RN Cover Letter Writing Tips and Sample

Getting ready to apply to a nursing role? The basic components of any job application are a resume and a cover letter. While your RN resume shows off your impressive accomplishments and credentials, a RN cover letter lets your future employer see your personality and why you’re the right person for a particular job. If you’re wondering how to make your nursing experience shine, check out these tips.

Writing Tips for Strong RN Cover Letters

Make Your Potential Employer Feel Special

Skimming through dozens (sometimes even hundreds) of job applications can make a hiring manager’s eyes glaze over. That’s one reason it’s important to leverage your RN cover letter to form a personal connection as soon as possible. A great way to do that is by making the employer feel special.

You don’t simply want any position — you want this specific job. Check out the employer’s homepage and read the About Us page, as well as any recent press releases. What’s their mission statement? What awards or accolades have they received? What’s their specialty area? Find areas where your values and skills overlap with theirs to forge a connection. Take a step above the rest and customize your cover letter to each role.

Prove Why You Are the Right Fit for the Job

Strengthen your cover letter by highlighting relevant soft skills. To figure out which of your skills to focus on, check out the job description to see what type of candidate they’re looking for. Maybe an employer mentions they want to hire someone who can think quickly and critically, or they want to hire someone who has experience treating a diverse patient population.

Then describe examples from your professional experience that prove you have these skills. Do you pride yourself on providing culturally congruent care? Have you succeeded in stressful situations for which you were unprepared? Have you had to take the lead during a crisis?

You can use our RN cover letter template to get started, but remember your uniqueness is your key to success. Your own voice, enthusiasm, and authenticity will shine best through your original words.

RN Cover Letter Example

The RN cover letter sample below is for a pediatric hospital application from a nurse who has worked on an adult medical-surgical floor for one year. This might not match your situation, but it shows the importance of tailoring cover letters to your experience as well as the role to which you are applying.

Need more help? Check out our additional cover letter examples for nurses written by experts.

Ms. Lela Stewart, RN, BSN
555-555-5555
lstewartrn@email.com
444 Flower Drive
Flowertown, PA 19143

Ms. Tracy Cane, MSN, RN
Springfield Children’s Hospital
555-555-5555
tcane@sch.edu
610 Civic Center Street
Philadelphia, PA 19144

Dear Ms. Cane,

I’m writing to apply for a nursing role on your medical-surgical unit. As an RN with a passion for helping children and who has shadowed nurses at Springfield Children’s Hospital, I would make a great addition to your team.

My clinical rotation at Springfield Children’s Hospital solidified my desire to work in pediatrics. Although my long-term career goal is to care for children, I have been working for the past year on an adult medical-surgical floor to gain a solid foundation. I learned a slew of nursing skills such as catheterization, tube feedings, various assessments, and other tasks as described in my resume, which prepared me for a role on your medical-surgical unit. While shadowing nurses at your hospital, I learned how I would alter procedures to accommodate children.

I recognize that although my focus is on my patients, I must also prioritize caregiver needs. I continually make conscious efforts to cultivate my emotional intelligence and self-awareness. I use my patience, empathy, and compassion to ensure successful bedside communication with patients and their caregivers. Lastly, I am an adaptable individual with integrity who completes short-term tasks on time while remaining mindful of long-term goals.

I appreciate you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Lela Stewart, RN

RN Job Outlook and Pay

The job outlook for RNs is expected to grow by 6% in the next decade — that’s around 193,100 jobs added each year — which is faster than the average for all other occupations. The top five states with the highest percentage of employed RNs are:

1. California
2. Texas
3. New York
4. Florida
5. Pennsylvania

The average salary for a RN is $94,480, but your paycheck will be affected by your years of experience, the facility that employs you, as well as where in the country you work.

Take the Next Step

Are you ready to get your RN cover letter some exposure? IntelyCare is the job board created just for nurses so you can find top opportunities in the field. Start looking for great RN jobs today.