7 Nursing Cover Letter Examples & Writing Tips
Written By Samuel Johns
Reviewed By Conrad BenzWe analyzed over 1,000 nursing job listings to uncover what medical employers are really looking for in a cover letter. Use these insights to craft a letter and nursing resume that align with the latest hiring trends and the evolving demands of the healthcare industry.
Want a different design? Download another cover letter template from our collection.
Want a different design? Download another cover letter template from our collection.
Want a different design? Download another cover letter template from our collection.
Nursing Cover Letter Template
Copy-Paste Nursing Cover Letter (Text Format)
- Entry-level
- Mid-level
- Senior-level
FIRST AND LAST NAME
Email: your.email@email.com
Phone: (123) 456-7891
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile
[Today’s Date]
[Hiring Manager’s Name]
123 Company Address
Company’s City, State, Zip Code
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@gmail.com
Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name],
I’m pleased to be writing to you today regarding my application for the Assistant Nurse position at Maximum Care Hospice, Inc. advertised on Indeed.com. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing and 2+ years of clinical rotation experience. I’m an extremely organized, calm, and patient professional with a passion for providing quality care to patients.
In my two years of experience as an Student Nurse at Connecticut State College Hospital, I was able to implement the clinical duties I learned during the course of my education. While employed there, I was commended for proficiently handling difficult situations with patients and their family members. Some of my key achievements have been:
- Evaluating the medical conditions of up to 20 patients daily.
- Developing and directing a rotational system to manage the care of patients.
- Gaining recognition as a dedicated, self-motivated, and reliable nurse.
I believe employment with your company would be mutually beneficial, as I’m seeking a challenging work environment where I can use and develop my skills to the fullest extent. Please contact me at (203) 488-9352 or your.name@gmail.com. I’d love the opportunity to discuss my skills further, and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Your Name
[Today’s Date]
[Hiring Manager’s Name]
123 Company Address
Company’s City, State, Zip Code
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@gmail.com
Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name],
I’m pleased to write to you regarding my application for the nursing position advertised on [Website Name]. I believe my qualifications and experience make me an ideal candidate for this job.
I have a Master’s Degree in Nursing and 5+ years of proven experience managing patients and staff effectively. I am an extremely organized, calm, and patient professional with excellent leadership skills. In my time at Virginia Veteran’s Hospital, I’ve earned a reputation as the go-to for getting newly-licensed nurses up to speed and have received excellent feedback from all 10 of the nurses I’ve mentored.
Currently, I evaluate the medical conditions of up to 20 patients daily and have implemented a rotational system to manage patient care and coordinate workforce management. During this time, I’ve been recognized as a dedicated, ambitious, and reliable person who has the ability to work without supervision.
Additionally, my three years of experience as an Assistant Nurse at The Carolinas Medical Center helped me realize clinical duties I learned over the course of my education. While employed there, I was mentioned by name several times in our online reviews for my Spanish proficiency and for handling sensitive matters with patients and their families gracefully.
I believe I have a lot to offer your organization as I am seeking a challenging work environment where I can exercise my skills to the fullest extent. I look forward to hearing from you, and would love to discuss my qualifications further during an interview.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Today’s Date]
[Hiring Manager’s Name]
123 Company Address
Company’s City, State, Zip Code
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@gmail.com
Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name],
I’m writing regarding my application for the Nurse Manager position at Riverside General Hospital. With over 5 years of experience in nursing leadership roles, I’m confident in my ability to make a significant contribution to your hospital.
Throughout my career, I’ve been deeply committed to professional development. I recently completed a certification in Healthcare Quality Management, which has equipped me with advanced skills in process improvement and patient safety methodologies.
In my current role at Shelton Hospital, I initiated a peer mentoring program that reduced new nurse turnover by 30% in its first year. This program not only improved staff retention but also enhanced the quality of patient care by ensuring a more experienced and stable nursing team.
Beyond my clinical and managerial skills, I also have a strong track record in financial management. At Shelton Hospital, I consistently kept my unit under budget while maintaining high quality standards, achieving a 5% cost reduction over two years without compromising patient care.
I’m excited about the possibility of bringing my leadership skills, clinical expertise, and innovative approach to Riverside General Hospital. I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss what I can do to help improve the hospital experience for your patients. You can reach me at (512) 625-9669 or your.email@email.com.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Here are some more cover letter examples to help you get started writing your own nursing cover letter:
New grad nurse cover letter
Why this is a good example of a new grad nurse cover letter
This recent graduate uses bullet points to make efficient use of space on their cover letter.
This way, they’re able to fit more of their accomplishments into their new grad cover letter without exceeding one page, which is the length we recommend for this type of application document.
Certified nursing assistant (CNA) cover letter
Why this is a good example of a CNA cover letter
This applicant’s CNA cover letter sample doesn’t list any formal work experience, but they mention how they’ve developed essential nursing skills through a Red Cross trainee program.
This is exactly the kind of experience employers are looking for when hiring for certified nursing assistant positions, so make sure to mention your relevant training to show that you’re qualified for a CNA role.
Nurse practitioner cover letter
Why this is a good example of a nurse practitioner cover letter
Just like on a resume, it’s a great idea to quantify your accomplishments in your nurse practitioner cover letter.
This allows hiring managers to get a better idea of how you can contribute to their team, which makes you more hireable than just making vague statements in your cover letter.
School nurse cover letter
Why this is a good example of a school nurse cover letter
When searching for candidates for school nurse positions, school district administrators look for applicants who can work well with young patients.
The applicant in this school nurse cover letter example mentions their affinity for building rapport with students, demonstrating that they’re perfectly suited to work in a school setting.
Average registered nurse salaries in the US
The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license, this data is pulled from the most recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment & Earnings report (as of 10/16/2024), featuring the top states by use.
Average registered nurse annual salaries by state
| States | Salary / Year |
|---|---|
| California | $133,990 |
| New York | $104,570 |
| Texas | $85,110 |
| Florida | $80,960 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,780 |
| Illinois | $82,470 |
| Ohio | $79,940 |
| Georgia | $83,620 |
| North Carolina | $79,580 |
| Michigan | $81,710 |
| National Average | $77,820 |
How to write a nursing cover letter
Nurses support physicians and healthcare specialists in various medical settings. Showcase your nursing skills in your cover letter to prove to the hiring manager at a medical facility you’re the right person for the job.
Here are our top nursing cover letter writing tips:
1. Tailor your cover letter to the job ad
As a nurse, your duties vary depending on your specialization and the type of facility you work in. A strong nursing cover letter should highlight your clinical experience and a good mix of the hard and soft skills found in the job ad, which will vary depending on your specialty.
For example, if you’re applying for a nurse practitioner role, job listings often highlight the ability to work independently, interpret medical tests, and prescribe medications.
Here’s a list of key nursing skills to highlight in your cover letter:
- Computer literacy
- Maintaining patient charts
- Monitoring vital signs
- Patient evaluation and assessment
- Bedside monitoring
- Knowledge of medications
- IV therapy
- Infection control
- BLS and ACLS
- Wound care
- Patient and family education
- Assisting others and providing counseling
- Accounting and billing software
- Medical software (MEDITECH software, Epic Systems, PointClickCare)
Additionally, employers look for these nursing soft skills:
- Patience
- Compassion
- Customer service skills
- Interpersonal skills
- People skills
- Adaptability
- Leadership skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Initiative
- Teamwork
- Conflict resolution
- Prioritization
- Multitasking skills
It’s also important to know which words and phrases employers are actively looking for. We analyzed real nursing job listings to identify the most commonly used terms — here’s what we found:
We analyzed 1000+ real job ads for nursing positions to find the top key phrases and words to add to your application. DataKeywords Count Percentage Patient care 1110 100% Intensive care unit (ICU) 1016 92% Patient condition 723 65% License 644 58% Nursing degree 565 51% Long-term care 549 49% Travel nursing 534 48% Certification 477 43% Care plan 454 41% Patient family 426 38%
In addition to specialty-specific skills, consider incorporating some of these keywords and phrases into your cover letter. Hospitals and clinics often scan for these during the hiring process.
2. Show your passion for helping others
Nursing is a meaningful and fulfilling career path. However, the combination of long hours and repeated exposure to difficult situations can present occupational stress for nurses. Hence, employers seek nurses who not only have the skills, but also the passion, to manage the job’s emotional challenges.
Show your passion for helping others in your cover letter to demonstrate you’re committed to providing quality patient care in a high-stress environment.
Here’s a good example of how to do so:
In my current role, I’ve been commended by supervisors for maintaining composure and delivering exceptional patient care during high-stress situations, such as managing multiple critical patients simultaneously in the emergency department
3. Emphasize your attention to detail
Healthcare professionals rely on your clinical expertise to facilitate their work. Regardless of your field of nursing, attention to detail is vital for accurately assessing and monitoring situations to ensure patients receive adequate medical attention and emotional support.
In your cover letter, emphasize your attention to detail to assure employers you can perform tasks with accuracy and exercise the right judgment when responding to emerging situations.
Here’s an example paragraph showing how you might emphasize your meticulousness:
In my previous role, I ensured precise medication administration by double-checking dosages and patient records, which resulted in zero medication errors. My thorough patient assessments have consistently led to accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans. Additionally, my meticulous record-keeping ensured that all patient information was up-to-date and accurately reflected their progress, ultimately contributing to improving patient outcomes.
Save yourself some time by using a free AI cover letter generator to create a cover letter that emphasizes your nursing skills and what makes you the perfect fit for your next role.
Make a cover letter in minutes
Pick your template, fill in a few details, and our builder will do the rest.
7 Nursing Cover Letter Examples & Writing Tips
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