“Airway, breathing, circulation”. You know your ABC’s by heart.
But when it comes to writing a cover letter, do you know what goes first, and what follows?
If that perfect nursing cover letter is the only thing standing between you and the job of your dreams, we’re here to help.
This guide will show you:
- A nursing cover letter sample better than 9 out of 10 others.
- Nursing cover letter examples that let you plug in your core strengths.
- The work plan for how to write a cover letter for nursing positions.
- Why featuring the right few achievements on your nurse cover letter will help you get the job you want.
Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.
Sample cover letter for a resume—See more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.
Here’s a nursing cover letter template that would make the recruiter’s heart beat faster:
Nursing Cover Letter Example
Imogen Hyde
Surgical ICU Nurse
28 Corio Street
Ballarat, VIC 3243
(07) 3483 9832
imogen.hyde@email.com
linkedin.com/in/imghd
Ballarat, 2/14/2022
Mrs. Rachel McGuigan
Medical Superintendent
Delmont Private Hospital
13 Moruya Street
Melbourne, VIC 2841
Dear Rachel,
I am writing to apply for the position of surgical ICU nurse at Delmont Private Hospital. I am a nurse with over 11 years of experience (general and surgery), a certificate in Intensive Care Nursing, and a desire to continue growing professionally. Reached a 95% HCAHPS Score under “Communication with Nurses” at Clausfield, and assisted over 1,000 patients after high-risk procedures at Green Hill.
I joined the exceptional team at Caulsfield Hospital as a general nurse, continuously expanding my skill set. Due to a passion for taking care of post-surgery patients, I managed to develop protocols that reduced recovery times by at least 15%. This contributed to higher patient satisfaction and significantly reduced costs for the hospital (up to AUD 300,000 annually). I am also proud to say that my HCAHPS scores were consistently high.
Later, I was invited to the Cardiology department at Green Hill Hospital. I successfully supervised a 90-bed unit, overseeing assessments, complications, treatments, and monitoring of patients. It became clear that I strive in high-pressure settings where fast decision-making is crucial, which is why I decided to obtain additional ICU training (graduated top of my class). All of this makes me certain I have the essential skills to transfer to the ICU.
Delmont Private Hospital aims for the highest standards of care, and this is one of the reasons why I think I would be a good addition to the team. I am used to working in dynamic environments, and I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to make my work more efficient.
Could we schedule a call to discuss how I could apply my nursing expertise at Delmont? I have some viable cost-reduction solutions as well, which I’d be very happy to share.
Kind regards,
Imogen Hyde
imogen.hyde@email.com
linkedin.com/in/imghd
This nursing cover letter is definitely WNL.
By the way, don’t forget to add a resume to your nursing cover letter! Have a look at this guide: Nursing Resume: Samples & Tips
And here’s how you write a nursing cover letter:
1. Outline a Nursing Cover Letter Template
First things first: before we start writing, we need to start planning.
Cover letters are not assembled ad-lib. To get your nursing cover letter right and make sure it’s not a kettle of fish, you need to make sure all the necessary elements are there.
There are 4 main sections to include: header, greeting & intro, main body, and closing:
Nurse Cover Letter—Checklist
- Contact info #1 (your name, desired position, address, email, LinkedIn link, etc.)
- Date, location
- Contact info #2 (name of the hiring manager, company address)
- Direct address: [Dear *name of hiring manager*, …]
- Paragraph #1: Intro + your professional accomplishments
- Paragraph #2: How your skills address the hospital's needs
- Paragraph #3: Why you’ll be a good fit for the team
- Paragraph #4: CTA
- Closing block: [Kind regards, + *your name*]
Within the main body (paragraphs 2 & 3), you’re free to change the order of things, but the general structure will remain the same.
Our nursing cover letter template is all ready, now let’s go from theory to practice.
Want to know more about how you should format your nursing cover letter? This guide will help: Cover Letter Format: Tips and Examples
2. Open Your Nurse Cover Letter With a Bang
Let’s have a look at the first two sections of your nursing cover letter—the header and opening.
Assembling a header is very easy. It goes into the top left-hand corner and should include:
- Your contact info.
- When and where you’re writing your cover letter.
- Contact info of the hiring side.
Once that’s done, address the medical superintendent (or whoever the person is who’ll potentially hire you):
Dear Rachel,
It is important to find out the full name of that person to address them properly: Dear + their first or last name. To whom it may concern and Dear Sir/Madam are too impersonal and a thing of the past, so stay away from these. If you can’t find out the name of the person who’ll read your cover letter, go with Dear Hiring Manager.
But these were the formalities. Those things only get noticed when something is wrong with them. What will get noticed is the first sentence you write. Get that wrong, and your nursing cover letter gets discharged before it even got admitted.
What makes a strong opening paragraph? Here are some ideas:
- Your biggest relevant professional achievement.
- A mention of your extensive professional experience.
- Some impressive statistics from your previous position.
- (Optional) A brief mention of someone who’s referring you and the reason why they’re doing that (most likely because you’re an amazing professional and a great team player).
Let’s compare these examples:
Nursing Cover Letter Examples: Opening
| Right Example |
|---|
Imogen Hyde ICU Nurse 28 Corio Street Ballarat, VIC 3243 (07) 3483 9832 imogen.hyde@email.com linkedin.com/in/imghd
Ballarat, 2/14/2022
Mrs. Rachel McGuigan Medical Superintendent Delmont Private Hospital 13 Moruya Street Melbourne, VIC 2841
Dear Rachel,
I am writing to apply for the position of surgical ICU nurse at Delmont Private Hospital. I am a nurse with over 11 years of experience (general and surgery), a certificate in Intensive Care Nursing, and a desire to continue growing professionally. Reached a 95% HCAHPS Score under “Communication with Nurses” at Clausfield, and assisted over 1,000 patients after high-risk procedures at Green Hill. |
Brief and to the point. In just 3 sentences, this intro mentions significant experience, necessary training, and enthusiasm.
| Wrong Example |
|---|
My name is Karen, I’m a Registered Nurse. I’d like to apply for the ICU nurse position at Delmont. I’ve previously worked in surgery, and this experience got me ready for ICU for sure. I also have ICU training that I can’t wait to put into practice. |
This could be anyone. An introduction like that does not have enough personality to keep the recruiter’s attention.
Nursing Cover Letters with No Experience
If you think that a new grad nursing cover letter may be a bigger challenge, don’t worry. What you lack in experience, you can make up for with commitment.
Don’t take my word for it. A study showed that 85% of nurse managers hired newly-licensed registered nurses based on their personality, positive attitude, professional demeanour, and general interest in the position. Yes, even if their experience was limited.
So, consider these strategies:
- Mentioning the relevant skills you’ve acquired as a student (apprenticeships or practice placements, volunteering work you did, anything practical).
- Being very clear with your intentions, showing you know what you want to achieve and how this position is a logical next step.
- Showing how passionate you are about your career and sharing why you chose this path.
Here’s a good entry-level nursing cover letter example:
I am an upcoming Victoria University nursing graduate wishing to apply for the nursing assistant position at Caulsfield Hospital. During my 3 years of studies, I volunteered part-time at Green Hill Hospital, shadowing RNs and learning the basics of patient care and assessment. I am about to acquire a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT33115), and I am determined to become an ICU nurse in the future.
That’s a cover letter with a purpose. It shows dedication, clear expectations, and a general vibe of unproblematic-ness.
Need extra tips? Read more: Writing a Cover Letter: Examples & Guide
3. Stun With an Impressive Nursing Cover Letter Middle
Ready to be amazed? Hear this:
According to a report from WHO, the potential deficit of health workers was predicted to reach approximately 18 million by 2030. And that was before COVID-19.
Your job is in demand, now more than ever. So it may be a good time to make an inventory of your skills!
Think of your current professional trajectory, compare it against the description of the position you’re applying for, and then:
- Prove you’re good. Dwell on your qualifications, practical abilities, strong suits.
- Show you understand the role. Address the needs/shortages of the future employer.
- Talk about why this particular job is important to you. Explain why you chose that particular hospital and why you’ll fit their medical team.
Let’s have a look at two nursing cover letter examples:
Nursing Cover Letter in Australia: Examples
| Right Example |
|---|
I joined the exceptional team at Caulsfield Hospital as a general nurse, continuously expanding my skill set. Due to a passion for taking care of post-surgery patients, I managed to develop protocols that reduced recovery times by at least 15%. This contributed to higher patient satisfaction and significantly reduced costs for the hospital (up to AUD 300,000 annually). I am also proud to say that my HCAHPS scores were consistently high.
Later, I was invited to the Cardiology department at Green Hill Hospital. I successfully supervised a 90-bed unit, overseeing assessments, complications, treatments, and monitoring of patients. It became clear that I strive in high-pressure settings where fast decision-making is crucial, which is why I decided to obtain additional ICU training (graduated top of my class). All of this makes me certain I have the essential skills to transfer to the ICU.
Delmont Private Hospital aims at the highest standards of care, and this is one of the reasons why I think I would be a good addition to the team. I am used to working in dynamic environments, and I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to make my work more efficient. |
The value is clear. The achievements are there, and they’re measurable. The desired destination is also clearly stated—this is an ambitious surgical nurse that’s been gradually stepping toward an ICU position. What’s not to like, really?
| Wrong Example |
|---|
I graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing, and I decided to explore my options. I did some general nursing work, assisted in surgery, too. I’m particularly good at post-surgery care.
My colleagues said I was a great team-player, I like working with other nurses, especially experienced ones. This is how you can get important insights into nursing work. Now, I decided that I could explore the possibilities of ICU, because I like the dynamic, so I got additional training. Testing the ICU waters at Delmont Private Hospital would be a great next step. |
This example should take 200mg of NO every six hours. And it will.
You don’t need to mention every certification or training you’ve ever done in your cover letter—after all, it’s what your resume is for. Need tips on how to get that right?
Read more: How to Make a Resume in Australia
When making a CV in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional CV template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s CV builder will score your CV and tell you exactly how to make it better.
4. End Your Nursing Cover Letter With a CTA
That was not half bad, right? 1–2 on the pain scale, and we’re almost done.
There’s one last thing, but it’s important: your nursing cover letter closing.
You may be tempted to go the safe way, add a generic phrase or two, and call it a day. But would you do that if you knew you could make an offer the hiring side won’t be able to refuse?
What’s the goal of this whole operation? Get an interview.
How do you make sure they will set one? Get them interested.
Compare:
Cover Letter Examples for Nursing: Closing
| Right Example |
|---|
Could we schedule a call to discuss how I could apply my nursing expertise at Delmont? I have some viable cost-reduction solutions, too, which I’d be very happy to share.
Kind regards, Imogen Hyde
imogen.hyde@email.com linkedin.com/in/imghd |
Diagnosis: hire STAT. This closing not only indicates the desired next step, but also makes it impossible for the recruiter to say no: even the interview will potentially bring value to them. And that’s before that nurse even changed into their scrubs!
| Wrong Example |
|---|
I appreciate your consideration. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Regards, Cole |
This needs early intervention before it becomes chronically meh. Oh, wait. It already is.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Key Takeaway
Let’s review the nursing cover letter tips from above:
- First: plan and format. Map out what should go where.
- Then, open strong. Don’t waste your precious time, and impress with your very first paragraph.
- Afterwards, show your value. Make them believe you are the solution.
- And finally, have them call you back. Finish with a call to action, and a value proposition.
And that should leave you with a nursing cover letter that’s above and beyond.
Thank you for reading! If you have any questions or suggestions, do leave a comment below!
