Nursing is one of the most important and fulfilling jobs in the job industry. Nurses stand with patients by the bedside, helping them to concur with various illnesses and providing them with healthy caregiving services. Just like any other competitive job in the employment industry, finding a nursing job can sometimes be challenging. That is why you need to arm yourself with a well-crafted nursing cover letter that well presents your qualifications.
What is a Nursing Cover Letter?
A Nursing Cover Letter is a document that a registered nurse uses when applying for a nursing job. It offers the applicant an opportunity to expand on his or her experience and skills. Additionally, the Nursing Cover Letter presents the nurse with an opportunity to express their interest in a nursing position within a healthcare facility. In many cases, your potential employers will be impressed first by your cover letter. If it’s impressive enough, you will always win your ticket to an interview. When writing your nursing cover letter, always remember several applicants eyeing for the same position. Therefore, in order to stand tall from the crowd, it’s essential that you have a professionally written letter.
Skills to be added
When writing a nursing cover letter, specific key skills should be added. These skills can be categorized into two parts; personal skills (primary/essential nursing skills) and soft skills.
Key nursing skills:
These skills are essential and expected of all nurses. They include computer literacy, bedside monitoring, accounting, billing software, knowledge of medications, monitoring vital skills, patient and family education, patient evaluation and assessment, maintaining patient charts, providing counseling, etc.
Soft skills:
Soft skills are the more approachable skills that can be developed to enhance or supplement your overall skill set. Examples of soft skills include teamwork, patience, people skills, initiative, conflict resolution, compassion, adaptability, prioritization, multitasking, problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills, customer service skills, leadership skills, etc.
How to Write a Nursing Cover Letter
Now that you have the tips at your fingers, writing a Nursing Cover Letter shouldn’t be a grim. In order to get you started, you can use the following step by step guides:
Write your name and personal information
First, you need to start your Nursing Cover Letter by writing down your official names then followed by contact information. Also, you need to include the official address of your physical residence.
Date
Once you’ve listed down your personal details, the next step is to indicate the date in which the letter is being written. The Date should be placed just below the address.
Recipient’s information details
In this section, you need to include the name, contact information, and recipient address. Just in case you don’t have the above information, you can always refer to the company’s website for more information.
Opening paragraph
Start your letter with an official greeting. For instance, you can say ‘Hello,’ or ‘Dear Sir.’ Make sure your opening paragraphs are brief and communicate your enthusiasm for the applied post.
Body
Once you are through with your introduction, you need to proceed with the body paragraphs. Here, you will make the reader understand your qualifications, your skills, and experience in the industry. The body paragraph should be detailed enough with the necessary contents to convince the reader that you are the best candidate for the job.
Moreover, don’t forget to mention your key qualifications as per the job descriptions. You can also include your past achievements, awards, or any other impacts you’ve made within the nursing industry in the past. Lastly, convince the reader that you intend to use your skills and experience to impact the job post you are applying for positively.
Conclude your letter
After the body paragraph, you need to summarize your cover letter by reiterating the reason why you are fit for the role. Again, show your passion and enthusiasm towards the job post. Also, don’t forget to include a call to action. This will make your potential employers want to make contact.
Sign off
The last part of your nursing cover letter should be the sign-offs. You can write ‘Sincerely,’ before writing down your full names, followed by your signature.
Sample Letters and Examples
Nursing Cover Letter Sample
[Applicants Name]
[Applicants Address]
[Applicants Contacts]
[Date].
[Recipients Name]
[Recipients Address]
[Recipients Contacts]
Dear Mr. /Mrs. /Ms. [Hiring managers name],
I am excited to apply for the position of the nurse as advertised on your company’s website. With my experience, skills, and expertise, I believe I am the rightful candidate for this job.
I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Hopkins Medical School. Besides, I have over five years’ experience working as a registered nurse at Metropolitan Medical Center. I am an organized, independent, and dedicated person with excellent skills in nursing. My commitment and dedication to serving my patients are always unshakable. Besides, I have excellent leadership skills. This helps me work and interact freely with my staff so as to achieve a collective goal.
Currently, I work at Johns Hospital, where I am charged with the responsibility to evaluate patients’ medical conditions on a daily basis. Also, I coordinate workforce management among my colleague nurses as well as other subordinates. While serving at the Johns Hospital, I have managed to win three awards for the most dedicated nurse on three consecutive occasions.
My experience and skill mastery makes me the best candidate to fill your vacancy. I firmly believe that my relationship with your company will be of mutual benefit. While it is a guarantee I will offer a positive impact on the quality of health delivery in your hospital, I will also get the chance to develop my career entirely. I am highly optimistic and looking forward to hearing back from you. I would love to talk about my skills further during an interview. Please find my attached resume and work history.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Signature]
Tips for Writing an Outstanding Nursing Cover Letter
For you to write a notable nursing cover letter, there are some key secrets you need to keep in mind. These include the following:
- You need to personalize your cover letter. In other words, own your wordings and relate the position to your own experience, skills, and expertise.
- Identify what the reader (hiring manager, interviewer, or human resource) wants and precisely respond to.
- Give references to your expertise where necessary.
- Be zealous when writing the cover letter
- Refrain from using common opening lines such as ‘to whom it may confirm.’ Instead, use greetings such as ‘Dear’ followed by the person’s Name.
- Your cover letter should be clear, precise, and concise to make it captivating enough.
- Make good use of official and polite language.
- At the conclusion, make sure you include a strong line stating your willingness to share in detail your experiences.
Conclusion
Writing a great nursing cover letter is about knowing the right words to say. It is also a matter of personal style, judging your strengths, and identifying the type of nursing position you are best suited for. A well-crafted nursing cover letter can help you land an interview for the position you want and give management a good idea about your personality and work style. Your nursing cover letter should be tailored to the specific requirements of the position you are applying for and reflect your best skills and experience. It should also make a direct, convincing argument for why you would be an asset to the company.