reviewing materials and ask the clerk or a manager at the company about what the company is looking for. Weaving this information into your cover letter personalizes the letter to the employer and shows that you are proactive.

2. Write the first paragraph of the cover letter to address why you want to work for that specific health care facility as a nurse. Discuss, briefly but concisely, what makes the employer attractive. For example, if you know the employer organizes events for mentally disabled persons and if that appeals to you as a nurse, highlight the events and express what they mean to you.

3. Draft the second paragraph of your cover letter to highlight what you can bring to the health care facility. Trinity College suggests using two or three specific points here. If you are applying to work for a hospice company, for example, pick two or three points that show you have compassion for the elderly and experience handling specific concerns of the elderly. Use the second paragraph of your letter to sell yourself.

4. Conclude your cover letter by succinctly thanking the employer for reading it and explaining what you will do next. If you plan to call the employer in a week to follow-up the letter, explain that (and be sure to make good on what you plan on doing).

References

• Trinity College: How to Write a Cover Letter

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Cover Letter Samples: Nursing Cover Letters