Nursing is a competitive field, and you need to stand out with your cover letter. That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips for writing the perfect nursing student cover letter. We’ll show you how to address your letter, impress hiring managers with key phrases from their job description and more. So get ready—you’re about to write a letter that will get you one step closer to the career of your dreams!

cover letters for nursing students

1. Address your cover letter to the hiring manager

In order to make sure you’re addressing your cover letter to the correct person, it’s important to do some research. You should find out the name of the hiring manager and their title. If you can’t find this information online, call or email the company. You’ll also need to know where they are located and what type of position they’re hiring for.

Once you have all that information, include it in your cover letter. Here’s an example:

2. Name-drop

• A cover letter needs to be personalized, so it’s essential that you mention the name of the person you’re writing to. The easiest way to do this is by incorporating their name into your salutation. For example: “Dear Mr./Ms. Smith.” If they have a specific title, it’s always nice to include that too (e.g., “Dear Dr./Mrs.”)—but if not, don’t worry about including one in your salutation!
• If the person who referred you happens to be someone at this company or organization and signed off on your application materials, make sure they figure prominently into your narrative!

3. Include a professional summary

A professional summary should be included at the top of your cover letter. This section is meant to highlight your most relevant qualifications and experience, while also providing an overview of who you are as a candidate.

In order to write a successful professional summary, consider including information such as:

• Your current educational status (i.e., major) and expected graduation date
• A list of any current certifications or licenses you have earned/are in the process of earning
• Any awards or accolades you have received for academic performance or community service

4. Use key phrases from the job description

To get noticed, use key phrases from the job description. Be specific about your qualifications and be precise with the language. Use a tone that matches what they’re looking for, and keep it short—two pages or less (no one wants to read a novel!).

How do you know if you’re using the right words? If your cover letter has been read by multiple people at various stages of the hiring process before reaching an actual human being who will interview you in person, then yes: You are using the right words!

5. Be specific about your qualifications

If you want to stand out from the crowd, take the time to list all of your qualifications. This includes any relevant certifications, experience and volunteer work. It also includes schoolwork and extracurricular activities if they relate specifically to nursing. Finally, if there is anything else that makes you uniquely qualified for this job such as hobbies or life experiences that can be turned into skills (like coaching a sports team), try highlighting those too!

6. Say thanks

Thank the interviewer for their time. You’re excited to meet with them, and you’re looking forward to hearing back from them.

You may want to mention that you would like to discuss the position further if you haven’t been invited for an interview yet; your enthusiasm for this job is obvious, and you are eager for the opportunity!

7. Follow these tips for creating a perfect cover letter.

If you are applying for a job, it’s likely that you will be asked to write a cover letter. A cover letter is an introduction to yourself—a way of telling the hiring manager why you are a good fit for the job and what makes you uniquely qualified. It’s also a chance to show off your personality, so make sure that it has energy and enthusiasm!

In order to write an effective cover letter, follow these tips:

• Include your resume within the body of your email or attach it as an attachment at the end of your message (many recruiters prefer this approach).
• Use key phrases from the job description as prompts when describing how your skills match up with what is needed for this position. For example: “I am excited about being able to contribute my experience in [insert skill here] because…”
• Be specific about any qualifications mentioned in the description above all else! In other words – if they say they need someone with 3 years clinical experience who speaks Spanish fluently AND can work weekends then both those things must be addressed in detail so there aren’t any surprises later down line when chatting with them 🙂

Closing

Remember, a cover letter is a way for you to show the employer why you’re the best person for the job. It’s an opportunity to show off your skills and highlight what makes you stand out from other candidates.