Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Writing Tips and Sample
The demand for nurse practitioners (NPs) is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. When you add the fact that many patients are not only satisfied with the care they receive from NPs, but prefer them to medical doctors in some settings, you can expect your job outlook to be bright.
Despite this great news, you’ll still need a nurse practitioner cover letter and professional resume that stand out from the crowd. Below are some tips for your cover letter and a sample putting our advice into action.
3 Writing Tips for Great Nurse Practitioner Cover Letters
1. Prove Your Passion for Your Work
What drives you to be an NP? Why did you choose your specialty? You’re going to be an integral part of their healthcare team, so it’s important to show the root of your commitment. Here are some ways in which you can let them know why you’re dedicated to your work:
- Describe an experience that was a catalyst in your career path.
- Discuss your values and how they align with those of your prospective employer.
- Explain the reasons behind your interest in your chosen patient population.
2. Describe How Your Soft Skills Augment Your Hard Skills
Your resume describes what you can do, and your cover letter shows the reader how you’ll go about doing it. Many people are trained to do your job, but not everyone can do the work quite like you. Highlight what makes the way you practice care unique.
For example, patience and clear communication make a world of difference when teaching a patient about their disease process. Empathy and compassion can make invasive procedures significantly less intimidating.
Some examples of additional soft skills to include are:
- Adaptability
- Autonomy
- Emotional intelligence
- Leadership
- Professionalism
3. Show Off Your Attention to Detail
All healthcare professions require attention to detail. In fact, it’s one of the most important traits because seemingly small details can have large impacts on a patient’s outcome. This ability must be honed early on in your career. Your resume and cover letter are the first times in which your employer can see your ability to be mindful of the little things. Below are examples of how you can do this:
- Correct grammar and punctuation
- No excess spaces between letters and words
- Active voice
- Each paragraph has a clear subject
- Use the reader’s name in the heading
- Correct employer contact information
Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Template
Reading nurse practitioner cover letter examples is a useful way to start your own nursing cover letter on the right track. Check out our example below.
Thomas Farkas, APRN
761 Dexter’s Lab Drive
Powerpuff Girls, NM 87505
555-555-5555
firstlast@email.com / linkedin.com/thomasfarkas
[date]
Jasmine Ford
288 Johnny Bravo Lane
Big Bird, NM 87505
Dear Ms. Ford,
From a young age, I’ve had a strong urge to make the world a better place in my own way. I’m fortunate to have been able to do that through my work as a pediatric nurse practitioner. My empathetic nature helps my patients and their parents feel truly seen and my comfort with being assertive facilitates my ability to advocate for them. I want to bring these qualities to Courage Hospital. I admire your organization’s emphasis on addressing the needs of the whole person instead of the disease alone. I also firmly believe that assisting patients and families with the factors contributing to the disease process is integral to positive outcomes.
At Space Ghost Urgent Care, most of my patient population lived below the poverty line. This often led to families having difficulty remaining compliant to my recommendations. There were many tense moments in which I had to show compassion in the face of parents acting out of frustration. Those situations gave me plenty of experience with providing continued education and validating their emotions. Working with families under tight financial constraints pushed me to get creative when giving home care advice, and prompted me to learn everything I could about resources to assist them.
At Cow and Chicken Community Hospital, I worked with patients and families from a variety of social and cultural backgrounds. I learned how to adapt to a range of people and situations. This flexibility has proven to be a valuable asset. I honed my ability to complete procedures with gentleness and reassurance, and to adapt to any sudden changes thrown my way. I am grateful for how this facility provided me with a strong foundation for my career.
I appreciate you for your time, and I look forward to discussing this role further in an interview.
Sincerely,
Thomas Farkas, APRN
How Much Does an NP Make?
The average nurse practitioner salary in the U.S. is $128,490 per year. The states with the highest annual average NP salaries are:
Write a Winning Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Today
Your cover letter can make a significant difference in your chances of landing the job. Do yourself a favor by writing a strong one. When you’re ready, search for nurse practitioner jobs on IntelyCare.