How To Write a Nursing Cover Letter + Examples
Create your cover letter now
You’ve already put in the effort crafting your CV. So, do you really need a cover letter for nursing? Yes, a well-written cover letter can boost your chances of getting hired.
The best part? Writing a nursing cover letter that gets noticed isn’t as hard as you think. Let’s get started.
This guide will show you:
- Nursing cover letter examples better than 9 out of 10 others.
- A nurse cover letter template that works.
- How to write a nurse cover letter hiring managers love.
- How to add achievements to a cover letter for nursing jobs to get any 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 CV. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.
Sample Cover Letter for a CV—See more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.
Writing a cover letter for a nursing job application is much easier if you have an excellent nursing CV to work with. To write one, check out these guides:
Nursing cover letter template
Your Name
Mailing Address
Email Address
Phone Number
Hiring Manager Name
Title
Healthcare Facility Name
Mailing Address
Date
Dear [Hiring Manager Name],
Improving patient recovery processes by 20% while reducing inpatient falls by 18% has been one of my most rewarding achievements. I’m eager to bring this level of impact to Tuddenham Medical Clinic.
With six years of nursing experience, I am particularly drawn to your clinic’s focus on community care. Your commitment to patient-centred healthcare aligns with my approach to providing compassionate, high-quality care. Among my accomplishments:
- Implemented a new electronic health record system that improved workflow efficiency by 25%.
- Led a fall prevention programme that significantly improved patient safety.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to boost patient satisfaction scores.
I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to Tuddenham Medical Clinic’s success. Could we arrange a time next week to discuss how my experience could benefit your team?
Yours sincerely,
Your Name
P.S.—I’d love to share how my efforts in patient safety earned recognition at St David's General Hospital.
Now, let’s focus on how to write a cover letter for nursing jobs:
1. Pick the best nursing cover letter template
You’ve just seen an excellent nursing cover letter format. But—what’s its secret? The answer is: a proper structure. Just like a human can’t excel in life when their bones are weak, a cover letter for nurses can’t make a lasting impact without a strong structure.
With 797,928 nurses, midwives, and dual registrants on the NMC register as of 30 September 2023—up 15% from just five years ago—competition in the field is fierce. A well-crafted nursing cover letter could be what sets you apart from the growing number of applicants.
See the checklist below to make sure your nursing cover letter is constructed on a solid foundation:
Nursing cover letter template—checklist
- Your contact info
- Company’s info
- Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name]
- Paragraph 1: Start with a strong, job-relevant achievement
- Paragraph 2: Highlight key skills and why you’re a fit
- Paragraph 3: Express passion and explain why you want the role
- Paragraph 4: CTA with a unique offer
- Best regards + your name + title
- P.S. Add an extra achievement to grab the recruiter's attention
In the next chapter, I’ll show you how to start your nurse cover letter on a high note.
To format your nurse cover letter well, learn about the necessary details with our guide: Cover Letter Format: An In-Depth How-To Guide
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.
2. Start with a nursing cover letter introduction
The opening of your nursing cover letter is like the first few moments of a patient consultation—it needs to engage and build trust immediately. A strong introduction sets the tone for the rest of your letter. Just as first impressions matter in patient care, a compelling introduction can be the difference between your application standing out or being overlooked.
To craft an attention-grabbing cover letter intro, highlight one of your most impressive professional achievements or key nursing skills. Check out the nurse cover letter examples below:
Nursing cover letter examples: opening paragraph
| RIGHT |
|---|
Dear Ms Thorpe, Improving patient recovery processes by 20% while reducing inpatient falls by 18% has been one of my most rewarding achievements. I’m eager to bring this level of impact to Tuddenham Medical Clinic. |
The example above starts with a quantifiable success. Specific, measurable results always grab recruiters' attention.
| WRONG |
|---|
| Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to apply for the nursing position at Tuddenham Medical Clinic. I believe I have the necessary skills and experience for the role. I have always been passionate about helping people, and I am excited about the opportunity to join your team. |
This nursing cover letter sample introduction is simply too generic. It’s so vague that it could apply to any candidate.
One last thing to remember about cover letter intros: always do what you can to find out the hiring manager’s name. Addressing your cover letter like this: “Dear Nursing Team Hiring Manager” should be your last resort.
In the next chapter, we’ll analyse how to write the middle paragraph, which is the meat and bones of your cover letter.
Is your nursing cover letter knowledge as incomplete as an unfinished patient chart? Check out our full guide: How to Start a Cover Letter: Examples & Expert Advice.
3. Write a great nurse cover letter middle
The middle of your nurse cover letter is like the core of a well-planned treatment plan—it’s where you deliver the most crucial information that proves you’re the perfect fit for the job. Focus on how your nursing skills have made an impact in previous positions. Be sure to focus on the ones that are the most relevant to a particular position you’re targeting.
But—don’t just present why you’re the perfect fit for the job. Be sure to convey your enthusiasm for the role and why you want to work at this specific healthcare facility. Let the recruiter know that you’ve researched the organisation and that your goals align with their mission.
Nursing cover letter examples: middle paragraphs
| RIGHT |
|---|
With six years of nursing experience, I am particularly drawn to your clinic’s focus on community care. Your commitment to patient-centred healthcare aligns with my approach to providing compassionate, high-quality care. Among my accomplishments:
|
Not only the nursing cover letter sample above has a strong structure, but also it highlights relevant, quantifiable accomplishments.
| WRONG |
|---|
| With some experience in nursing, I believe I could be a good fit for your clinic. I am familiar with many aspects of nursing, including patient care and record-keeping. I have worked with various teams and am confident I can help. I’m passionate about nursing and would love to work at your facility. |
In short, this sample nursing cover letter middle is weak as it lacks specificity and fails to showcase the candidate’s strengths and motivation to apply for this specific position.
But—what if you don’t have much experience? For a new graduate or entry-level nursing cover letter, focus on highlighting your academic achievements.
Writing a nursing internship cover letter or a new grad registered nurse cover letter? Learn everything you need to know in our in-depth guide:How to Write a Cover Letter For an Internship [+20 Examples].
4. Finish your nurse cover letter like a pro
Your cover letter closure is just as important as its opening. It’s your last chance to leave a strong impression, so finish your cover letter for nursing jobs in a confident manner. Reinforce your enthusiasm for the role and request a meeting with the recruiter.
Also, don’t hesitate to add a PS to make the recruiter even more eager to invite you for an interview. A perfect postscript can mention one of your accomplishments or present why hiring you will benefit them. Check out the nursing cover letter closure samples below:
Nurse cover letter examples: ending
| RIGHT |
|---|
Could we arrange a time next week to discuss how my experience could benefit your team? Yours sincerely, Jade Burgess P.S.—I’d love to share how my efforts in patient safety earned recognition at St David's General Hospital. |
This is exactly how you request an interview in a polite yet confident way. It also features a professional sign-off and an engaging postscript—all the details of this nurse cover letter example are polished to perfection!
| WRONG |
|---|
I hope to hear back from you soon about the position. I think I’d be a great fit and would love to work at your clinic. Best regards, |
Although this nursing cover letter closure features a professional sign-off, it doesn’t use a postscript, lacks a call to action, and relies on generic language that makes the candidate look like they lack confidence.
Wondering how to polish your nursing cover letter ending to perfection? Learn all the hacks with our dedicated guide: How to End a Cover Letter: Samples & Expert Writing Tips
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV 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.
If you're interested in applying to jobs in different industries, we've got you covered as well:
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- Project Manager Cover Letter Sample
- Sales Cover Letter Example
- Career Change Cover Letter Examples
Key takeaway
Here’s a recap of how to write a cover letter for nursing:
- Pick a professional nursing cover letter template.
- Start your cover letter with a strong hook to grab attention.
- Focus on highlighting the skills and experience that make you a perfect fit for the job.
- End your nurse cover letter with a strong call to action, and for an even greater impact, remember to include a postscript.
Thank you for reading my article! If you’ve any questions about writing a cover letter for nurse jobs, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment in the comments section below. I’m here to help you out!
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