A cover letter for a new graduate nurse is a formal document that accompanies your resume when you apply for a nursing position as a new graduate.
The purpose of the cover letter is to introduce yourself to the hiring manager and explain why you are interested in the job and how you are qualified for it.
In your letter, you should highlight your nursing education, and clinical experience you have gained, and any relevant nursing skills or certifications. You should also express your enthusiasm for the job and for joining the healthcare team of the facility you are applying to.
The letter should be well-structured, concise, and professional in tone. It should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for and address the requirements and qualifications listed in the job description.
A well-written letter can help you stand out from other applicants and demonstrate your interest in and enthusiasm for the position. It can also give the employer a sense of your personality and communication skills, which are important qualities for a nurse to have.
Overall, a cover letter for a new graduate nurse is a crucial part of your job application package and should be written with care and attention to detail.
When is It Required?
A cover letter is generally required for a new graduate nurse when you are applying for a nursing position in a hospital, healthcare facility, or other healthcare organization. In many cases, it is requested by the employer as part of the job application process, along with a resume and other required documents.
A cover letter is particularly important for new graduate nurses who may not have extensive work experience in the field yet. It allows you to showcase your nursing education, any clinical experience you have gained, and your passion for the profession. It also allows you to explain why you are interested in the position and how you can contribute to the healthcare team.
However, there may be some instances where a cover letter is not required, such as when applying for a nursing position through an online application system that does not provide an option to upload a cover letter. In such cases, it is important to carefully review the job posting and application instructions to determine if a cover letter is necessary or not.
Overall, even if a cover letter is not required, it can be beneficial to include one as it allows you to personalize your application and demonstrate your interest and qualifications for the position.
Purpose of a Cover Letter for New Graduate Nurse
A cover letter serves the specific purpose of proving that you are a capable candidate. No matter how perfect your resume is, HR managers may overlook it among many other applications. But a nicely written cover letter provides insights into your professional certification, work history, and education and persuades the potential employer to read your resume as well.
The cover letter serves various purposes, as discussed below:
Identifies your intent
Resumes are valid proof of your expertise. However, a cover letter states your intent and explains how your knowledge qualifies you for the specific role. HR managers can see your vision, mission, and aspiration toward dedicating yourself to the nursing profession.
HR managers and recruiters value candidates willing to advance in their careers and develop leadership qualities. A cover letter is the perfect document for displaying such aspirations.
Provides a detailed description of a candidate
A cover letter outlines your professional determination to fulfill your employer’s expectations.
It provides insights into your perspectives, interests, experiences, weaknesses, and strengths, and an employer can form an opinion of you as a professional based on that.
Explains the gaps in the resume
As a newly graduated nurse, it is unlikely that you will have many gaps in your career trajectory. But if you have taken a career break or switched fields, the cover letter gives you an opportunity to mention that.
Steps to Writing a Cover Letter as a Fresh Graduate Nurse
A cover letter must follow the correct format and structure. The following guide provides detailed information about the steps to writing a unique, interesting, and engaging cover letter:
Provide a header
The header is the first thing the hiring manager sees, telling them who you are. The details should match the ones on your resume, showing professionalism and attention to detail.
The header of your cover letter should include the following details:
- Your name
- Phone number
- Email address
- Residential address
- Date
Proper salutations
A cover letter is your first contact with your future employer. Therefore, you must make a good first impression and use professional greetings. You can do that by including: “Dear recruiter.’’ That is perfect if you cannot determine the hiring manager’s name.
An engaging introduction
An engaging introduction is the best proof of your enthusiasm and determination to become a professional nurse. It is vital to mention the title of the position you are applying for in the opening paragraph. Additionally, a good introduction should explain your qualifications for the position and how you found the job posting.
Discuss your qualifications and experience
Include any previous internship experience, training, academic accomplishments, or work experience in your letter. These details enable hiring professionals to link your qualifications to the role. They also help you engage with the recruiters and explain how you fit the position and why they should choose you over others.
Although your resume already contains your qualifications for the job, you should briefly mention them in your cover letter. However, avoid repetition and do not hesitate to elaborate on your qualifications by including previous experiences that could demonstrate your capabilities as a healthcare professional.
Mention relevant skills
While elaborating on your qualifications, use the opportunity to mention your skills to convince the recruiter that you are the most suitable candidate for the job. In addition, mention your skills in a way that clearly explains how your employer will benefit from hiring you.
Highlight your soft skills, such as communication, leadership, decision-making, empathy, compassion, and kindness. These are the skills that most hiring managers look for when hiring nurses.
Explain your interpersonal approach to solving problems and include real-life experiences and anecdotes as proof of your competence and efficiency.
Finish with a conclusion and a formal closing
The conclusion of your nursing cover letter should be a summary of your personal information, professional skills, knowledge, and experience. It should be concise, memorable, and succinct enough to resonate with the employer’s inquiry.
Highlight the essentials in the concluding paragraph to outline why hiring managers should choose you over other candidates. Add an engaging call to action to ensure your employers contact you. You can invite the recruiter to schedule an appointment or ask them directly for an interview. Include a professional sign-off. For people you know, use “Yours sincerely.” For people you do not know, use “Yours faithfully.”
A Sample of a Cover Letter
Jane Doe
122 Blue St. Tampa, FL 5555
122-455-7892
November 17, 2018
Floyd Parkinson
Mercy Hospital
456 Red St. Tampa, FL 5555
Dear Mr. Parkinson,
I am writing to express my interest in applying for the nurse practitioner position at Mercy Hospital.
I am writing to express my interest in the nursing position at Mercy Hospital. As a recent graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I am excited to begin my nursing career and contribute to the healthcare team at Mercy Hospital.
Throughout my nursing education, I gained extensive clinical experience in a variety of settings, including medical-surgical, obstetrics, pediatrics, and mental health. These experiences have allowed me to develop strong clinical skills, including patient assessment, medication administration, and care planning. I am also proficient in various medical technologies and electronic health records.
I am excited about the opportunity to work at Mercy Hospital because of its commitment to providing high-quality patient care and its reputation for excellence in the nursing field. I appreciate the organization’s focus on evidence-based practice and its dedication to continuous learning and professional development.
As a new grad nurse, I am eager to learn and grow in my role as a healthcare provider. I believe that my passion for nursing and my strong work ethic make me an excellent candidate for the nursing position at Mercy Hospital. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further and learn more about this exciting opportunity. Thank you for considering my application.
Yours faithfully,
Jane Doe
Download Free Templates
Given below are new graduate nurse cover letter templates:
Mistakes to Avoid During the Writing Process
Your cover letter is your chance to make a great first impression with potential employers, and as a newly graduated nurse, it’s important to ensure that your cover letter is professional, polished, and error-free. However, there are some common mistakes that many new grad nurses make when writing their cover letters, which can hurt their chances of landing a job.
In this section, we will discuss some of these mistakes and provide tips on how to avoid them, so you can make sure that your cover letter stands out for all the right reasons:
Making typing errors
One of the biggest mistakes you can make in a cover letter is to submit it with grammatical errors or typos. Make sure to proofread your cover letter thoroughly and have someone else review it as well before submitting it.
Focusing too much on yourself
While your cover letter should certainly highlight your skills, experience, and qualifications, it’s important to remember that the cover letter is ultimately about how you can contribute to the organization. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the position and how your skills and experiences align with the needs of the organization.
Providing fake or misleading information
Providing false information can be considered fraud and can result in serious consequences, such as losing the job or being dismissed from the position later on. Additionally, it’s important to build trust with potential employers and colleagues by being truthful and transparent about your skills, experiences, and qualifications.
Instead of falsifying information, focus on highlighting your genuine skills, experience, and accomplishments that make you a strong candidate for the position.
Addressing the letter to the wrong person
Be sure that you address the application to the right person and that all names and titles are correct. Not only will it look impolite if the documents are addressed to the wrong person, but it is also possible that your application does not even reach the right person.
Repeating your resume
A cover letter should not be a repetition of your resume. Instead, it is an official document that clarifies your intent, explains your worth, and highlights your strengths.
Use your cover letter to highlight your most relevant experiences and qualifications, and provide additional context that may not be apparent from your resume.
Using a different font than your resume
Using a different font to distinguish your cover letter from your resume is not the best practice. Using the same font and layout shows professionalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your cover letter should span no more than one page. It should be long enough to highlight vital details about you but readable enough for a hiring manager to review it quickly. Use short and direct sentences when outlining how you can help the employer.
You should use Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman for your letter, matching it with the font on your resume. The recommended font size is 10-12 points.
A cover letter should include a header, a professional greeting, an engaging introduction, a brief overview of your qualifications, relevant skills, and a formal conclusion with a sign-off.
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