Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter: Sample & Guide

Need an effective nurse practitioner cover letter, STAT? Take advantage of a cover letter formula that’s proven to be 100% effective for both new grads and experienced NPs.

Hanna Wołoszyn, CPRW

Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Updated 01/12/2023

As seen in:

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Problem: Difficulty finding a job as a nurse practitioner.

Treatment: Sending out job applications, q.i.d.

Clinical notes: Treatment ineffective; side effects include frustration and low mood levels.

Sound familiar?

If your resume is already as healthy as can be, but your job applications yield no positive results, it’s time to reassess your cover letter.

Luckily, writing a job-winning nurse practitioner cover letter is way easier than surviving a 12-hour day shift. You just need to stick to a basic code of practice.

This guide will show you:

A nurse practitioner cover letter sample better than 9 out of 10 others.
How to write a cover letter for a nurse practitioner that will get you hired.
How to use your achievements to your advantage in a nurse practitioner cover letter.

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.

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Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter: Sample & Guide

Use this cover letter template

Sample cover letter for a resume—See more cover letter samples and create your cover letter here.

One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:

[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.

Not quite what you’re after? See other cover letter examples for jobs in healthcare:

Want to explore your options further? See our full selection of cover letter examples for every career: Best Cover Letter Examples

Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Sample

Your Name

Your Job Title

Mailing Address

Phone Number

Email Address

Date

Hiring Manager Name

Title

Company Name

Mailing Address

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

As a nurse practitioner on the BMC’s Acute Care Team, I introduced improvements to the charting process, cutting the incidence of errors by 15%. I’d cherish the opportunity to apply my leadership skills, compassion, and medical expertise to furthering Harborview Medical Center’s mission of constantly improving care standards through active inquiry.

HMC’s status as the only Level 1 trauma center in the state provides a uniquely challenging clinical environment. It’s only in such a demanding setting that I can achieve my full potential for the benefit of the hospital and its patients.

I have 7 years of experience as a nurse and numerous successes to share, including:

Managing a 23-bed ICU floor with a team of 6 nurses per shift.
Introducing improvements to the morning and evening shift handover system at East Valley Hospital, increasing the team's efficiency and ensuring proper flow of information between shifts.
Mentoring over 25 new RNs and NPs over the course of my career, as well as training 12 new hires at St. John’s Hospital in the use of Epic.

I’d be thrilled to join a medical center whose values so closely reflect my own and share my dedication to providing compassionate, ethical care. In particular, I’m impressed with HMC’s commitment to granting priority of care to disadvantaged patient groups and the hospital’s professional practice model that centers care on those who need it most.

It would be an honor to discuss in more detail how my skills and experience as a nurse practitioner can help HMC achieve its goal of providing the best quality of care in Washington.

Best regards,

[Your name], Nurse Practitioner

P.S.: Last year, I was shortlisted for the Public Health Service Award. I look forward to sharing the story with you!

With a cover letter like that, the recruiter would have to be off their meds (sorry—demonstrate non-adherence) not to call you in for an interview.

Enhance your job application’s positive effect with a matching resume. Find out more: Nurse Practitioner Resume: Sample & Full Guide

Scrubbed and ready to tackle the first item on your assignment sheet?

Here’s how to write a successful nurse practitioner cover letter:

1. Use the Best Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Template

To catch and hold the recruiter’s attention, your cover letter needs to follow an accepted format. Think of it as a standardized procedure.

Here’s a basic outline to get you started:

The Best Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Template [Checklist]

Cover Letter Heading:

Your contact information, including your name and job title
The date
The hiring manager’s contact information

Salutation:

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name]—it’s best to address a cover letter using the name of the person who’ll be reading your application. If you can’t find this information anywhere, use the phrase Dear Hiring Manager instead.

Cover Letter Body—3 paragraphs:

An introduction, including a relevant professional achievement and the name of the organization to which you’re applying.
A section highlighting your key skills and showing why you’d be an indispensable asset to the company.
A paragraph that illustrates your passion for providing medical care and your determination to get this particular job.

Call to Action:

An offer to discuss the value that you can bring to the company.

Cover Letter Ending:

Best regards,

Your name & title

P.S. (Optional):

An additional achievement that stands out like Zoey Barkow’s scrubs.

See?

Nothing to be concerned about.

Now, let’s put our gloves on and examine each section in more detail.

Not sure about fonts, margins, or line spacing? See here: Cover Letter Format: A Complete Guide

2. Start Your Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter the Right Way

You know better than anyone what it’s like to have a million different things demanding your attention.

Recruiters often feel the same way—they have dozens of applications to go through in a short amount of time.

This is why they only spare a glance for each cover letter—and why you need to immediately grab their attention with a strong opening.

Like so:

Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Examples [First Paragraph]

RIGHT

Susan Hollins

Nurse Practitioner

4761 Union Street

Seattle, WA 98109

206-853-3728

susanmhollins@gmail.com

5/3/21

Kathleen L. Hartley

Human Resources Administrator

3754 Terra Street

Harborview Medical Center

Seattle, WA 98109

Dear Ms Hartley,

Well, someone’s getting shortlisted for an interview!

From correct cover letter header formatting to opening on a measurable achievement, this candidate got everything right—and she already has an edge over the competition.

We’ll see how she did that in just a minute. For now, let’s take a look at a different example from the same candidate:

WRONG

To whom it may concern,

I’m a nurse practitioner with 5 years of experience in diagnosing and treating patients in a busy ICU environment. I have proven clinical skills and extensive medical knowledge, necessary for providing a high standard of care. Seeking to take on a similar role in your ward.

Okay, time for an intervention. That second cover letter is hitting the wastebasket faster than a used pair of gloves.

Here’s how to craft an impressive cover letter opening of your own:

Follow the business letter format for providing your contact information and the details of the addressee.
Address the recruiter directly. Seeing their name at the top of your cover letter is guaranteed to get a positive reaction!
Open with an impressive, measurable achievement.
Offer to provide the same level of dedication and expertise to the new employer, ensuring that you use the name of the company (or hospital) that you’re applying to.
Weave in a few key skills or professional qualities that make you the right candidate for the job.

Simple, isn’t it?

Not necessarily. Because at this point, you might be wondering—

What if I’ve only just graduated and haven’t got any of those super-impressive achievements to use?

Don’t worry—we can find a quick remedy. You can still write a job-winning cover letter with just your degree. Hey—Clara Barton had no nursing degree and look at what she went on to do!

If you’re writing an entry-level nurse practitioner cover letter, substitute on-the-job accomplishments with:

Academic achievements
Community projects or initiatives
Deep understanding of the nurse practitioner role
Accomplishments and experiences from your residency program, volunteer work, or any other relevant activities
Enthusiasm and passion for the job
Knowledge of the company and its values

If all else fails, don’t be afraid to name-drop.

New Graduate Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Examples [First Paragraph]

RIGHT

From the moment I arrived in Philadelphia, I knew I wanted to join the East Valley Hospital ICU team as a nurse practitioner. Your commitment to continually evaluating and improving care and the patient experience sets the standard for hospitals across the state and beyond. Now, having graduated in the top 10% with a 3.8 GPA, I’m ready to offer proven clinical skills and medical knowledge to aid EVH on its mission of providing the best quality of care to those who need it most.

Huh.

This person really wants to work as an NP at East Valley, doesn’t she?

Whereas this one, not so much:

WRONG
Recent graduate (3.8 GPA) seeking to take on a nurse practitioner role in a fast-paced clinical environment.

Diagnosis: Displaying all the clinical signs of a generic, copy & paste cover letter opening that won’t get a second glance.

Luckily, you already know how to avoid these mistakes. Grab a coffee and let’s consult our progress notes for what to take care of next.

Looking for more ideas? Read our guide: How to Start a Cover Letter: 25+ Opening Lines

3. Write a Great Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Middle

So, you got the recruiter’s attention with that show-stopping opening paragraph.

Well done!

Now, let’s do our best to keep them interested. Here’s how to structure the middle of your nurse practitioner cover letter to ensure full compliance:

Highlight that you want this particular job, not any nurse practitioner job.
Prove that you have the skills they need.
Show your understanding of the organization’s needs and values.

Like so:

Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Examples [Middle]

RIGHT

I have 7 years of experience as a nurse and numerous successes to share, including:

Managing a 23-bed ICU floor with a team of 6 nurses per shift.
Introducing improvements to the morning and evening shift handover system at East Valley Hospital, increasing the team's efficiency and ensuring proper flow of information between shifts.
Mentoring over 25 new RNs and NPs over the course of my career, as well as training 12 new hires at St. John’s Hospital in the use of Epic.

Wasn’t that a strong dose of exceptional?

This example shows that you don’t need to be a modern-day Florence Nightingale (you knew this reference was coming!) to get the nursing job you want.

Just keep in mind that like a treatment plan, your nurse practitioner cover letter needs to be evidence-based. Show you’re the right person for the job, and you’re onto a winner.

Conversely, this one’s ready for discharge:

WRONG

Alongside extensive experience in clinical settings, I also have a deep-rooted passion for nursing. I love helping people with successful treatments and finding new ways to improve the patient experience and the level of care I provide. I find it very satisfying when I can see I have a positive impact on someone’s wellbeing.

This job would be an excellent opportunity for me to keep treating patients, providing a high standard of care, and improving my skills as a nurse practitioner.

Alright, here’s the deal—

It’s great to be passionate about your profession, and what you do is immensely important. However, this cover letter example reads slower than an inpatient unit at 3 am.

One would hope that every nurse practitioner aims to treat patients and help them get better. Rather than just saying you’re good at your job, show your achievements and demonstrate your understanding of the duties and the organization.

One page or two? Find out the ideal length of a nurse practitioner cover letter: How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

Create my resume now

When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

4. End Your Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter on a Strong Note

Hey, it’s almost time for handoff!

There’s one last thing to before we give our report and head home—

Sign off on your cover letter in the right way.

This is easier said than done, but don’t worry—we’ll walk you through the entire procedure.

Let’s start with a demonstration:

Family Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Examples [Ending]

RIGHT

It would be an honor to discuss in more detail how my skills and experience as a nurse practitioner can help HMC achieve its goal of providing the best quality of care in Washington.

Best regards,

Susan Hollins, Nurse Practitioner

See how the candidate asks for an interview without, you know, asking for an interview?

She also ends on an offer—specifically, the offer to use her experience to aid the hospital in its key objectives. How do you find out what goals an organization is trying to achieve? Just visit their website! Every medical center will have an “Our Mission” section (or something to that effect) on their site.

Lastly, the candidate uses the proper complimentary closing. No need to get creative here—

Best regards will work just fine for any nurse practitioner cover letter.

Here’s how not to end your cover letter:

WRONG

Thank you for considering my application. I really want to work in your ward and I think I’m a good fit. Could we arrange an interview?

Yours truly,

Susan Hollins

Frankly, the prognosis on that interview is looking pretty bleak. In this example the candidate makes an ask based on what she wants. Instead, you should make an offer based on the organization’s needs, like in the first example.

Almost done!

There’s one more thing you could do—

Treat your nurse practitioner to some complementary therapy and add a P.S. after your signature.

You can skip this bit if you want, but it’s a good opportunity to really drive the message home. A P.S. implies to the reader that there’s even more you can offer the organization.

All you need to do here is mention an additional achievement or anything else that makes you stand out from the other applicants.

For example:

“P.S.: Last year, I was shortlisted for the Public Health Service Award. I look forward to sharing the story with you!”
“P.S.: I’d love to tell you about the changes I made to the handover process and how much they improved communication between shifts.”

If you were the hiring manager, wouldn’t you call that person just to find out more?

Looking for more ideas on writing your closing paragraph? Read here: How to End a Cover Letter: 20+ Examples

Key Takeaway

Here’s a recap of how to write a nurse practitioner cover letter:

Follow the correct format. Your cover letter needs to be as crisp and clear as a medical chart.
Open on a major achievement. Show you’re exceptional from the start and make the recruiter want to keep reading.
Prove yourself. Showcase your skills, accomplishments, passion, and understanding of the job and the organization. Tailor the treatment to the job ad.
End your cover letter with an offer. Add an optional P.S. for additional impact.

Still not sure how to write the perfect nurse practitioner cover letter? Perhaps you have some pointers of your own? Drop us a line in the comments. We’ll be happy to reply!

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