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Table of contents

Popular nursing cover letter examples
How to write a nursing cover letter
Nursing cover letter examples by career stage
Add a matching resume
Key takeaways for your nursing cover letter
Resources to help you prepare for your interview

As a nursing professional, you put the care in health care. You know that you need a stand out nursing resume but have you considered what else you might need to succeed?

Whether you’re a new nursing school graduate, an experienced caregiver or a veteran nurse practitioner, if you want to improve the health of your job search, you’ll need a cover letter that makes a recruiter’s heart beat a little faster.

Writing a nursing cover letter will not only help you to stand out from the competition but will also help you win over hiring managers in other ways. A cover letter should expand on the information on your resume, regardless of your experience level.

It’s easy. Just choose a cover letter template and start writing. Whether you’re writing an entry-level nursing cover letter or a cover letter that encapsulates a long career, we will show you how to make it persuasive.

In this guide we cover:

The features of a great nursing cover letter.
A nursing cover letter template that you can cut, paste and customize to your needs.
How to write a nursing cover letter for different scenarios and career stages.
Tons of resources for crafting an attention-getting job application.

Ready to build your cover letter now? Use our Cover Letter Builder. Our builder takes care of formatting your cover letter and even offers auto-generated text suggestions to craft a standout nursing cover letter in a matter of minutes.

Popular nursing cover letter examples

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How to write a nursing cover letter

Next, we’ll show you how to write a cover letter step by step.

Step 1

Select an appropriate cover letter template

Choose a cover letter template that is in line with the organization to which you are applying. Medicine is typically quite conservative, which means that choosing a simple or modern resume template is usually appropriate. However, if you’re applying for a role as a school nurse or as a pediatric nurse, you could consider a more colorful creative template.

Step 2

Add your contact information to the header

The cover letter header can be at the top left, top right or in the top center of the page, depending on which template you choose. It should include the following information:

Your name
City and state
Phone number
Email address
Links to your LinkedIn profile or professional website, if you have one

Step 3

Greet the hiring manager

Do your best to find the name of the hiring manager to personalize your letter. Then use a professional salutation, such as “Dear Ms. Jones.” If you can’t find a name, address your letter to “Dear Hiring Manager.” Avoid greetings like “To Whom It May Concern,” since these can sound cold.

Step 4

Write a brief but impactful opening paragraph

Introduce yourself in the first paragraph, adding compelling details and data and metrics about your education and career to entice the recipient to keep reading.

Step 5

Craft detailed body paragraphs

Aim for writing three short paragraphs that are packed with detail to show potential employers that you are qualified for the position. Mention your most impressive work experience and offer details about the impact your work has had on the organizations you’ve worked for. Focus on using action words to make the language of your letter more interesting.

Step 6

Emphasize your skills

Nurses are highly trained medical professionals whose soft skills, like empathy and communication, are just as important as their hard skills, like the ability to take vital signs and draw blood samples. Try to strike a balance between hard skills vs soft skills, adding a mix of both throughout your letter.

Step 7

Write your cover letter closing

Your cover letter closing is where you wrap up your letter by reiterating your interest, thanking the hiring manager for their time and inviting them to contact you.

Step 8

End with a professional signoff

End your letter with a polite and professional signoff, such as “Sincerely,” “Thank you” or “Respectfully.” Then, on the next line, sign your name.

Nursing cover letter examples by career stage

As your career progresses and changes, so will the contents of your cover letter. Below, we have provided examples of how to write a nursing cover letter for every stage of your career.

New graduate nursing cover letter

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Why this nursing cover letter works:

Highlights her nursing education
As a recent graduate, this letter showcases the applicant’s achievements in nursing school, which shows employers that she has the academic background required for the role.
Uses a variety of metrics
Despite recently acquiring her nursing degree, this applicant uses data throughout her cover letter to show the impact of her work. Using numbers is eye-catching and shows employers what she’ll bring to the table if hired.
Mentions her career goals
This letter ends with a succinct statement about the type of role the applicant is seeking and gives an indication of her professional aspirations.

Entry-level nursing cover letter

Cover letter example certified nursing assistant

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Why this nursing cover letter works:

Highlights both hard and soft skills
Nursing is a profession that demands both strong medical knowledge and a nurturing personality. This applicant does a great job of highlighting both in his nursing cover letter.
Mentions career highlights
This applicant mentions his achievements in past nursing roles and provides data and metrics to back them up.
Shows a familiarity with the potential employer
This applicant has done his homework and explains clearly why he is interested in working for Parkview Healthcare and what he will bring to the table. This shows employers that he understands the role and the employer’s needs.

Career change nursing cover letter

Cover letter career change example nursing

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Why this nursing cover letter works:

Explanation of transferable skills
This applicant is making a major career change and so she uses her cover letter to highlight the transferable skills she will bring to the role if hired.
Explains her reason for applying
This cover letter explains clearly why the applicant is looking to make a career change and draws clear lines between her past employment in customer service and her desire to become a CNA.
Expresses enthusiasm
This applicant makes it clear that she is passionate about health care, which is something that is appealing to employers who look for workers that not only have the skills to succeed but also the passion to excel.

Management nursing cover letter

Cover letter example director of nursing

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Why this nursing cover letter works:

Compelling opening paragraph
This applicant kicks off her cover letter with a persuasive opening paragraph that will compel the hiring manager to continue reading.
Highlights her achievements
In her cover letter, this applicant draws attention to several professional accomplishments that will help employers see the impact her work has had.
Highlights quantifiable achievements
As a manager, this applicant has quite a few professional achievements under her belt. She highlights those here and draws attention to them by using data and metrics to show potential employers that her work has been impactful.

Add a matching resume

Create your resume

Want to raise the temperature on your job search? Add a matching nursing resume.

Every job application for a nursing role will require a resume. Why not create one that matches your cover letter? Having your cover letter and resume match makes your application look cohesive and well thought out. For a nursing professional, where attention to detail is critical, this could help propel you forward in the hiring process.

If you already know how to write a resume, get started by studying our library of resume examples for inspiration. Written by professional resume writers, these examples show you exactly what a persuasive resume should look like.

To craft a nursing resume quickly, try our professional AI Resume Builder, which offers auto-generated text suggestions for every section of your resume. You’ll have a well-written, perfectly formatted resume on the resume template of your choice finished and ready to go in a matter of minutes.

Key takeaways for your nursing cover letter

Study nursing cover letter examples

Take some time to review our nursing cover letter examples. Use them as a guide when writing your own cover letter or take content directly from the examples and customize it to your needs. Written by professional career experts, these examples show you exactly how a strong nursing cover letter should look and sound.
Keep your introductory paragraph brief

While this section of your letter should be compelling, it shouldn’t be more than a few sentences long. Make the reader want to continue reading, but save the nitty gritty details for later in the letter.
Write detailed body paragraphs

This section is where you should match specifics from your background to the requirements outlined in the job description. If you have special skills or gaps in your employment history, this is also the place to briefly explain them.
Change your cover letter for different career stages

Your cover letter is a living document that will change over the course of your career. It will not be the same for your first job as it is 10 years into your career. Adjust it according to your experience level and your current scenario.
Add a matching resume

You can’t apply for a job without a resume. So, why not make it look great? When you create your resume, consider using a resume template that matches or compliments the look and feel of your cover letter.

Resources to help you prepare for your interview

Was this information about Nursing Cover Letter Examples, Templates & Writing Tips helpful? Let us know!

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Heather is the Content Strategy Manager for Resume Now and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than ten years of experience writing about job search and career topics. She is based in San Francisco.