The healthcare sector is as fast-paced as it is fulfilling. As a qualified nursing practitioner, you already have what it takes to offer patients the highest level of care. Once you’ve completed your schooling or had a few years in the industry, it may be time to level up. Writing a persuasive application is the best way to get ahead of the crowd. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with a writing guide and a nursing practitioner cover letter example.
Here at Resume.io, we have everything you need to speed up your job search. If you’re ready to take the next step on the career ladder, look no further. We have 180+ cover letter examples and guides to help you. Here’s what you can expect from the following guide:
- The perfect format for a nursing practitioner cover letter
- How to maximize the effect of each section (plus cover letter sample sections)
- What approach and tone to take when you get writing
- The common mistakes you should avoid in your cover letter.
Best format for a nursing practitioner cover letter
First up, let’s talk about the best format for this type of letter. When you’re applying for a healthcare job, you want to walk a well-trodden path. The hiring manager will be looking for a standard layout including some core elements. Here’s what you should include:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting/salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
As a golden rule, your nursing practitioner cover letter should fit onto one page. Aim for around 300 words (or less, if possible). If you find yourself writing too much, editing will be your best friend. Take a moment to cut out any information — or even paragraphs — that is not adding any strength to your overall application. The stricter you are, the better. Should you have trouble keeping it concise, take a look at our short cover letter samples.
Don’t use a freeform approach when you put pen to paper. Following the above structure to a tee is the way to go. For more inspiration, take a peek at our cover letter example:
Dear Dr. Hammersley,
With seven years of community experience as an advanced nurse practitioner, I am experienced with ensuring that the primary care needs of my patients are always met, whether in a surgery setting or in their own homes.
Working in a remote area is lonely for some medical professionals, but I find that when patients do not expect to receive a high level of care, the connections that you can make are all the more valuable. I spent 30% of my time in the car in my previous role and I value your focus on in-person solutions rather than relying entirely on virtual diagnosis.
I take great care to balance my medical duties with a pastoral approach to patient well-being. It is my experience that when patients feel that they can talk with you, medical issues are identified earlier, and outcomes are improved. The health statistics of my area consistently outperformed the state averages on nearly every measure.
My nursing and administrative skills are excellent, with a sound knowledge of all diagnostics tests and routine clinical procedures. I enjoy working with a wider team of clinical colleagues to provide the best care for my patients. My referral success for patients with chronic diseases such as COPD, diabetes, and asthma was well above average.
Understanding the importance of remote patient management, my project to improve the annual review process resulted in 31% more self-referrals. You must ask people the right questions on a regular basis and then prove that you will be there to help them.
I have heard many good things about your practice, and I would be fascinated to learn more about how you work in the community for your patients.
Sincerely,
Beth Pinner
Cover letter header
The cover letter header is located at the top of the page. While it may not be the most riveting part of the document, it serves an essential purpose. Should a hiring manager be impressed with your application, they need a quick and easy way to get in touch with you. The header includes your full name and contact details. Don’t make them work too hard here. At a glance, the recruiter can gain all of the details that they need to reach out.
Readability is everything. Yes, you may be tempted to show off your creativity with a fancy font but that is a mistake. Anything that makes it less legible will hinder your chances of career success. To play it safe — as you always should — go for a plain, sans-serif font.
Cover letter greeting
You only get one chance to make the right first impression. Your cover letter greeting is the first thing that a recruiter will see. You are applying for a highly professional role here. So your opener needs to reflect that. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve met the hiring manager before or know them professionally, you should avoid using the colloquial “hello” greeting.
Instead, stick closely to the book. If you know the name of the hiring manager, you should use their full, formal name. For example, you might kick things off with “Dear Mr./Mrs./Dr. Surname.” This detail shows that you’ve done your research and know who to address.
Of course, if you are in the dark here, you might have no clue who the hiring manager is. Don’t make the mistake of going for the generic “ To Whom It May Concern.” In a pinch, you can use a vague cover letter greeting, such as “Dear hiring manager” or “Dear ____ team.”
Cover letter introduction
The first two sentences of your cover letter are known as your introduction. Hiring managers lose interest quickly if your writing is unengaging. Get straight in there with a powerful statement that turns their head. Consider what the recruiter is looking for in a nursing practitioner and how you can quickly demonstrate that you are worth a look.
There are a couple of options to think about. You may want to showcase the fact that you have previously worked in a busy, hospital setting. Drawing upon your experience is a quick way to let the hiring manager know that you have what it takes to excel. On the other hand, you may want to start by highlighting your accolades. If you’ve won a healthcare award or surpassed a certain target, go ahead and shout about it in your introduction.
The aim of this cover letter section is to hook the reader. Determine what your Unique Selling Point (USP) is and then lead with it. Take a look at our cover letter example here:
Dear Dr. Hammersley,
With seven years of community experience as an advanced nurse practitioner, I am experienced with ensuring that the primary care needs of my patients are always met, whether in a surgery setting or in their own homes.
Cover letter middle part (body)
Now that you’ve got the reader’s interest, you can move on to the bulk of your letter. The middle paragraphs of cover letters give you the opportunity to tell your story. You have room to share any details you think the hiring manager needs to know about you.
Of course, you should use the space wisely. Consider what achievements or experiences will impress the recruiter. Details you may want to touch upon, including how many staff members you’ve previously managed, any specific training you have completed, and your long-term career goals. It’s important to show a level of passion when going for this job.
For the main body, you will likely use full-length paragraphs. However, if you have a treasure trove of information to share and space is a problem, you can add in some bullet points. You don’t want a hiring manager to get overwhelmed when they look at your cover letter. For that reason, you should use appropriate line and paragraph spacing too.
If you’re struggling for inspiration, think about topics you may cover in the nursing practitioner interview. Your cover letter gives you a headstart on these subject matters. Write down some of the questions that may crop up and answer them in the letter. That way, you will have already given the hiring manager a taste of what’s to come their way.
Working in a remote area is lonely for some medical professionals, but I find that when patients do not expect to receive a high level of care, the connections that you can make are all the more valuable. I spent 30% of my time in the car in my previous role and I value your focus on in-person solutions rather than relying entirely on virtual diagnosis.
I take great care to balance my medical duties with a pastoral approach to patient well-being. It is my experience that when patients feel that they can talk with you, medical issues are identified earlier, and outcomes are improved. The health statistics of my area consistently outperformed the state averages on nearly every measure.
My nursing and administrative skills are excellent, with a sound knowledge of all diagnostics tests and routine clinical procedures. I enjoy working with a wider team of clinical colleagues to provide the best care for my patients. My referral success for patients with chronic diseases such as COPD, diabetes, and asthma was well above average.
Understanding the importance of remote patient management, my project to improve the annual review process resulted in 31% more self-referrals. You must ask people the right questions on a regular basis and then prove that you will be there to help them.
Don’t use jargon — stick to simple language!
When you’re writing your nursing practitioner cover letter, use clear language. While the world of healthcare is often shrouded in jargon, technical phrases may put readers off.
Recent statistics show that America’s most hated jargon includes the phrases “synergy,” “empower,” “raising the bar,” “best practice,” and “touch base.” Often enough, we use these when we are being lazy and writing on autopilot. If in doubt, leave them out.
How to close a nursing practitioner cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
The final lines of your nursing practitioner cover letter need to make a serious impact. This is your last chance to sell yourself to the recruiter. You may want to repeat why you feel that you are the perfect fit for the position and invite the hiring manager to contact you.
Chances are, the reader will spend slightly longer analyzing this section than the rest of your cover letter. That is because they can visually see that they are coming to the end of the document. You may find that they linger a little longer over your closing statements. Use that to your advantage and say something that will keep them coming back for more.
Add some extra pizazz. Your final lines should be laced with enthusiasm for the nursing practitioner role. As a final hurrah, you could express your excitement at the possibility of meeting the reader. Don’t make presumptions but let them know that you’re optimistic.
I have heard many good things about your practice, and I would be fascinated to learn more about how you work in the community for your patients.
Sincerely,
Beth Pinner
Nursing practitioner cover letter with no experience
Are you a newly-qualified nursing practitioner? If so, you may lack the experience that more esteemed professionals have under their belt. Don’t panic. You can still write a cover letter that may land you an interview. Here are some tips to help you along the way:
- Adopt a passionate tone and highlight your career goals
- Note your specific qualifications (e.g. Master's of Science in Nursing)
- Draw upon previous experience that relates to the healthcare field
- Include any extracurricular activities or voluntary work
- Be honest about your lack of experience and say you are willing to learn
Your cover letter is the only place in which you directly address the hiring manager. If there are any significant gaps in your resume, you can explain them here. When you’re new to this type of position, it can be intimidating. However, keep in mind that hiring managers are looking for healthcare professionals who are eager to excel in this field.
Basic mistakes in a nursing practitioner application letter (and how to avoid them)
We’ve already gone through how to write an excellent cover letter. However, there’s one thing that can hold you back. Making some of the most common mistakes could ruin your chance of getting an interview. Here are two key things you need to avoid:
- Failing to proofread your cover letter! Spelling and grammar mistakes happen to the best of us. If you don’t read your letter before you click “send,” you may find that some fall through the cracks. Take a moment to check your writing first.
- Using an informal tone. When you’re applying for a professional job, your writing needs to reflect that. Use formal language and don’t revert to chatty phrases. If you are unsure whether your cover letter hits the mark, have someone read it for you.
Key takeaways
- When writing a nursing practitioner cover letter, make sure you use a formal tone.
- Put your best foot forward. The opener of your cover letter needs to hook the reader.
- Avoid using jargon or you will alienate the reader. Keep your language choice simple.
- To help you get ahead of the crowd, you can use our field-tested cover letter templates.
Do you want some extra inspiration to help you perfect your cover letter? Take a quick look at some of our healthcare-related cover letter examples:
