Formatting your cover letter
If you're a nurse looking to jumpstart your job-search, cvapp.nz is here to help! We’ve designed this guide for nursing professionals just like you. With an array of top tips and tools tailored for nurses, we can help you create powerful, impactful cover letters.
To begin, every good cover letter will generally follow this structure:
- Cover letter header
- Greeting
- Introduction
- Body paragraphs
- Conclusion
By using the tips and advice in this guide, we can help you secure your next job role. Woo hoo! We've also got cover letter examples our users can use for inspiration below. Ready to get started? Let's go!
Dear Mrs. Casey,
As a Waikato native and nurse with over five years nursing experience, I am writing to express an interest in the registered nurse position at the Hamilton Children's Hospital. Over the years, I have enjoyed an enriching and fulfilling career taking care of children, supporting their health and wellness and advocating for their health interests. As a registered nurse, we are often the first point-of-call to worried families or children seeking comfort or support. Being a registered nurse requires attentiveness, hard-work and kindness. It is my hope that I will be able to share these qualities at the Hamilton Children's Hospital.
I graduated from The University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Nursing in 2010. During my time at The University of Auckland, I received the Beckman Braddock Scholarship to support my studies. Beckman Braddock scholarships are awarded to applicants who demonstrate character of the highest calibre, as well as impressive academic achievement. As a Beckman Braddock scholarship recipient, I was also invited to complete an internship with Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital and Auckland City Hospital. I have attached reviews from previous supervisors to this application and have also provided references with my CV.
- In my previous work, I completed a number of tasks, including:
- Caring, supporting and treating sick patients
- Recording patient information and informing families of the patient's condition/s
- Collaborating with other medical staff to ensure excellent patient care
- Administering a range of medical tests, including blood tests and basic patient monitoring
I would love to arrange a time to speak with you and learn more about this role. As a registered nurse, I know the importance of trust-worthy, reliable and patient staff. I will be happy to discuss my previous experience and how I can add value to the Hamilton Children's Hospital.
Ngā mihi,
Miriama Daniels
Cover letter header
Your cover letter header helps to establish your professional identity by providing potential employers with important contact information. This means that if employers are interested in reaching out, they can do so easily by using the information you've provided in your header. For this reason, it's essential that the contact information you've provided is accurate and up-to-date. You should include details such as your name, address, phone number, and email address, as well as your current job title.
Additionally, it’s important that your cover letter header is appropriate and visually appealing. Fortunately, at cvapp.nz, we make formatting your header a breeze. With our extensive collection of cover letter templates, we’ll help you find the perfect template. Simply check out our Cover Letter library and browse our customisable cover letter templates. Pretty cool, we know.
Cover letter greeting
While a greeting might not seem that important, your cover letter greeting sets the tone for the rest of your cover letter. It's your golden opportunity to leave a positive impression on employers, and while a well-crafted greeting demonstrates professionalism and respect, a bad greeting can completely destroy your chances of getting the job you're applying for. We recommend using a greeting like “Dear Miss Carter,” or “Dear Mr. Alipate” to start off on the right foot.
Cover letter introduction
Your introduction plays a key role in establishing a connection with employers. In this section, you'll want to introduce yourself and your professional background and express your motivations for applying for the job role. You can also briefly highlight any qualifications, experiences or skills you may have that are relevant for the nursing job position you're applying for. Remember to keep this section brief: you can expand and elaborate on the details in your body paragraphs.
Here’s a great example of a cover letter introduction:
Dear Mrs. Casey,
As a Waikato native and nurse with over five years nursing experience, I am writing to express an interest in the registered nurse position at the Hamilton Children's Hospital. Over the years, I have enjoyed an enriching and fulfilling career taking care of children, supporting their health and wellness and advocating for their health interests. As a registered nurse, we are often the first point-of-call to worried families or children seeking comfort or support. Being a registered nurse requires attentiveness, hard-work and kindness. It is my hope that I will be able to share these qualities at the Hamilton Children's Hospital.
Cover letter body paragraphs
Now for the most important part of your cover letter: the body paragraphs. Why are body paragraphs so important? Well, this is the section that convinces potential employers that you’re the real deal! In your body paragraphs, you can elaborate upon relevant and important information about your qualifications, experiences and skills.
We recommend reading over the job description a few times and researching the institution or healthcare facility to get a good idea of what potential employers are looking for. If you can incorporate what they’re looking for in your cover letter and align it with existing skills, you’re more likely to pique the interests of employers and get that much anticipated call back. Need some help?
Check out our example below!
I graduated from The University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Nursing in 2010. During my time at The University of Auckland, I received the Beckman Braddock Scholarship to support my studies. Beckman Braddock scholarships are awarded to applicants who demonstrate character of the highest calibre, as well as impressive academic achievement. As a Beckman Braddock scholarship recipient, I was also invited to complete an internship with Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital and Auckland City Hospital. I have attached reviews from previous supervisors to this application and have also provided references with my CV.
- In my previous work, I completed a number of tasks, including:
- Caring, supporting and treating sick patients
- Recording patient information and informing families of the patient's condition/s
- Collaborating with other medical staff to ensure excellent patient care
- Administering a range of medical tests, including blood tests and basic patient monitoring
Cover letter conclusion
We’ve reached the end of your cover letter! Your cover letter conclusion is your last chance to make a lasting impact and positive impression on the reader. It's important to summarise your key points, reaffirm your enthusiasm, and express gratitude for the employer's consideration of your application.
Additionally, we recommend including a call-to-action statement. These statements encourage employers to reach out, for example "I'd love to discuss this opportunity with you at your earliest convenience. Are you available next week?" We’ve got some great examples of conclusions and call-to-action statements below.
To close your cover letter on a friendly and professional note, you can opt for a warm sign-off, like "ngā mihi nui," "kind regards," or "best wishes." Congrats: you've just finished your cover letter!
Good luck — you’ve got this!
I would love to arrange a time to speak with you and learn more about this role. As a registered nurse, I know the importance of trust-worthy, reliable and patient staff. I will be happy to discuss my previous experience and how I can add value to the Hamilton Children's Hospital.
Ngā mihi,
Miriama Daniels
