cover letter resume nursing new grad

6 New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Examples + How To Write

Finding your first nursing position after graduation can be a daunting task. Knowing what steps to take to find your dream job will help propel you toward your goal of gainful employment as an RN. Once you have prepared an excellent resume, be aware that you have one final action to take in the application process; that of a persuasive cover letter. You may be unclear about how to write an exceptional cover letter and wonder what are some excellent examples of new grad cover letters? Using a professionally prepared cover letter as a guide is a great way to learn how to compose a top-notch document. Read the following article “6 best new grad nurse cover letter examples + how to write” for recommendations that will help you get started on your best ever nursing cover letter without stress.

What Exactly is a New Grad Nurse Cover Letter?

How is a new grad nurse cover letter different from an experienced nurse cover letter, 4 reasons why an excellent cover letter makes a difference to new grad nurses, 1. nurses are professional-, 2. leads to an interview-, 3. expands on resume-, 4. you may be up against experienced nurses-, what are some excellent examples of new grad nurse cover letters, example #1: cover letter of diane joyner, what makes this an excellent new grad registered nurse cover letter:, example #2: cover letter of jan bock, example #3: cover letter of joan zimmerman, example #4: cover letter of lizzie arndt, what makes this an excellent new grad registered nurse cover letter: new grad nurse cover letter examples, example #5: cover letter of lynn horton, example #6: cover letter of paul linney, how to write an excellent new grad rn cover letter, 1. heading-.

• Your Name and Contact Information • The date • The recipient's name and address

2. Opening Paragraph-

• Your professional credentials (RN or BSN) • Which specific job you are applying for • A few brief points about why you are a great fit • Why you want to work for this particular institution or position

3. Background-

4. qualifications-.

• Specific clinical experience • Other job or volunteer transferable experience • " Soft skills " such as communication, leadership, group experience, compassion, and problem-solving

5. Closing Paragraph and Sign-Off-

6. don't just reiterate your resume-, 7. outshine with your willingness to learn-, 8. detail why you want the job-, 9. showcase your exceptional side-, 10. fashion the letter to the exact position-, 11. show your passion-.

• Adaptability • Ease with technology • Willing to accept change • Eager and positive attitude • Fresh perspective

12. Proof Read-

7 common mistakes to avoid when writing your new grad nurse cover letter, 1. too general-, 2. improper format-, 3. too wordy-, 4. duplicate resume-, 5. not selling yourself to the job-, 6. too informal-, 7. spelling and grammar errors-, 3 consequences of a poorly written new grad rn cover letter, 1. you may not be granted an interview-, 2. you may misrepresent yourself-, 3. compensation and opportunities may be compromised-, my final thoughts, frequently asked questions answered by our expert, 1. what is the difference between new grad nurse cover letter and new grad nurse cv, 2. is a cover letter necessary for a new grad nurse, 3. can i use the same cover letter for all new grad nurse positions i'm applying for, 4. how many cover letters do i need when applying for new grad nurse job positions, 5. can my new grad nurse cover letter expire, 6. my new grad nurse job applications says a cover letter is optional, should i still submit one, 7. do cover letters for new grad nurses have to be long, 8. as a new grad nurse, when should i write my cover letter, 9. what should be included in a new grad nursing cover letter.

• Heading • Salutation • Opening paragraph of who you are and your intentions for which specific job • Background paragraph, where you highlight your education and clinical experience • Qualification paragraph, which is used to “sell” the employer on your qualities and abilities as a nurse • Closing paragraph and sign-off

10. What Should Not Be Included In A New Grad Nursing Cover Letter?

11. how much time does it take to write a cover letter for a new grad nurse, 12. can i ask someone else to write my new grad nurse cover letter, 13. is it a good idea to use ready templates to write my new grad nurse cover letter, 14. are there any online apps or tools that make writing a good cover letter for a new grad nurse easy.

• Resume Templates Simple Professional Modern Creative View all
• Resume Examples Nurse Student Internship Teacher Accountant View all
• Resume Builder
• Cover Letter Templates Simple Professional Modern Creative View all
• Cover Letter Examples Nursing Administrative Assistant Internship Graduate Teacher View all
• Cover Letter Builder
• New Grad Registered Nurse

New Grad Registered Nurse cover letter example

Cover letter header

Cover letter greeting, cover letter introduction, cover letter middle part (body), how to close a new grad registered nurse cover letter (conclusion and sign-off).

As a new grad registered nurse, you will likely have a lot of enthusiasm for your newly acquired profession. You likely already have some student nursing experience under your belt, but to secure that first placement at a hospital or nursing home, how can your cover letter add to the more factual aspects of your resume?

The new grad registered nurse cover letter needs to bring out your human qualities – patient care, empathy and organizational skills are just a few of behavioral skills that you will be expected to exhibit from day one. Your attitude and motivations will make a huge difference in those early nursing days, and your cover letter is the place to describe them.

This guide considers how to compose the best possible new grad registered nurse cover letter, including the following:

• How the format of the new grad registered nurse letter can influence recruiters
• How to select what to write in the introduction, middle part and ending
• Writing a cover letter that includes both practical and behavioral nursing traits
• What a senior nurse is looking for when she takes on a new grad nurse

Resume.io is a leading resource for job seekers in all fields and at all experience levels. Check out our library of 125+ cover letter examples and writing guides for even more insights.

Best format for a new grad registered nurse cover letter

An effective nursing grad cover letter starts with a format that allows them to put across the main points in an organized way. It shouldn’t deviate from the following accepted structure:

• Greeting / salutation
• Cover letter intro
• Body of the cover letter
• Ending paragraph

This cover letter guide has been created with new nursing grads in mind, but for more extensive advice, it would be well worth reading our comprehensive cover letter example. Thinking through the various ways of conveying your message before you start writing is a worthwhile investment.

New nursing grads should be proficient in their communication after their years of study, so they should understand the importance of setting out their arguments in a clear and easy-to-follow way. If their writing is jumbled in their cover letter, it could indicate that they aren’t the best communicators – something vital in a hospital ward.

The new grad registered nurse cover letter sample may offer some ideas:

Dear Dr. Billings, Having graduated with a 3.8 GPA in BS Nursing from the University of Michigan and receiving my RN certification, I wish to continue my nursing education towards becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife. I have completed four months of clinical work on neonatal wards prior to graduation and I wish to find a hospital with a strong track record of supporting RNs on their way to CNM certification. Your hospital stands out as a leader in the field, and I believe that I am a strong candidate for your current year’s graduate intake. My experience of infant intensive care showed me that this is the difference that I wish to make. I am a determined student and know that working alongside my studies for my DNP will be a challenge, but I hope that the attached references from my work experience will prove that I am capable of both. Practical work experience is an invaluable companion to theoretical studies. I have been present at over fifty births and not one progressed in a manner described in any textbook. New grad registered nurses need to take on a broad range of duties in a variety of nursing settings and I look forward to broadening my experiences at Hawthorn General over the next couple of years. I have been commended for my organizational and communication skills – I assisted in running a 20-bed maternity ward during my last work experience placement – assuring patient care pre- and post-birth, monitoring vitals and treatments. I would welcome the chance to visit your hospital to understand how you provide the best care for your patients and hope that I might become a valued part of your team. Sincerely, Simona Anderton

For even more writing tips and tricks, check out our related medical resume examples:

• Nursing Cover Letter Sample
• Medical Assistant Cover Letter Sample
• Caregiver Cover Letter Sample
• Lab Technician Cover Letter Sample
• Carer Cover Letter Sample
• Dental Assistant Cover Letter Sample
• Pharmacy Technician Cover Letter Sample
• Pharmacy Assistant Cover Letter Sample
• CNA Cover Letter Sample
• Physician Assistant Cover Letter Sample
• Nursing Student Cover Letter Sample
• LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) Cover Letter Sample
• Veterinary Assistant Cover Letter Sample
• Doctor Assistant Cover Letter Sample
• Phlebotomist Cover Letter Sample

When lives are in your hands, you cannot afford to miss out any important details. While the cover letter header might only contain your full name, contact details and email, if any of them are missing (or inappropriate) then the reader may feel a slight unease about what is to come. Get the cover letter header right, and they will make a mental note that all is present and correct and move on to more important things.

Include your full name, email, mobile phone and social media accounts (if you wish). The HR team will likely look you up on social media as you will be in a public patient-facing role. This is ever more common, so make sure that you link to social accounts that are free from controversy. 

Secondly, the cover letter header is often seen to provide a mental pause before the body of your new grad registered nurse cover letter. The space that it takes up is not wasted because it allows a hiring manager to become fully present for what is to come.

Goal of the cover letter header: Ensure that the header is simple and functional – there is no need for bright colors or flashy fonts. You are a practical nurse now, after all. 

In any professional setting, the formality and precision of greeting is important. A consultant is different from a doctor and people who have worked hard to earn their stripes deserve to be called by their proper title, as seen in our cover letter sample. Therefore, at the start of any nursing cover letter, make sure that you nail the title of the person in charge of hiring. 

Do some research in terms of whom the letter should be addressed to if the job description does not make it clear. There is a lot to be said for initiative in the nursing profession, so even a quick call to the ward to check may well be worthwhile. If you do not know, avoid the cold “To Whom It May Concern” if possible. A “Dear X Ward Team” or “(Hospital System Name) Hiring Team” would be far more appropriate.

Goal of letter greeting: Double check the greeting and use any call to check as a chance to ask any other clarification questions that you might have. 

Dear Dr. Billings,

The introduction of the new grad R.N. cover letter is where you can start to get specific in terms of the sort of work that you will be doing in the role in question. Not every new grad nursing role will be the same, so study the job description carefully and pull out the parts of your student experience that are most relevant.

Hospital hiring managers won’t expect you to have a great deal of experience, but they will expect you to know what is involved in the role and to share what little experience you may have. Taking in a situational way about how you might act in certain cases would help – you know the theory and you are ready to put it into practice.

It is important that the hiring manager feels that you are using those first few lines to address the big problems that you will help to solve for their nursing ward. Read deeper into the job description – where do the biggest challenges lie? How will you make an impact on day one? What sort of attitude will you bring to the nursing team?

Goal of the cover letter intro: Early career nursing roles are highly competitive, so the more specific you can be about the fit at the start of the new grad registered nurse cover letter, the better. 

Having graduated with a 3.8 GPA in BS Nursing from the University of Michigan and receiving my RN certification, I wish to continue my nursing education towards becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife.

The middle part of the new grad nursing cover letter needs to focus on where you see yourself making the biggest clinical contribution. Which parts of the nursing activity are you most looking forward to? Where do you think that you can make your difference?

Offer some examples of how you have worked in a team during your student days. You will have done some work experience, so share some of your achievements and how you dealt with the various problems that came up. Nursing is an unpredictable profession; so being able to deal with uncertainty is critical. Try to share details of when you have worked in similar environments as the demands in different parts of a hospital can vary significantly.

The middle part of a cover letter is a place to share any skills that your rivals for the role may not possess. The ability to speak a second language might make a difference in certain cities or maybe your personal experiences might add to your educational background. Anything that will make you stand out should be included.

Lastly, do not forget about your education. You have worked long and hard to get your qualification, so definitely include some highlights about your main successes. Try to add new insight into your coursework or academic achievements so as not to repeat your resume. See our cover letter sample below for more insight.

Goal of the body of your cover letter: The middle part of the cover letter is the place to make your unique case, showcase your relevant experience and shout about your educational achievements.

I have completed four months of clinical work on neonatal wards prior to graduation and I wish to find a hospital with a strong track record of supporting RNs on their way to CNM certification. Your hospital stands out as a leader in the field, and I believe that I am a strong candidate for your current year’s graduate intake. My experience of infant intensive care showed me that this is the difference that I wish to make. I am a determined student and know that working alongside my studies for my DNP will be a challenge, but I hope that the attached references from my work experience will prove that I am capable of both. Practical work experience is an invaluable companion to theoretical studies. I have been present at over fifty births and not one progressed in a manner described in any textbook. New grad registered nurses need to take on a broad range of duties in a variety of nursing settings and I look forward to broadening my experiences at Hawthorn General over the next couple of years. I have been commended for my organizational and communication skills – I assisted in running a 20-bed maternity ward during my last work experience placement – assuring patient care pre- and post-birth, monitoring vitals and treatments.

The close of a nursing cover letter should offer one final argument to hire you. Why will you (and no one else) be able to offer that unique level of care and attention for your patients? Take the risk away from the hiring manager’s mind and be clear just how much nursing potential you have, how keen to develop you are and what a great team player.

After you have made your final point, you should have the confidence to say that you are looking forward to the opportunity of an interview. A cover letter is a kind of sales pitch; and being curious to find out more about something that you are passionate about is an entirely normal feeling. You want to work there, don’t you? Then all you need to do is wait for that interview invite to drop into your email inbox.

Goal of the ending: End your new grad nursing cover letter on a positive and hopeful note by including a call to action.

I would welcome the chance to visit your hospital to understand how you provide the best care for your patients and hope that I might become a valued part of your team. Sincerely, Simona Anderton

Basic mistakes in a new grad registered nurse application letter

For any entry-level position, avoiding common mistakes will quickly set your application apart from other candidates. Here are some issues to watch out for:

• Spelling and grammar errors: Typos and grammatical mistakes will quickly ruin your credibility. Make sure to use spell check or ask a friend to proofread before you submit.
• The wrong tone: While medicine is a formal field, you’ll want to strike the right balance between professional and overly-formal. You should come across as confident in your tone without bragging or sounding arrogant.
• Poor formatting: Sloppy page design can send the wrong message right from the start. Pay attention to font styles and create a header that makes your name and contact information stand out. A cover letter template can make this quick and easy.

Key takeaways

• Show the senior nurse what it would be like to have you in their team.
• Choose the parts of your story and education that fit best with the ward team
• Create a nursing cover letter structure with a clear intro, body and ending.
• Check out our cover letter sample for more ideas on creating a great page layout.

Free professionally designed templates

How to Create a New Graduate Nurse Resume & Cover Letter

Nursing resume vs cover letter, how to write a new grad nurse resume.

• Resume Tips
• Cover Letters
• Cover Letter Example

By the time you graduate nursing school, you may be an expert in cath placement, starting IVs, and dropping those nursing diagnoses, but you might not be an expert in the one act you’ll need to ace right after graduation: getting your first nursing job .    It might be easy to think that your application process for your first nursing job will be similar to that stressful practicum exam (why is it so much harder to put on sterile gloves in front of other people?!), but to apply for a nursing job, you’ll need to create an effective new graduate nursing resume and cover letter.    Of course, it can be a little more challenging to create a resume if you’re a new grad without any official nursing experience, but don’t worry—most hospitals not only expect that, but welcome new grads, and are specifically recruiting new grad nurses. So, here’s how to craft the perfect new grad nursing resume and cover letter, with examples to help you land that dream job. 

First things first: let’s discuss the differences between a nursing cover letter and a resume. A cover letter is a personal letter that you will include either in an email or with the application. The cover letter directly addresses the employer states your interest in the job, and lists a few personal reasons why you’re right for the job. There will be more on crafting a cover letter below. 

A resume, on the other hand, is your professional portfolio that lists your education, experience, skills, and certifications. You can think of the cover letter as the personal touch and the resume as the highlight reel. 

There are two basic ways to create a nursing resume : 

• Craft your own version
• Use a premade template 

For instance, many document editing software systems, such as Word, have built-in templates that can be adapted for your own individual use. 

In general, no matter if you craft your own resume or use a premade template, a new grad nursing resume will include 5 basic elements:

1. Your Personal Information

This section will include all of your personal information, such as your name, title, phone number, address, and email. Include a personal email address instead of a school-associated one. Eventually, your school email may be disabled and you will want HR to be able to contact you. Some people will also opt to include a small, work-appropriate headshot (no selfies!) as well.

A resume should highlight specific skills that you possess that can translate into your nursing career. For instance, skills such as working with a team, critical thinking, communication, and time management are all valuable for nurses.

3. Certifications

In this section, you should list any certifications you have already obtained, such as your CPR, ALS, or any other advanced certification you have earned. If you have passed your NCLEX, list your RN credentials as well.

4. Licenses

If you have not passed your NCLEX or have not taken it yet, you can write, “Eligible for NCLEX test for RN on X date,” so that the employer knows when you will be taking the NCLEX. 

Employing hospitals are understanding of the fact that there can be a delay between graduation and getting a date for your NCLEX test, so it’s okay to apply before you have taken your NCLEX test. 

Just be aware that if you are hired, there will be some limitations to your work until you officially become an RN.

5. Education

Under the education section of your resume, you will list any institutions for higher education that you attended. 

It’s optional if you want to include your high school, but considering you’re graduating from a nursing program, it’s not necessary. 

You can include details if you attended a college in the beginning of your education, then transferred. You’ll also include your GPA, any honors you received during your education, and your major and minor.

6. Relevant Experience

Because you most likely don’t have a lot of official nursing experience, this is the section to really highlight what kind of experience you do have that is relevant to the job. 

Of course, you’ll want to include any experience you have—both paid and volunteer—in the medical field. Maybe you’ve volunteered at a nursing home, have piloted community events, or have been working as a CNA. Whatever it is, highlight it!

If you made it through nursing school without any official healthcare work or volunteer roles, that’s okay too. You can translate many skills from different jobs, such as communication, teamwork, and time management with customer service or retail roles. 

>> Find Nursing Jobs Hiring Now on the Nurse.org Job Board

New Grad Nursing Resume Tips

It might feel challenging to create your first nursing resume, but here are some tips to help you along the way:

1. Don’t Be Afraid to Let Your Personality Shine

A new grad resume will be a pretty standard document and you should always keep it professional, but don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through your resume too. 

You can add personal touches, such as design elements, including color, or a personal photo, as well as highlight the skills and experiences and even goals for your future career.

2. Have Friends and Family Review the Resume

It’s time to bring in the village! Gather a few people you trust who can review the resume for you and make sure it’s typo-free and shines a spotlight on your best qualities.

3. Be Sure to Read the Job Description

If you are applying for a specific position or nurse residency program , be sure to carefully read the entire job description and posting so you know what they are looking for. 

If they have outlined specific skills or traits, include those in your resume. If they state that they are looking for someone who has graduated from a local school, highlight that on your resume. If they want someone who is willing to train in new areas, be sure to let them know that that’s you! 

Not only does referencing the job posting in your resume show them that you have done your research and really are the right person for the job, but it can also help ensure your resume gets past any resume-scanning software that the facility may be using.

4. Ask for Help

If you need assistance in crafting your resume, there are resources that can help. 

Firstly, you could consider asking your nursing school or professors for help. They should be able to point you to resources or help you directly. 

Next, a friend may be a good resource—they could have a template you could build off, or offer advice for creating your own resume. 

Lastly, there are professional resume services that you can hire for complete help with your resume. There are perfectly valid reasons why someone might need professional help for a resume, and there’s no shame in that.

5. Include Letters of Recommendation

Some places of employment may require references or letters of recommendation, but even if they do not, it’s a good idea to include references and letters of recommendation, if possible.

 A good place to start is to ask your professors, clinical educators, or current managers.

Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs

Enrollment: Nationwide

As a working RN, you need a flexible, transfer-friendly program to help you save time and money as you take the next step in your nursing career. In our CCNE-accredited4 RN to BSN program, you can transfer in up to 134 credits—which is nearly 75% of program requirements. Your transfer credits can be reviewed in one business day (on average).

Enrollment: FL

WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.

• RN to BSN - Global Studies

When you earn an ASU nursing degree, you are gaining skills from a respected and accredited institution. Our online nursing degrees are accredited by the Arizona State Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

New Grad Nursing Resume Example

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION

Use this section to highlight your relevant passions, activities, and how they relate to nursing. It’s good to include Leadership and volunteer experiences here. Or show off important extras like publications, certifications, languages and more.

Bonus! New Grad Nursing Resume Templates You Can Use

By clicking download, you agree to receive email newsletters and special offers from Nurse.org. You may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email.

Your request has been received. Thanks!

[gated-new-nurse-resume-template-3]

Cover Letters for New Grad Nurses

You’ve got your resume looking great, now it’s time for the dreaded new grad nurse cover letter . Never fear! We have the tips to help you shine on your cover letter.

Do You Need a Cover Letter When Applying to Jobs as a New Grad Nurse?

In most situations, you do need a cover letter when applying for nursing positions.

What Should You Include in a Cover Letter as a New Grad Nurse?

A new nurse grad’s cover letter should include your personal and contact information, like your name, address, phone number, and email, and a personal statement to the employer that you are applying for a job at. 

This is your opportunity to speak personally to the employer, highlight why you want to work for them, and how your skills, experience, and passions match with the job assignment.

How is a New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Unique From Other Cover Letters?

A new grad nurse’s cover letter should focus on your strengths and how those strengths can be an asset to the organization, as well as your future career goals and how taking this position will help you fulfill those goals. 

For instance, if you hope to gain experience in working in an ICU position, speak directly to that goal. 

New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Example

Your name Address Phone number, email

To Whom It May Concern:

I am interested in applying for a position at This Medical Center. I am a recent graduate of Your School, where I obtained my Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. I will be eligible to sit for my NCLEX on THIS DATE and I am eager to utilize my knowledge and grow in experience by becoming a team member with This Medical Center.

During the course of my education, I INSERT PERSONAL DETAILS OR STORY ABOUT WHY YOU WANT THIS JOB OR YOUR OWN SKILLS. I am confident that my clinical experience in combination with my motivation, determination and strong critical thinking skills will enable me to excel in any clinical setting. 

As a long-time member of this community and someone who has had family members who have been patients at This Medical Center, it is extremely important to me to embody the goal of this organization by serving the community with caring, compassion and competence.

It is my sincere hope that I may become a vital member of the healthcare team at this organization. I aspire to grow on a professional level working with other team members, as well as personally, learning from each and every patient I will care for. I am confident that This Medical Center is an excellent choice for meeting these goals. 

Thank you in advance for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely, Your name, G.N. (graduate nurse)

How long should a new grad nurse's resume be?

• Ideally, a new grad’s resume should be no longer than one page.

Do you need to include a summary in your nursing resume?

• You do not need to include a summary in your nursing resume, but a few short sentences can highlight your experience up to now, as well as your goals in the job you are applying for. Here’s more on how to write an effective summary.

How can nurses improve new grad resumes?

• As a new grad, you can improve your resume by ensuring it aligns with the job position you’re applying for (for instance, include that any skills you have match what they’re looking for!), having trusted people review it for you, and if needed, hire professional help.

How do you write a nursing resume with no experience?

• If you have no official nursing experience, highlight relevant skills, education, and experiences that could directly translate into a role as a nurse. For instance, many jobs and volunteer roles have relevant skills such as communicating, working as part of a team, and time management.

Should I put GPA on a nursing resume?

• If you are a new grad, it can be helpful to put your GPA on a nursing resume, especially if you have not yet taken your NCLEX. Once you have earned your RN, however, a GPA is not necessary. You can include any academic honors, such as summa cum laude. 

Chaunie Brusie , BSN, RN is a nurse-turned-writer with experience in critical care, long-term care, and labor and delivery. Her work has appeared everywhere from Glamor to The New York Times to The Washington Post. Chaunie lives with her husband and five kids in the middle of a hay field in Michigan and you can find more of her work here . 

Plus, get exclusive access to discounts for nurses, stay informed on the latest nurse news, and learn how to take the next steps in your career.

By clicking “Join Now”, you agree to receive email newsletters and special offers from Nurse.org. You may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email.

Nurse Grad Cover Letter Examples and Templates for 2024

• Cover Letter Examples
• Cover Letter Text Examples

How To Write a Nurse Grad Cover Letter

A strong nurse grad cover letter can bolster your chances of landing interviews as a recent nursing graduate. It serves as a compliment to your resume, emphasizing who you are as a health care professional and the value you can bring to patients and clinical teams. This guide provides cover letter examples and expert tips to help you capture the most compelling aspects of your clinical expertise.

Nurse Grad Cover Letter Templates and Examples

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

Nurse Grad Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples

Jessica Lang Registered Nurse | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Wilmington, DE 19801 | LinkedIn

January 1, 2024

Caleb Morris Talent Specialist Hockessin Medical Center (987) 654-3210 [email protected]

Dear Mr. Morris,

I’m interested in applying for the registered nurse position at Hockessin Medical Center that I found on LinkedIn. During my nursing program and externship at Wilmington Hospital, I developed an advanced understanding of evidence-based care and patient education, which makes me an ideal candidate for your organization.

Hockessin Medical Center’s reputation for delivering high-quality, holistic care to patients is what draws me to apply for this opportunity. One of my passions is identifying clinical enhancements to care delivery and improving quality of life. I can provide value to both your team and patients based on my previous achievements:

• Delivered patient-centered care in acute care environments under the supervision of registered nurses and preceptor in a 300-bed hospital with a 1-to-5 ratio
• Educated patients on illnesses, medications, and treatment options with empathy and compassion, resulting in a 94% patient satisfaction rating
• Coordinated effectively with nurses, medical staff, physicians, and multi-disciplinary teams

I look forward to speaking with you further about how my nursing experience can be an asset to your organization. You may contact me via phone or email at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Jessica Lang

Anthony Gentile Registered Nurse | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | New York, NY 12345 | LinkedIn

Cynthia Roberts Talent Specialist St. John’s Medical Center (987) 654-3210 [email protected]

Dear Ms. Roberts,

I’m reaching out to apply for the licensed vocational nurse position with St. John’s Medical Center. My experiences as both a nursing student at Columbia University and a certified nursing assistant at Campbell Hospital have allowed me to cultivate a unique understanding of clinical operations and patient care. I can provide value to both your teams and patients in acute care settings.

St. John’s Medical Center’s commitment to health equity is what draws me to apply for this position. As health care providers, we have a duty to provide the highest quality care to patients across all backgrounds. Some examples of my prior patient care delivery experience include:

• Provided high-quality care to diverse patient populations in coordination with registered nurses and clinical teams and achieved patient satisfaction scores of 93%
• Communicated diagnosis and treatment options to patients and families with compassion and served as a patient advocate
• Monitored updates to resident nurses on changes in patient medical status and symptoms

I’d like to schedule an interview to provide more insights on how my health care background aligns with your organization’s goals and needs. Feel free to contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.

Anthony Gentile

Melissa Anderson Registered Nurse | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Boston, MA 12345 | LinkedIn

Ms. Rachel Johnson Talent Specialist Salem Retirement Center (987) 654-3210 [email protected]

Dear Ms. Johnson,

I’m contacting you regarding the registered nurse position with Salem Retirement Center. In addition to my bachelor’s degree in nursing from Brown University, I’ve also gained valuable hands-on experience providing care to elderly patients as a certified nursing assistant. My versatile background in health care would make me a valuable asset to your team.

Salem Retirement Center has a reputation for preserving the dignity of elderly patients and improving quality of life, which strongly aligns with my values as a medical professional. During my time with Providence Assisted Living, I supported my patients both socially and emotionally. I can provide the same level of care as a member of your team based on my previous achievements:

• Delivered direct care to patients during nurse externship with Massachusetts General Hospital under the guidance of the preceptor and ensured adherence to patient-centered care standards
• Supported elderly and disabled patients suffering from a wide range of medical conditions and achieved annual patient satisfaction ratings of 92% to 95%
• Built relationships with patients and maintained dignity and privacy while assisting with the activities of daily living (ADLs)

I hope to speak with you further regarding how my experience working with elderly patients can benefit your team. You may contact me via phone and email for any additional questions you might have about my background. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Melissa Anderson

Writing a great nurse grad cover letter can be difficult, as you need to find ways to compensate for your limited hands-on experience. The best way to generate interest from potential employers is to focus on the strongest aspects of your nurse externship and academic career. This helps to create a connection in the reader’s mind for how your clinical expertise will enable you to deliver high-quality patient care in hospital environments. Below, we’ll walk you through each section of your nurse grad cover letter:

1. Contact information and salutation

List all essential contact information at the top of your nurse grad cover letter, including your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL. Be sure to address the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.” This is preferable to salutations such as “To Whom It May Concern,” as this language is more direct and personal.

2. Introduction

Start your nurse grad cover letter with a strong opening paragraph to introduce yourself and convey your interest in the job. Provide a specific achievement from your nursing externship or highlight a key clinical skill that the hospital is looking for. Despite having limited hands-on experience treating patients, you can still use the introduction to hook the reader with the right approach. In the example below, the candidate notes they completed a nursing program at an Ivy League school, which can help them stand out from other candidates during the job hunt.

3. Body paragraphs

Include one paragraph and a list of bullet points that describe your nursing experience. Start by mentioning something specific about the hospital’s culture, reputation, or mission statement and why this draws you to apply for the role. In your bullet points, feature any relevant clinical experience you’ve garnered while completing your nursing program.

For instance, notice how this nursing grad leverages their externship to their advantage. Instead of only listing vague job responsibilities, they draw attention to the hospital’s patient ratio. This additional context makes their patient satisfaction all the more impressive, as it’s difficult to maintain this kind of score in high-volume clinical environments.

• Delivered patient-centered care in acute care environments under the supervision of registered nurses and preceptors in a 300-bed hospital with a 1-to-5 ratio

4. Nurse grad skills and qualifications

Instead of providing a list of clinical skills as you would on a resume, carefully integrate these terms into the paragraphs of your nurse grad cover letter. This paints a picture of how you’ve effectively utilized your nursing skills to provide quality care to patients during your externship. Below, you’ll find a variety of skills to consider featuring on your document:

5. Closing section

End your nurse grad cover letter on a strong note with a call to action (CTA) inviting the hiring manager to interview you. Emphasize how your clinical expertise will allow you to drive positive patient outcomes for the hospital you’re applying to. Be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration in the last sentence.

Nurse Grad Cover Letter Tips

1. leverage your nurse externship or other medical experience.

As a recent nurse graduate, you likely won’t have a robust work history to draw from as you build your cover letter. To maximize your chances of landing the interview, leverage any relevant clinical experience you’ve garnered in your nursing program. In particular, emphasize your externship, as this is likely the highest level of care you’ve provided thus far in your career.

2. Emphasize your commitment to patient-centered care

Patient-centered care is an important trend in health care delivery, as it helps maintain the patient’s voice throughout treatment. It also helps to align the treatment planning process according to the patient’s physical, emotional, and cultural needs. Branding yourself as a patient advocate also shows hiring managers more about who you are as a person and as a health care professional.

3. Align your cover letter with the organization you’re applying to

Before crafting your cover letter, carefully research the hospital or health care organization you’re applying to. Hiring managers aren’t impressed by generic cover letters that could be sent to any job. Mention something specific about the hospital’s reputation or mission and how this aligns with your professional values and experience. This shows prospective employers you’ve taken the time to research and have a genuine interest in joining their team.

Nurse Grad Cover Letter FAQs

Why should i include a nurse grad cover letter -.

Although a cover letter won’t always be required for every job posting, it can be a helpful way to further differentiate yourself from the applicant pool in some situations. In the cover letter, you can speak more directly about the hospital you’re applying to. It also allows you to provide other insights into who you are as a medical professional, such as your commitment to health equity and patient advocacy.

What types of skills should I emphasize on a nurse grad cover letter? -

Featuring clinical specializations and major health care terms is an essential part of building a strong cover letter, but it’s also important to achieve a balance by demonstrating your interpersonal skills. Hospitals want to see you can interface effectively with diverse patient populations and medical staff, so be sure to provide examples of this in your content.

What are some common mistakes people make when writing a nurse grad cover letter? -

The biggest mistake job seekers make when writing cover letters is focusing too much on their excitement for the opportunity rather than emphasizing the value they can bring to patients and health care organizations. Crafting a well-written cover letter that is carefully tailored to the hospital’s needs is a much better way to show your genuine interest in the role.

Craft a new cover letter in minutes

Get the attention of hiring managers with a cover letter tailored to every job application.

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

Check out Related Examples

Certified Nursing Assistant Cover Letter Examples and Templates

Entry-Level Nurse Cover Letter Examples and Templates

Health Care Cover Letter Examples and Templates

Build a resume to enhance your career.

• Common Health Care Interview Questions and Answers Learn More
• Drop “To Whom It May Concern” for These Cover Letter Alternatives Learn More
• The Nursing Career Ladder: CNA to LPN/LVN to RN Learn More

Essential Guides for Your Job Search

• How to Land Your Dream Job Learn More
• How to Organize Your Job Search Learn More
• How to Include References in Your Job Search Learn More
• The Best Questions to Ask in a Job Interview Learn More

Resume Worded   |  Career Strategy

14 new grad nurse cover letters.

Approved by real hiring managers, these New Grad Nurse cover letters have been proven to get people hired in 2024. A hiring manager explains why.

Table of contents

• New Grad Nurse
• Pediatric Nurse
• Registered Nurse - New Grad
• New Graduate RN
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Alternative introductions for your cover letter
• New Grad Nurse resume examples

New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Example

Why this cover letter works in 2024, quantifiable achievements.

Using specific numbers and accomplishments makes your experience more tangible and impactful. In this case, the patient satisfaction rating and the number of patients cared for daily demonstrate a high level of competency.

Teamwork and collaboration

Emphasizing teamwork and collaboration shows that you can work well with others and create positive change. The example provided highlights the candidate's ability to work with a team to improve patient experiences.

Alignment with company values

Showing enthusiasm for the company's values and initiatives demonstrates that you are a great fit for the organization. In this example, the candidate expresses excitement about the company's commitment to professional development for nurses.

Personal Connection to Profession

When you highlight a personal story or connection as the foundation of your career choice, it illustrates a deep, intrinsic motivation. Your reference to your grandmother's experiences and how they sparked your love for nursing, combining both science and compassion, makes your passion tangible and relatable. It tells me that your dedication extends beyond the academic and professional realms; it's a personal vocation.

Highlighting successful projects

Describing a project where you made a significant impact, like reducing patient anxiety, is a great way to show initiative and direct results. It showcases your abilities to not only identify problems but also innovate and implement effective solutions.

Showing adaptability in high-pressure environments

By highlighting your experience in a high-volume city hospital, you demonstrate your ability to remain poised in stressful situations. This ability to stay calm under pressure is crucial in a fast-paced environment like Johns Hopkins.

Expressing a desire for continuous learning

Stating your attraction towards their Residency program and its focus on continuous learning shows your eagerness to grow and learn. It suggests you're not just looking for a job, but an environment where you can evolve professionally.

Aligning personal vision with the company's approach

When you mention that you see yourself making a difference through their innovative approach to healthcare, it shows that your vision aligns with theirs. This shows that you've thought about your future with them and are excited by it.

Show your passion for the nursing profession

It's important to let your enthusiasm for nursing and the specific medical center shine through. This shows you're not just looking for any job, but you're interested in this role at this facility because of its values and environment.

Highlight teamwork in nursing experiences

When you mention working alongside an interdisciplinary team, it underscores your ability to collaborate effectively, an essential skill in nursing. It also shows your readiness to engage in complex patient care scenarios.

Demonstrate initiative as a new grad nurse

Taking the lead on creating educational materials not only shows your commitment to patient care but also your ability to identify and address needs within your work environment, a key trait of a proactive new grad nurse.

Connect your skills with the employer’s values

By aligning your foundational nursing skills and passion for ongoing learning with the medical center's emphasis on excellence, you present yourself as a candidate who not only fits but will thrive in their specific setting.

Express eagerness to contribute

Ending on a note of looking forward to discussing your contributions demonstrates confidence in your ability to add value, making you a memorable candidate.

Does writing cover letters feel pointless? Use our AI

Dear Job Seeker, Writing a great cover letter is tough and time-consuming. But every employer asks for one. And if you don't submit one, you'll look like you didn't put enough effort into your application. But here's the good news: our new AI tool can generate a winning cover letter for you in seconds, tailored to each job you apply for. No more staring at a blank page, wondering what to write. Imagine being able to apply to dozens of jobs in the time it used to take you to write one cover letter. With our tool, that's a reality. And more applications mean more chances of landing your dream job. Write me a cover letter It's helped thousands of people speed up their job search. The best part? It's free to try - your first cover letter is on us. Sincerely, The Resume Worded Team

Want to see how the cover letter generator works? See this 30 second video.

Connect your New York roots to nursing

Your personal connection to the city and its impact on your career choice adds a relatable touch to your application, making it memorable.

Demonstrate your nursing school success

Highlighting your dedication and ability to perform under pressure during your education shows you have the foundation to thrive in a healthcare setting.

Show leadership beyond clinical skills

Organizing wellness workshops shows you're proactive about contributing to a positive work environment, an appealing trait for a new grad nurse.

Express genuine excitement for the opportunity

Sharing your enthusiasm for joining the healthcare team communicates you're motivated and ready to contribute to their mission.

End with a hopeful note

Thanking the employer for their consideration and looking forward to further discussions is polite and shows you are eager to move forward in the process.

Show your enthusiasm for the new grad nurse role

When you express excitement about applying for the nurse position and recognize the hospital's reputation, it shows you've done your research and are genuinely interested in being part of their team.

Highlight key new grad nurse skills

Mentioning your ability to stay calm under pressure, pay attention to detail, and show compassion illustrates that you possess the critical qualities needed in a nursing role.

Connect your passion with the hospital's values

Your eagerness to join a hospital that values education and growth demonstrates a mutual benefit, showing you're a good fit for each other.

Invite further discussion

By asking to discuss your fit for the role, you're taking a proactive step towards employment, suggesting confidence in your ability to contribute to their team.

Pediatric Nurse Cover Letter Example

Highlighting key skills in action.

Sharing examples of how you've used your skills in a workplace context helps paint a picture of your capabilities. It's not just about saying you can handle high-stress situations; you've shown that you've been commended for it previously. This indicates that you're not just self-assessing your skills, but others have recognized them too. That's hugely reassuring from a hiring perspective.

Starting initiatives to improve patient care

By sharing how you initiated a program that integrated play therapy into patient care plans, you're showing your ability to think beyond standard practices. It tells us that you strive to enhance patient experience and you're not afraid to take the lead in making that happen.

Expressing passion for the field

Your stated passion for child development and eagerness to join a team that values innovation and compassion shows that you're not just technically skilled, but also emotionally invested in your work. This can be very appealing to potential employers, especially in a caring profession like nursing.

Appreciation for personalized care approach

Recognizing the hospital's use of technology to tailor care to each child’s needs implies you value individualized patient care. This shows you're not just focused on the medical side of things, but also on the emotional well-being of patients.

Showcasing both clinical skills and empathy

By expressing your readiness to contribute both your clinical skills and your ability to connect with children and their families, you're highlighting a well-rounded approach to nursing. This holistic perspective is critical in pediatric healthcare.

Expressing eagerness to contribute

Your stated eagerness to discuss how you can contribute to the team shows your confidence in your abilities and your willingness to make a real impact. It suggests that you're not just looking for any job, but specifically looking to add value to their team.

Connect passion with mission

Expressing eagerness to contribute to the hospital's mission aligns your personal values with the organization's goals, making you a compelling candidate.

Share a personal inspiration story

Revealing the personal reasons behind your career choice in pediatric nursing creates a memorable connection and showcases your emotional investment in the field.

Describe innovative patient care

Detailing your development of a play-based education program for children with diabetes illustrates your ability to think creatively and improve patient outcomes.

Focus on specialty certification

Completing a certification in pediatric advanced life support and participating in research shows your commitment to advancing your expertise in pediatric care.

Emphasize your contribution to the team

Closing your letter with an eagerness to discuss how you can support the team underscores your readiness to make a positive impact on the hospital and its patients.

Registered Nurse - New Grad Cover Letter Example

Illustrate alignment with the healthcare facility's mission.

Showing that you've chosen to apply because of the facility’s commitment to supporting new nurses reveals that you’re not only passionate about your career but also committed to growing within a supportive environment.

Provide examples of your impact

By quantifying the success of your capstone project, you effectively showcase your ability to lead initiatives that improve patient care, which is a compelling attribute of a new grad nurse.

Emphasize your team player mentality

Stating your excitement to join the healthcare team and highlighting your communication skills and resilience under pressure paints a picture of a collaborative and dependable new grad nurse.

Showcase your dedication to nursing excellence

Your eagerness to contribute to the organization’s mission and discuss your qualifications further shows a proactive attitude and a deep-seated commitment to nursing excellence.

Close with professionalism

A professional closing emphasizes your seriousness about the application and respect for the hiring process, leaving a lasting positive impression.

Demonstrate your dedication to patient care

Starting your cover letter with a declaration of passion for patient care and admiration for the hospital's values sets a strong, positive tone for the rest of your application.

Emphasize commitment to quality improvement

Showing interest in evidence-based practice and quality improvement indicates you are forward-thinking and dedicated to the highest standards of patient care.

Express openness to discuss your qualifications

Ending your cover letter with an invitation to discuss your qualifications further shows you are eager and ready to take the next step in the application process.

New Graduate RN Cover Letter Example

Show your new grad rn passion and research.

Talking about your college and why you chose this healthcare facility shows you care not just about the job, but where you work. This makes your application stronger.

Share specific nursing experiences

Detailing a challenging patient experience demonstrates your ability to handle difficult situations, a key skill for new nurses.

Highlight teamwork in nursing

Emphasizing collaboration and quality improvement points out that you are a team player, which is vital in healthcare environments.

Express eagerness for the RN role

Your excitement about contributing to patient care at the facility shows you're not just looking for any job, but a place where you can make a difference.

Close with a professional touch

A respectful sign-off reinforces your professionalism and readiness to discuss your qualifications further, a good practice for new graduates.

Show your passion for nursing right away

Beginning your cover letter with strong enthusiasm for the position shows you are not just looking for any job, but you are dedicated to making a positive impact in healthcare. This approach catches a hiring manager's attention.

Highlight your adaptability and attention to patient needs

Talking about your ability to adjust your communication for each patient proves you are patient-focused and skilled in providing personalized care. It also shows you are observant and sensitive to the diverse needs of patients, which is critical in nursing.

Express interest in ongoing learning and development

Mentioning your excitement for the hospital’s training program demonstrates your eagerness to grow and develop professionally. It tells the hiring manager that you are looking forward to contributing to the team while also valuing your own progression as a new graduate RN.

Invite further discussion proactively

Ending your cover letter by welcoming the opportunity to discuss your qualifications further shows confidence and initiative. It shifts the call to action to the hiring manager, encouraging them to engage with you directly.

Registered Nurse (RN) Cover Letter Example

Show pediatric ward experience.

Sharing your volunteer experience in a pediatric ward shows you have real-world understanding of the environment and a genuine interest in pediatric care.

Highlight clinical precision

Mentioning your high medication administration accuracy rate not only showcases your attention to detail but also your commitment to patient safety.

Emphasize continuous learning

Completing advanced certifications and engaging in nursing research projects demonstrates your dedication to improving your skills and patient care quality.

Express enthusiasm for the team

Stating your excitement to work with a team of skilled healthcare professionals highlights your eagerness to collaborate and contribute to the hospital's success.

Ending your cover letter with an invitation to discuss your fit for the position shows you are proactive and interested in moving forward in the hiring process.

Alternative Introductions

If you're struggling to start your cover letter, here are 6 different variations that have worked for others, along with why they worked. Use them as inspiration for your introductory paragraph.

Cover Letters For Jobs Similar To New Grad Nurse Roles

• Certified Nursing Assistant Cover Letter Guide
• Director of Nursing Cover Letter Guide
• Experienced Nurse Cover Letter Guide
• ICU Nurse Cover Letter Guide
• New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Guide
• NICU Nurse Cover Letter Guide
• Nurse Case Manager Cover Letter Guide
• Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Guide
• Nursing Student Cover Letter Guide
• Nursing Supervisor Cover Letter Guide
• Psychiatric Nurse Cover Letter Guide
• Registered Nurse Cover Letter Guide
• Travel Nurse Cover Letter Guide

Other Medical Cover Letters

• Care Coordinator Cover Letter Guide
• Case Manager Cover Letter Guide
• Dental Assistant Cover Letter Guide
• Medical Technologist Cover Letter Guide
• Microbiologist Cover Letter Guide
• General Nurse Cover Letter Guide
• Occupational Therapist Cover Letter Guide
• Pharmacy Technician Cover Letter Guide
• Radiologic Technologist Cover Letter Guide
• Respiratory Therapist Cover Letter Guide
• Therapist Cover Letter Guide

Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

How to Write a Nursing Cover Letter

NurseJournal.org is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. To that end, we have built a network of industry professionals across higher education to review our content and ensure we are providing the most helpful information to our readers.

Drawing on their firsthand industry expertise, our Integrity Network members serve as an additional step in our editing process, helping us confirm our content is accurate and up to date. These contributors:

• Suggest changes to inaccurate or misleading information.
• Provide specific, corrective feedback.
• Identify critical information that writers may have missed.

Integrity Network members typically work full time in their industry profession and review content for NurseJournal.org as a side project. All Integrity Network members are paid members of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.

Explore our full list of Integrity Network members.

• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Mistakes to Avoid
• Cover Letter Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions

Nursing Cover Letter Template

Sample nursing cover letter, are you ready to earn your online nursing degree.

A nursing cover letter is still crucial in the job application process. It’s often the first impression a potential employer will have of you. A cover letter is a chance to tell your story and call attention to aspects of your resume you want a reviewer to notice.

It’s also a chance to explain to an employer why you want to work for them, what you know about them, and why you’re an ideal candidate. A strong cover letter can tip the balance in your favor, helping you stand out from the competition and land an interview.

In the following guide, we walk you through writing a strong nursing cover letter, mistakes to avoid, and real-world tips that will keep you focused. Check out our downloadable nursing cover letter template and a sample letter to get started. Once you master the process, you’ll be writing winning cover letters in no time.

4 Steps to Write Your Nursing Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter can feel overwhelming for many nurses, especially because it’s difficult to know what to say, how much to reiterate what’s on your resume , and what information to include or not. A cover letter is an opportunity to explain aspects of your professional or personal history that a resume can’t always get across. Your passion and interests come through, along with your ability to communicate clearly. Review the following steps to write a stand-out cover letter. Feel free to use our sample letter and downloadable template. The cover letter is a significant part of convincing employers that they absolutely need to meet you!

Create a Header with Your Contact Information

Introduce yourself and note the position you’re applying for in the opening paragraph, highlight your skills and the reasons you want to work for this employer, write a closing paragraph and restate your interest, 7 mistakes to avoid in your nursing cover letter.

• Submitting Spelling and Grammar Errors: Nursing requires excellent documentation and attention to detail. Grammatical errors are unprofessional, and they can paint a picture of someone who doesn’t value attention to detail. Many resume reviewers will likely pass on a candidate whose resume and/or cover letter contain errors.
• Copying Your Resume: Your nursing cover letter can highlight aspects of your resume , but it shouldn’t be a verbatim copy. Find creative ways to underscore your key characteristics, skills, or experiences without repetition.
• Using Incorrect or Inconsistent Format: It’s best practice for your cover letter and resume to match in terms of design, font, and format. This creates a branded, visually cohesive application package.
• Forgetting to Tie Your Qualifications to the Position: Your cover letter should be targeted and specific, addressing the position you’re applying for and its qualifications, skills, and responsibilities. If you don’t tie your qualifications to the job in question, that makes a weak case for you getting an interview.
• Failing to Address the Letter to a Specific Person or Department: Many postings fail to provide the name of an individual or a department to address in your letter. If they provide this information, use it. If they don’t, you can use the generic “Hiring Manager” or “Hiring Committee”.
• Starting Every Paragraph with “I”: Be creative in finding different ways to begin each paragraph (see our sample letter for examples). If two paragraphs begin with “I”, that’s OK, but no more than that.

Tips from Nurses on Writing Your Nursing Cover Letter

Research potential employers, explain relevant skills that meet the position’s qualifications, include your soft skills, highlight your best qualities, demonstrate your passion, showcase your ability and willingness to learn, check for errors, frequently asked questions about nursing cover letters, what should a nurse cover letter include.

A nurse cover letter should include a header with your name, credentials, and contact information, plus the receiver’s contact information. The body of the letter should specifically address the position you’re applying for, and how you can fulfill the characteristics, credentials, skills, knowledge, and expertise required.

What should a nurse cover letter not include?

Your cover letter does not need to include phrases like, “My references are available upon request”; “Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns”; or “I can be contacted via email at _____________or via phone at _____________.” These are all givens, and if your contact information is in your header, there’s no need to say it again.

What’s the difference between a new grad nurse cover letter and an experienced nurse cover letter?

A new grad nurse cover letter can’t demonstrate the level of skill, expertise, and knowledge as a seasoned nurse. New grads haven’t accumulated years of nursing experience, but they have their academic and clinical performance, enthusiasm, passion, and related healthcare experience to share, whether paid or volunteer. When employers advertise new grad positions, they understand that new grad resumes and letters can’t reflect the resumes of experienced nurses.

Are nursing cover letters necessary?

In these days of online applications, a cover letter may be optional, meaning that applicants can upload a cover letter if they choose to. For some applications, a cover letter will be required. Consider this: if a cover letter is optional, why not go the extra mile and write a strong one? If your resume and experience are comparable to another candidate’s, your cover letter could give you the edge. After all, a resume can’t by nature express much personality, but a cover letter can. So, make a strong impression with a well-crafted letter, whether it’s required or not.

Download our cover letter template (DOCX, 14KB)

Name and Credentials

Town, State | Phone | Email

Personalized LinkedIn profile URL (optional)

Dept and/or contact person Facility or organization Street Town, State, Zip

Dear ________________:

Paragraph 1: Begin by stating the position for which you are applying. Say something about the organization to demonstrate that you’ve done your homework and understand what they’re all about, and that this letter is not at all “cookie-cutter” in nature.

Paragraph 2: Share select highlights of your career, expertise, experience, skills, or personal characteristics that are directly applicable to this position and/or this employer. You can emphasize something from your resume that you want them to make note of, as long as you don’t use exactly the same language as your resume, which is redundant.

Paragraph 3: This is a good place to highlight some of your “soft skills” (e.g., communication, emotional intelligence, relational intelligence, patient education, compassion, empathy, etc).

Paragraph 4: Here you can call attention to your computer skills, EMR experience, etc., as well as any other tech skills worth mentioning.

Closing paragraph: Tie the letter together, reiterate your interest, and express your enthusiastic desire to have the opportunity to meet to discuss your experience and the position further.

Sincerely, Your name and credentials

Miguel Schwartzkoffnian, BSN, RN

Annabelle, HA | 000-000-1000 | [email protected]

LinkedIn.com/in/MichaelSchwartzfoffianbsnrn

April 3, 2023

Department of Nursing Recruitment University of Tabula Rasa Medical Center 301 Rasa Drive Glen Tabularea, MOO 22222

Dear Nursing Recruitment Department:

As a caring and dedicated summa cum laude graduate of Adelphi University’s BSN program, please accept my enthusiastic interest in the Registered Nurse – Respiratory/Intermediate Care position posted on your website. I am both personally and professionally aligned with the values that are a very clear aspect of your organization’s mission. From your “Power of Caring” funding of your expanded Outpatient Care Center to your “Next Generation” initiative, I can clearly see the forward-thinking philosophy underlying UTRMC and its reputation as an innovative facility and community member.

During my education, I thrived in clinical practice where I received positive preceptor feedback following each rotation. I am highly coachable, and as you can see from my resume, I bring more than six years’ related healthcare experience as both an EMT and CNA. I am already well-versed in code blue response, Foley catheter insertion and care, venipuncture, ECG interpretation, and non-complex wound care. Comfortable in new settings, I am not afraid to ask questions to enhance my learning and improve the quality of care I deliver to patients and their families. I thrive in multidisciplinary environments, and I use my highly-developed communication skills and emotional and relational intelligence to foster a sense of camaraderie and collaboration among my colleagues, and nurse-patient relationships built on trust.

As a digital native and quick learner, I am highly competent using the Epic and Cerner EMRs and Microsoft Office Suite, and I have full confidence in my natural curiosity and powers of critical thinking in relation to learning new technologies and digital interfaces.

I have a great deal to contribute as a member of the UTRMC community of clinicians. I look forward to discussing the intersection of my skills and experience with the needs of your inspiring organization that embraces its role beyond the actual facility and into the surrounding community it serves.

Sincerely, Miguel Schwartzkoffnian, BSN, RN

Page last reviewed on February 24, 2023

Whether you’re looking to get your pre-licensure degree or taking the next step in your career, the education you need could be more affordable than you think. Find the right nursing program for you.

You might be interested in

HESI vs. TEAS Exam: The Differences Explained

Nursing schools use entrance exams to make admissions decisions. Learn about the differences between the HESI vs. TEAS exams.

10 Nursing Schools That Don’t Require TEAS or HESI Exam

For Chiefs’ RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Nursing Runs in the Family

How To Write a Cover Letter: New Grad Nurse Tips

In this guide, you’ll learn what to include in your cover letter and how to write it. You’ll also have access to example cover letters and templates.

You made it through nursing school and passed the NCLEX. Now you are trying to get a job. You’ll have to brush up on your interview skills and network like crazy. Another key part of landing a job as a new nurse grad is writing a killer cover letter.

Don’t freak out in anxiety as you stare at a blank screen. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know – what to include, how to write it, and I’ll even share some of my favorite templates.

What Is A Cover Letter?

Before we get into all the specifics, let’s look a little closer at cover letters.

A cover letter is your first impression to really explain why you are a good fit for this new job. A well-written one can move your resume from the bottom to the top of the pile and score you an interview.

A resume is all about you. It’s a list of all your experience and credentials.

A cover letter is all about them. It explains in a direct way why they should hire you and how you will benefit their team.

What To Put In A Cover Letter

When you write your cover letter, you need to include your contact information and explain why you are a good fit for their team.

Here’s a checklist of everything you need to include.

• Your name, address, and date
• Hiring manager’s name
• Company’s name and address
• Proper cover letter salutation (Dear Ms. Jones)
• Opening Statement in paragraph 1
• Describe your skills and experience and what you can do for them (paragraph 2 and 3)
• Showcase your achievements in the closing statement (paragraph 3 or 4)
• Complimentary Close with Your Signature (Sincerely)

Cover Letter Tips – How To Make Yours Stand Out

Writing a stellar cover letter will grab the attention of the hiring team and snag you that coveted interview. Avoid writing a dull letter that will cause them to just overlook your resume.

These tips will help you write a cover letter that makes them want to bring you in for an interview.

Create A Tailored Letter For Each Position You Apply To

Hiring managers can sniff out copy/paste templates. You might be applying to 5 or 6 different jobs at once, but don’t let your cover letter say that.

This is tough when you are a new grad nurse and every job you apply to is pretty similar. You can reuse the same letter, but make enough changes that it feels and reads like you are writing directly to them.

Research The Company/Hospital

This leads to my next tip: do your research. In your cover letter, write about how you are a good fit for their hospital/team and explain why.

In the body of the cover letter, share things like, “Community hospital has a holistic focus on health-care which I demonstrated when I volunteered at the women’s birthing center.” Show them that you care enough to know how to fit into their culture.

Don’t Echo Your Resume

The worst thing you can do is write, “as I said in my resume” and then rehash your skills and experience. They have your resume, they don’t need to read it twice.

Instead, you should expand on it and share more about yourself in a personable way.

“What my experience on my resume demonstrates is my internal motivation and drive to learn new skills quickly so I can help everyone around me.”

You can reference things that are on your resume, but use the cover letter as a way to explain why it’s so important for this new job.

Use A Clean Design

I can’t explain how important this tip is. Nurse managers are busy people, reading way too many cover letters every day. Keep your cover letter’s design clear and legible.

If you use a design or handwriting font that is difficult to read, it has little chance of even being read.

Use A Powerful Opening Sentence

Your opening sentence should grab their attention and pull them into wanting to read more. Need some ideas of powerful opening statements? This guide is fantastic.

Pull them in with something like, “As someone who is passionate about technology in health care, I am drawn to Community Hospital’s forward-thinking approach and would love to be considered as the newest nurse on your team.”

Share Stories But Keep It Brief

One of the best things you can do to your cover letter is to read through it after you write and cut out any unnecessary words. Being concise will keep the hiring manager’s attention and encourage them to read the entire thing.

The best way to do this is to use one strong adjective instead of stuffing sentences with 5 wordy ones.

For example, “My strong work ethic motivated me to never miss a day of clinicals.” That’s powerful. However, “I have a strong work ethic and internal motivation that propelled me to always attend clinicals with a positive and hardworking attitude, never missing a single day.”

They both say the same thing, but the first sentence is easier (and quicker) to read.

Keep It Chronological

Next, when you describe your experience and skills, share your stories in chronological order. This will avoid confusion and make your letter easier to read.

Start out with describing any skills you learned first, then build on those throughout the letter, finishing with your most recent experiences.

Use Active Voice Not Passive

Your cover letter should always be in the active voice. This gives it more strength and shows them that you are taking ownership of your actions.

Active voice sentences have subject + verb in that order. Passive voice have something being acted on it.

Here are some examples to clear up the confusion.

• I created a new system that improved efficiency. – Active voice, “I created.”
• The system that was created by me, improved efficiency. – Passive voice. “was created.”

End The Cover Letter Strong

Focus on the summary paragraph at the end of your cover letter. Make it strong so it sells your attributes and compels them to call you for an interview.

Close with your desire to hear back from them and remind them why you are qualified. Glassdoor has 5 solid examples you can take and personalized.

Cover Letter Examples and Template

Now that you know how to write your cover letter I’ll share some of the best examples and templates.

Yale School of Nursing has a helpful example. It explains what to say in each paragraph and how to design the cover letter too.

George Washington University also has an excellent document explaining how to write a cover letter and an example cover letter. I really like this one because it has tips, examples, and even lets you read a strong cover letter example.

Resume Genius is filled with templates. You can even use their cover letter builder if you don’t have time to design/format it yourself.

More Nursing Job Tips

Congrats on making it through nursing school ! As you keep looking for a new job, here are some more tips.

• New Grads: Prep for Show Time!
• Best Nursing Specialty For a New Grad
• What are the Highest-Paid Nurses?
• Nurse Resume Template – Fresh RN

About The Author

Brittney wilson, bsn, rn, related posts.

How Does Per Diem Nursing Work

Flight Medic vs Flight Nurse: What’s the Difference?

Psych Nurse Job Overview

Why Is Teamwork Important in Nursing?

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Start typing and press enter to search

Grab my new NP grad guide now!

The Résumé Rx

Nursing Cover Letters: 7 Essential Components (+bonus point)

Nursing cover letters .

Everyone knows they need a résumé, and most people can throw one together with a little bit of guidance (and maybe a killer template).

Do you know what I get asked about almost as often with résumés? Nursing cover letters

Most of the time it’s the nursing cover letter that I see leaving people paralyzed.

Especially nurses.

Many nursing professionals wonder:

What is there to say that’s not on my résumé?

New grads struggle with nursing cover letters, especially, asking “what am I going to write about if I have no experience?”

The good news is, I’m here to tell you that not only can your nursing cover letter be the #1 reason why you get called for an interview, but you also can stand out and increase your odds if you include some of my highly recommended elements!

The Résumé Rx’s Nursing Cover Letter Anatomy

1. the first way to make a huge impact with your nursing cover letter is to elevate the formatting and style ..

There are a few ways to do this.

I don’t recommend going overboard with colors or super fancy fonts, but making your name big and adding a sub-heading with your contact info is a nice way to start.

You may have heard me talk before about “branding,” which is essentially using similar formatting for all your job search documents in order to appear consistent, detail-oriented, and memorable.

An easy way to do this is to use a similar template for your nursing cover letter and résumé.

You can do this on your own by changing your fonts in Microsoft Word (or whatever you use) and making your headings appear similar on both your nursing résumé and cover letter.

If you want an easy solution that does this for you, all my digital download résumé templates include matching résumés, cover letters, and reference lists for just $37.

2. The next crucial element of your nursing cover letter is your salutation (that means your greeting!)

Never use “To Whom it May Concern!”

It’s incredibly impersonal.

Finding out the name of who will be reviewing your résumé may be easier than you think.

Take 10 minutes, do some searching around the organization’s website, and try and figure out who the HR manager or recruitment individual is.

Applying to a larger hospital or organization?

Here are some alternative salutations when you don’t have a name:

-Dear Nursing Recruitment -To the hiring committee -To the human resources department -Dear practice manager

3. The next thing I want you to consider putting into your nursing cover letter is some PASSION!

The best way to do this is with a personal story.

It does not have to be long, and in fact, it can be just one sentence.

But inserting something that shows are are  human can do wonders for your “on paper” impression.

Check out this one-liner from Carly’s nursing cover letter.

Ever since I observed the compassionate care my sister received during her battle with leukemia, I have dreamt of becoming a pediatric oncology nurse.

Doesn’t this leave you wanting to know about her and her personal motivation to pursue this position?

You can bet that when she interviews for the position and tells this entire story, the hiring manager is going to remember that hook that she included in her nursing cover letter.

4. Showcase achievements, not responsibilities.

It’s a great idea to keep track of any sort of metrics or feedback you get in school or in your job(s).

You can ask your manager for this type of information or keep track of it yourself.

If you’re a new graduate , you can include your average clinical grade or the percentage of positive preceptor evaluations you received.

If you’re an experienced bedside nurse, you can include your pain reassessment times or discharge numbers.

If you’re a nurse practitioner , consider including your productivity average, no-show rate, or patient satisfaction scores.

5. “Picture me here” 

Somewhere towards the middle or end of your nursing cover letter, you should paint a picture of how you, the applicant, will seamlessly fit into the vacancy .

You want your hiring manager to be able to picture you in the position.

A way to do this is to outline exactly how you feel your experience has prepared you for this particular position.

This type of writing can take a bit of finesse , and usually involves a combination of brainstorming and combing through the job description of the job you’re applying to.

If a position is looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, showcase how you have done that before.

If a position involves working with a difficult patient population, highlight how you connect with your patients and are acknowledged for your customer service.

This may be the toughest part of your nursing cover letter to write, so don’t neglect it and give it the time it deserves.

Check out how Carly knocked it out of the park and showcased how her being a new graduate actually makes her a desirable candidate :

I am a recent graduate of St. Joseph’s Nursing School, where I consistently achieved a >3.8 GPA. In addition to making the Dean’s List every semester, I also mentored my classmates as a peer tutor. I thrived in all my clinical settings, where I received >95% positive preceptor evaluations in all rotations. While I may be a new graduate, I am responsive to feedback and easily trainable. I am comfortable in new settings and know when to ask questions of my mentors.

6. As you get ready to conclude your nursing cover letter, it’s time to seal the deal.

Up until now, you’ve shown your humanity with a personal story or “hook,” highlighted your achievements, and showed how you will seamlessly fit into the role you’re applying for.

You need to let them know again that you are interested in the position, and the way to do this is to invite the reader to learn more about you .

The secret here is rather than saying something generic such as “please contact me with any questions,” or “I look forward to hearing from you about this great opportunity,” you are going to seal the deal by opening the door to a conversation.

Check out how Carly ends her nursing cover letter by saying she looks forward to discussing how she and the future employer can work together to improve care outcomes for pediatric cancer patients.

I am confident that I will bring compassionate, quality care to the pediatric oncology patients on 6-East. I’d be honored at the opportunity to discuss with you further how we can work together to advocate for and nurture this special patient population.  

Are you picking up your phone to call her right now?

I know I am!

Because she has shown you (the hiring manager), oh-so-eloquently, that she is a team player with the same goals as you.

7. Final salutation for your Nursing Cover Letter 

There are many professional (and not stuffy) ways to sign off your nursing cover letter and make sure that you do so.

Some of my favorites are:

Warm regards Respectfully Cordially The classic: Sincerely

>>Bonus: The Post Script<<

Okay, I’ve included this one as a bonus, but it comes with a disclaimer.

It is incredibly effective .

But only if it’s done really well .

Think of the P.S. as a cliff-hanger.

That last scene of a Netflix show that makes it so easy to click next and watch the next episode (no judgment here!).

If you have something else to say that is so awesome that it must be explained in person, put it in the P.S.

Maybe you started a non-profit organization, or coordinated a mission trip to a developing country, or have an in-the-works research project that’s showing amazing outcomes.

If so, put it in just a little teaser in the P.S., like this:

P.S. I look forward to telling you more about how I coordinated a mission trip that resulted in the vaccination of 341 children.

I’m serious here. It has to be good stuff.

So…are you feeling excited yet about writing your nursing cover letter??

I hope this has given you a good starting point.

If you’re ready to take your résumé and cover letter to the next level, grab my FREE Starter Guide here!

Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Cover Letters

How do i write a cover letter for a new grad nursing job.

New Grad RN Cover Letter—Checklist

• Your contact info.
• Personal salutation
• Passion about the position
• Achievements, not responsibilities
• “Picture me here”
• P.S, or hook
• Complimentary close

Do new grad nurses need a cover letter?

  A cover letter is a vital addition to a job application for a nurse (think about your branding). It serves to make a more personal connection with a potential employer while pointing out why you are the best candidate. This letter is crucial and can be the reason you get called in for an interview.  

What should a cover letter include for a new grad RN?

Include information of your achievements, education, program, graduation date, and academic successes. To keep the reader/hiring manager engaged, talk a little about your passion, why you would fit into the company you’re applying to, and why you are interested in this position at this facility.

New Graduate Registered Nurse Cover Letter Sample

Embarking on a nursing career marks an exciting and transformative journey, particularly for new graduates stepping into the healthcare field.

Crafting a compelling cover letter is an essential step in demonstrating your qualifications, passion, and readiness to potential employers.

The following cover letter sample is designed to guide new graduate registered nurses in presenting their skills, experiences, and the unique qualities they bring to the nursing profession.

By using this sample as a template, you can create a personalized cover letter that showcases your dedication to patient care and enthusiasm for joining a healthcare team.

New Graduate Registered Nurse Cover Letter Example

Dear Dr. Susan Jeffries,

I am writing to express my interest in the New Graduate Registered Nurse position available at Brightview Regional Medical Center as advertised on your website’s careers section. As a recent summa cum laude graduate from Rivertown University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I am eager to apply the knowledge, skills, and commitment to patient care that I cultivated during my academic and clinical training.

During my clinical rotations, I gained experience in a variety of settings, including Pediatrics, Emergency, and Medical-Surgical departments. My preceptorship in the Intensive Care Unit particularly honed my proficiency in critical patient care, administering IV medications, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams for holistic patient recovery.

One of the highlights of my clinical experiences was when I successfully identified a case of septic shock in a post-operative patient, allowing for timely intervention. This critical incident impressed upon me the importance of vigilant patient observation and quick thinking and fostered my ability to act decisively in high-pressure situations.

I am particularly impressed by Brightview Regional Medical Center’s commitment to innovative treatments and a patient-centered approach to care delivery. I share this passion and believe that my recent training, coupled with an eagerness to learn and adapt, positions me to be a valuable asset to your nursing team.

Enclosed is my resume, which details my educational achievements, clinical rotations, and my volunteer service as a health educator for the local homeless shelter. I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to Brightview Regional Medical Center and I am hopeful for the chance to meet with you to discuss how my dedication to nursing aligns with the vision and values of your facility.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to speaking with you about how I can contribute to the compassionate and expert team at Brightview.

Warm regards,

Emily Stanton (000) 123-4567 123 Main Street [email protected]

Attachments: Emily_Stanton_Resume.pdf

How to Write a Perfect New Grad RN Cover Letter?

Writing an effective cover letter as a new graduate nurse can set you apart from other applicants. Here are five key points to consider when crafting your cover letter:

1. Start With a Strong Introduction

Your opening paragraph should immediately grab the reader’s attention. Introduce yourself and express your enthusiasm for the position.

2. Highlight Your Education and Clinical Experiences

As a new graduate RN, your clinical experiences and education are your strongest assets. Highlight your nursing degree, any honors received, and specific rotations or specialties you were a part of during your training.

3. Demonstrate Your Soft Skills and Professionalism

Nursing isn’t just about clinical skills; it’s also about your ability to communicate, show empathy, work as part of a team, and manage stress. Use examples from your clinical rotations or any other relevant experiences to showcase how you’ve used these skills.

4. Show Your Passion and Alignment with the Hospital’s Values

Research the facility you are applying to and reference missions or values that align with your own nursing philosophy. Discuss your enthusiasm for what makes the institution unique, like its patient care approach, community involvement, or innovative practices.

5. Close With a Call to Action

In your concluding paragraph, reiterate your interest in the position and state your eagerness to discuss how you can contribute to the team. Thank the reader for considering your application and include a polite invitation to arrange an interview. Close with your contact details.

• New Graduate Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter Sample
• Top 18 New Graduate Nurse Resume Objective Examples
• Registered Nurse Cover Letter Sample and Template
• Entry Level Registered Nurse Resume No Experience | Sample and Guide

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of new posts by email.

Career Advice > Job Search > Resumes and Cover Letters > New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Writing Tips and Sample

New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Writing Tips and Sample

Search resource center.

Are you excited about starting your nursing career, but intimidated by the job application process? You know you need to make a good first impression, but you just don’t know where to begin with your nursing cover letter . New grad nurses, relax — we will walk you through it.

A new grad nurse cover letter is a document that you will send — along with your new grad nursing resume — to the hiring manager. As well as showcasing your skills and experience, it conveys your enthusiasm and interest in the role.

Just why is a strong nurse cover letter important? It’s your chance to make your qualifications shine before you land that job interview. It sets you apart from other candidates, and gives the hiring manager a reason to review your resume.

New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Writing Tips

When writing your new grad nurse cover letter, keep these things in mind:

• Be persuasive: This is the time to toot your own horn. Tell them why your skills and achievements make you  a perfect candidate.
• Be unique: They know you went to nursing school and had clinical rotations. What makes you different?
• Share your passion: What brought you to nursing? Why are you interested in this specialty?
• Tailor it to the job posting: Match your cover letter to the job posting. Is the employer looking to hire a candidate that displays empathy during the nursing process? Tell a story that demonstrates how compassion and caring are key elements to your practice. Doing this helps align your skills to the particular needs of the role, showing the employer that you’re a perfect fit for the job.

Ready to implement these tips? Below is a new grad nurse cover letter example for you to see this advice in action.

Cover Letter for New Grad Nurse

Mary Jones 123 New Grad Street New York, NY 1001 555-555-5555 [email protected] | linkedin.com/marynurse

Karen Smith Grad Lane Hospital 555 Hospital Drive New York, NY 10001

Dear Ms. Smith,

When I first stepped foot into the maternity ward as a medical volunteer in San Juan Hospital in Costa Rica, I knew that women’s health nursing was the career for me. This was confirmed during my clinical rotations in labor and delivery and postpartum at Grad Lane Hospital. I loved watching women receive quality education to empower them to care for their families and themselves.

I was thrilled to see the job posting for a women’s health nurse at Grad Lane Hospital. My experiences of working as a medical assistant at the Women’s Health Office familiarized me with EPIC electronic charting systems, and strengthened my organization and task management skills. In that role, I had the privilege of translating for Spanish speakers as a certified interpreter, which exposed me to the grand opportunity and need for translation services. I am confident that these experiences will make me an immediate asset to your team.

During my clinical rotations, my preceptor praised me for my bedside manner, critical thinking, and attention to detail. My devotion to patient advocacy was recognized in 20XX with the Daisy Award. I am confident that these qualities will only continue to develop in my nursing career.

I am excited to connect with you and discuss how my passions, skills, and experiences can add to your team. You can reach me at 555-555-5555 any weekday after 10:00 a.m. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you very much for your time and attention.

All the best,

What Salary Can a New Grad Nurse Expect?

After writing a nursing resume and nursing cover letter, new grad nurses may wonder what type of salary they can expect. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not distinguish salaries for experienced RNs and new grad RNs. In general, like with other careers, you can expect to earn more as your experience increases.

The average salary for a registered nurse is $94,480 per year. Along with experience, your exact salary may vary depending on specialty, facility, degree, and location. To get a better idea of what you might earn in your area, review the new grad RN jobs on IntelyCare.

Put Your New Grad Nurse Cover Letter to Use

Now that you’ve learned these tips for writing a new grad cover letter, you can put it to use. Still looking for that perfect job? IntelyCare can help. Check out all the great graduate nurse jobs available right now and apply today.

Latest Jobs

Inpatient rn registered nurse care coordinator i – day shift – care transitions at penn state health, rn – surgery- cardiovascular team at flowers hospital, stna – flexible shift premium pay at sonida senior living, caregiver – flexible shift premium pay at sonida senior living, lvn (family practice) at austin regional clinic, related articles, nurse educator cover letter writing tips and sample, nurse educator resume writing tips and sample, home health nurse resume writing tips and sample, pcu nurse resume writing tips and sample, surgical tech cover letter writing tips and sample, related jobs.

New Grad Nurse Resume Example (W/ Templates & Tips!)

You're an aspiring nurse, and you just graduated!

You've mastered the art of patient care, so now you’re out and looking for your first job as a registered nurse.

But when it comes to writing your resume, you're self-diagnosed with writer's block.

It's ironic that after so many detailed reports you've tackled during nursing school, you just can’t seem to show off your skills and experience.

Just take a deep breath.

Preparing a resume might not be as exciting as your first clinical rotation, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.

With the right pointers, you can create the perfect new grad nurse resume!

And guess what? We're here to guide you every step of the way.

In this article, we’re going to cover:

• What an Amazing New Grad Nurse Resume Example Looks Like
• 8 Steps to Writing a Job-Winning Resume as a Recently Graduated Nurse
• The 67 Top Nursing Skills for 2024

...and so much more!

Ready to begin? Let’s jump right in.

New Grad Nurse Resume Example

That’s a spot-on example of a resume for a recently graduated nurse.

Here’s what it gets right:

• Uses the reverse-chronological resume format. This recent nursing grad has a resume that shows their newest experience first and then works its way back, so hiring managers can have a clear look at their experience.
• Starts with a strong resume objective. The nursing resume example above includes a brief paragraph in the header that catches employers’ attention and lets them know the candidate’s top skills, achievements, and professional aspirations.
• Only includes relevant contact information. Social media profiles aren’t appropriate for a nurse job application, so this candidate only lists her full name, phone number, email address, and location.
• Quantifies achievements. The candidate backs up their achievements with relevant data, which lets employers immediately see the benefit of hiring them.
• Expands on education. Since the candidate has just recently graduated, they elaborate on their education and how well-prepared they are for the role.
• Shows off in-demand skills. This new grad nurse resume makes sure the most relevant hard skills are in plain view, so hiring managers can easily see just what the candidate can do.
• Adds optional sections. The candidate leverages sections such as conferences and languages to make their resume stand out from other recently graduated nurses with similar skills and experience.
• Fits everything on one page. This new grad nurse resume uses every bit of space available to fit all the sections on one page.

8 Steps for a Great New Grad Nurse Resume

You know what a spot-on new graduate nurse resume includes, and now it’s your turn to write one.

Luckily, you just need to follow these easy steps:

#1. Choose a Resume Format

Before you can fill in the contents of your resume, you have to decide how it’s going to look.

Start by choosing the right resume format .

You have three main resume formats to choose from:

• Reverse-chronological (sometimes called chronological)
• Functional (sometimes called skill-based format)
• Combination (which blends elements of both)

For the vast majority of nursing graduates, the reverse-chronological resume format is the best choice.

This format shows your most recent work experience, skills, and accomplishments, which are what healthcare employers will want to see first.

It’s also hiring managers’ favorite resume format worldwide, so that should make it your first choice. 

Here's a quick glance:

Next, it’s time to perfect your resume layout .

Before a hiring manager reads your resume, they’re going to look at it. But if your resume is chaotic and hard on the eyes, it’ll probably get tossed aside.

Here’s how to make sure your new grad nurse resume leaves a great first impression:

• Adjust the margins. The margins on your document should be set to one inch on all sides so it doesn’t look too cluttered.
• Choose an appropriate font. Your resume’s font should be easy to read and stylish, but not overused. Skip Times New Roman and opt for something like Roboto instead.
• Set the font size. If the hiring manager has to squint to read your resume, they might just stop altogether. Use 10-12 pts for the body of your text and 14-16 pts for headings and section titles.
• Change the line spacing. To make sure your text isn’t too spaced out or overlapping, set the line spacing to 1.0 between text and 1.15 after subheadings.
• Send it in the right file format. Your new grad nurse resume should always be sent as a PDF. This way, your layout stays intact regardless of what device or software the hiring manager uses to open it.

Or Use a Professional Resume Template Instead

Starting your nurse resume from scratch takes a lot of effort.

You have to tweak the margins, adjust the line spacing, pick the best font, and make sure the sizes are uniform throughout your whole resume.

What if there was another way?

Just give any of our free resume templates a go and spare yourself the hassle.

Each of our templates is designed hand-in-hand with hiring managers from around the world, all to make sure your resume meets industry standards easily fits on one page, and lets you show off your personality.

Check for yourself how one of our resume templates compares to a standard text editor template:

#2. Fill In Your Contact Details

Once you’ve taken care of your resume format and layout, you can start filling in its contents.

Your contact information is the easiest section to fill out. All you need to do is make sure it’s factual – this isn’t the place to be inattentive. A single typo in your phone number or email address could cost you an opportunity.

Here’s what you need to include in this section:

• Full Name. (E.g. Jessica Smith)
• Professional Title. Make sure your resume’s professional title matches the specific nursing job you’re applying for. (E.g. Pediatric Nurse)
• Phone Number. If you're aiming for a job abroad, don't forget to include the dial code at the front of your number.
• Email Address. Ideally, use a combination of your first and last name. Quirky email addresses from high school won't cut it. (e.g. [email protected] is great, but [email protected] isn’t.)
• Location. List your city and state/country. If you’re willing to relocate for a job, specify it somewhere in your resume.

Jessica Smith - Registered Nurse +1 234 567 8910 [email protected] San Francisco, CA

Jessie Smith, Nurse 1234 567 8910 [email protected] Cali, USA

#3. Write a Convincing Resume Summary (or Objective)

Hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes daily, and they rarely spend more than a few seconds looking at a single resume . So if you want your new grad nurse resume to make an impression, you need to have an elevator pitch ready.

That would be the brief paragraph in your resume’s header, where you summarize some of your top skills, achievements, and other qualifications that make you right for the role.

Depending on your level of experience, here’s what you can write:

• Resume summary. If you have any clinical experience or internships from your time at university, a resume summary is the ideal choice. It provides a snapshot of your hands-on experience, primary nursing skills, and academic achievements.
• Resume objective. For fresh nursing graduates with limited experience, a resume objective is the way to go. This focuses on your nursing skills, relevant academic accomplishments, and your passion for patient care.

Here's a sample for a new grad nurse with some hands-on experience:

• Committed and compassionate Registered Nurse, seeking a position with Hospital X. With over two years of clinical experience during studies, skilled in patient care, medical documentation, and emergency response. CPR and First Aid certified. Eager to support a team in delivering patient-centered care.

For those just stepping into the nursing profession, here's a resume objective for a student with no experience :

• Dedicated Nursing Graduate, eager to join Hospital Y. Proficient in patient assessments, foundational nursing procedures, and effective communication. Motivated to contribute positively to patient outcomes and grow professionally in a dynamic healthcare environment.

#4. List Your Work Experience

The work experience section of your new grad nurse resume is what hiring managers will pay attention to, even if you're fresh out of school.

Presentation is key, so let's make sure yours is on point.

Here’s how to structure this section:

• List in reverse chronological order. Since you're newly graduated, start with your most recent clinical rotations or internships and then any related roles.
• Add the name of the facility. Specify the name of the hospital, clinic, or healthcare facility, and then its location.
• Include dates. Stick to the mm/yyyy format for clarity.
• Describe responsibilities and achievements. Highlight five to six key examples from your most recent experience in bullet points. Older roles might only need two to three.

But if you’re a recent nursing graduate, just listing your experience the right way isn’t enough.

You need to make it shine. Here’s how:

• Tailor your experience to the job. Look at the job ad and compare it to your experience so far. Your recent pediatric rotation might be more relevant for the position of school nurse than that summer you spent as a lifeguard.
• Focus on your impact. The hiring manager knows what a typical nursing student does, so you won’t impress them that easily. Instead, wow them by focusing on the difference you made during your rotations, such as improving patient outcomes or boosting morale.
• Quantify whenever possible. Put numbers next to any achievement you can. Quantifying your achievements can change the generic "assisted with patient care," into the more impressive "aided in the care of 10-15 patients daily under supervision."
• Use strong verbs. Instead of just "helped" or "worked", use powerful words like "administered", "collaborated", or "monitored" to show you as a proactive worker.

Check out this example for a nursing graduate:

Nursing Intern

St. Peter's Hospital

Seattle, WA

05/2022 - 09/2022

• Collaborated with a team of 5 registered nurses in the cardiac unit, assisting in the care of 10-12 patients daily.
• Administered medications under supervision, achieving a 100% accuracy rate throughout the internship.
• Assisted in patient documentation, updating medical histories and vital signs for over 250 patients during the rotation.
• Monitored and reported changes in patient conditions, resulting in timely interventions on several occasions.
• Received commendation from the head nurse for dedication and keen attention to detail during high-pressure situations.

What If I Don’t Have Work Experience?

Entering the world of healthcare as a fresh graduate nurse might seem overwhelming, especially if your resume feels light on professional experience.

However, your nursing resume can absolutely reflect your dedication and skills, even as you’re entering the field!

It's all about highlighting relevant experience, even if it isn’t professional.

Here are some examples you can choose from:

• Volunteering at health camps or local clinics
• Personal projects related to healthcare
• Academic projects related to patient care
• University health drives or campaigns

For example, if you volunteered at a health camp during your summer break, that’s an invaluable hands-on experience that can elevate your resume as a recently graduated nurse.

Here's an example:

Nurse Intern & Health Educator

Springfield Health Camp

06/2022 - 08/2022

• Volunteered in patient care, assisting registered nurses in administering basic treatments and wound care.
• Educated local community members about preventive healthcare measures, receiving positive feedback for clear communication.
• Assisted in organizing health seminars, ensuring informative sessions on nutrition, and hygiene.
• Collaborated with fellow interns to gather patient feedback, leading to improved patient education materials.
• Partnered with local schools to conduct health check-ups, providing basic healthcare knowledge to students.

#5. Add Your Most Vital Nursing Skills

Nursing is more than just administering medication or checking vitals. The job requires a broad range of skills , and the ones you add to your new grad nurse resume should align with the specific nursing position you're after.

Your skills section shows potential employers your clinical competencies and the depth of your training. If you tailor this section right, they’ll see how prepared you are to step into the role.

Here are some tips for writing a great skills section:

• Tailor them to the ad. Does the job description mention certain requirements for candidates? Whether it's wound care, patient education, or managing specific health conditions, add the skills you have to your resume.
• Research what skills you need. The world of healthcare is ever-evolving and the key to success is ongoing learning. Stay updated on patient care guidelines, innovative treatment methods, or emerging healthcare technologies.
• List hard and soft skills separately. Your new grad nurse resume should keep soft skills and hard skills neatly separate. This way, employers can find exactly what skills they’re looking for at a glance.

You've got the know-how to list your nursing skills.

All that’s left is to figure out which you should include on your resume.

Take a look at this list of the 67 most in-demand hard and soft skills for recently graduated nurses to get started!

67 Most In-Demand New Grad Nurse Skills

51 new grad nurse hard skills.

• Aseptic technique
• Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• EPIC Systems
• Record keeping
• Patient assessment
• Wound dressing
• IV insertion and management
• Medication administration
• First Aid and CPR
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Catheter insertion and care
• Infection control
• Vaccination administration
• Pain management
• Patient education
• Care and discharge planning
• ECG interpretation
• Emergency response
• Surgical assistance
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
• Oxygen therapy
• Endotracheal intubation
• Fluid and electrolyte balance
• Palliative care
• Ventilator management
• SOAP note documentation
• Patient charting
• Patient transport
• Tracheostomy care
• Gastrostomy feedings
• Diabetes management
• Hemodynamic monitoring
• Sterilization techniques
• Seizure precautions
• Ostomy care
• Orthopedic casting and splinting
• Isolation procedures
• Defibrillation
• HIPAA compliance
• Manual blood pressure measurement
• Nasogastric (NG) tube placement
• Critical care
• Telemetry monitoring
• Mobility assistance

16 New Grad Nurse Soft Skills

• Communication
• Adaptability
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Problem-solving
• Active listening
• Self-awareness
• Stress management
• Interpersonal skills
• Organizational skills
• Conflict re solution

#6. Elaborate on Your Education

In any resume, work experience and skills speak louder than academic credentials. Usually, this section only gets a passing mention.

However, when you’re a newly graduated nurse, you might want to dive into more details.

If you don’t have as much hands-on experience as your peers, your education section is where your resume can shine.

Here’s how you should format the basics:

• Degree Name. (E.g. Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
• University Name. (E.g. Metropolitan University of Health Sciences)
• Location. (E.g. Los Angeles, CA)
• Years Attended. If you haven’t graduated yet, don’t worry about it. Over 74% of new graduate nurses have a job offer lined up before graduation. Instead of using the yyyy - yyyy format, you can specify your expected graduation date. (E.g. Expected graduation: May 2024)
• Optional Details. List any relevant coursework, such as classes, projects, or clinical rotations, that’s relevant to the nurse position you’re applying for.

The goal here is to paint a clear picture of how your studies have prepared you for the hands-on work in the world of nursing. Everything you add should be relevant, so you should skip your high school education.

Here’s an example of how your education section might look:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Metropolitan University of Health Sciences

Los Angeles, CA

08/2019 - 06/2023

• Relevant Coursework: Pediatric Nursing, Critical Care Nursing, and Nursing Ethics.
• Research Project: "The Impact of Patient-Nurse Ratios on Care Quality."
• Clinical Rotations: Completed practical training in Pediatric, ICU, and Emergency Nursing departments.

#7. Leverage Optional Sections

Once you’ve come to the end of your new grad nurse resume, you have some leftover space.

This is a great opportunity for you to add optional sections, which can take your resume to the next level. These sections can be the cherry on top, giving potential employers deeper insight into who you are both professionally and personally.

Here are some sections you can choose from:

• Licenses and certifications. The more qualifications you have, the more commitment and readiness for nursing your resume shows.
• Awards. Any scholarships, academic honors, or nursing-related competitions you've won are good for showing off on your new grad nurse resume.
• Memberships. Being a part of professional nursing organizations gives you credibility and shows your drive to stay updated with industry trends.
• Languages. Hospitals and clinics appreciate nurses who can communicate with diverse patient populations, so speaking multiple languages is a huge plus.
• Publications or conferences. If you've written healthcare-related articles or created presentations for nursing school or even conferences, list them! It shows expertise and enthusiasm for particular subjects.
• Hobbies and interests. This section gives a glimpse into your personality. Activities like team sports can show teamwork skills and physical stamina, while interests like medical literature or meditation can show an interest in continuous learning and stress management.
• Florence Nightingale Academic Scholarship State Nursing School - 2022
• Top Performer American Red Cross First Aid Competition - October 2021

Memberships:

• National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA) Member - 2020

Always be sure to keep the optional sections you add to your new grad nurse resume relevant. Your interests in cooking or experience in the university drama club probably won’t do.

If you’re based in the USA, you should always include your nursing license number on your resume. But in countries where Nursing graduates are automatically registered with the board, there’s no need to add this credential.

#8. Attach an Equally Well-Made Cover Letter

Once you’ve completed your resume, your work isn’t done yet.

The last step on your resume-writing journey is writing a cover letter .

In reality, not writing a cover letter can significantly lower your chances of getting an interview since hiring managers expect to get cover letters .

There’s no need to worry, though! Your new grad nurse resume can be paired with a matching cover letter in no time.

Just take a look at what a great cover letter for a recently graduated nurse looks like:

You know the drill - you’ve seen a great cover letter, so now it’s time to make one yourself.

Follow our cover letter tips to nail it:

• Include the right contact information. Your new grad nurse cover letter should have the exact same contact information as your resume. Your full name, phone number, professional email address, and general location are enough, followed by the hiring manager’s contact information.
• Address your cover letter. Don’t skip the greeting or use something generic like “To whom it may concern”. Instead, do a bit of research and address the hiring manager by name to make a strong impression.
• Start with a strong opening. Your first paragraph should always include why you’re writing and what skills you can offer the employer, so they’ll want to read more.
• Expand on the details. This is the place to get creative! Elaborate on anything that makes you perfect for the job, but don’t just repeat what’s on your resume. Offer the hiring manager insight they wouldn’t get from just reading your new grad nurse resume.
• Finish it appropriately. Once you’re ready to wrap it up, invite the hiring manager to do something, like contact you. Then add an appropriate closing line and sign your name.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

Now you’ll be well on your way to delivering extraordinary patient care.

But before you pick out your new scrubs, let’s recap what we talked about:

• Always add an eye-catching paragraph at the top of your new grad nurse resume. A resume summary is a great way to catch the hiring manager’s attention.
• Don’t worry too much about not having enough professional experience. Hiring managers won’t expect a fresh graduate to have Dr. House’s list of achievements.
• List your soft skills separately from your hard skills so hiring managers can easily find what they’re looking for, and make sure to tailor any skills on your resume to the job ad.
• While your education is usually less important than your hands-on experience, don’t be afraid to give more detail if you’re very inexperienced. It still shows off your medical know-how and it’s better than having blank space.
• Any licenses and certifications are a great addition to your resume as a newly graduated nurse, so make sure to add them right after your most important sections are filled in.

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Sample

Putting together a new grad nurse cover letter sample is challenging, especially when you are only about to start your career. It is not enough to craft a winning resume if you want to apply for a new grad nurse position. You need to tailor a perfect cover letter to land an interview and proceed with your job application. Having a step-by-step guide and a good example of a cover letter for an new grad nurse is essential when you’re at the start of your career path.

This article will give you answers to the following questions: 

• What are the tips on how to write a cover letter?
• How to use a Proper Cover Letter Formatting?
• Where to find cover letter new grad nurse example?
• How to highlight your skills in a cover letter? 

Many nursing school grads can present themself during the job application. But only 10% of them know how to sell themselves and get the desired position. Reach out to the online cover letter writing service, and insights from professional cover letter writers will turn you from a shy job hunter to an employee. You will learn all the specifics of the cover letter writing and get special access to 20+ professional cover letter templates.

Cover Letter for a New Grad Nurse [Example]

It is necessary to showcase all of your accomplishments according to the key requirements of the cover letter format. Check out the cover letter for a new grad nurse example below:

Name and Surname

Address (optional)

Date When the Letter Was Written

Name of the Hiring Manager

Company’s Address

Telephone of the Hiring Manager (optional)

Email of the Hiring Manager

Dear (add the name of the Hiring Manager) ,

I am writing to express my interest in working in the medical institution you posted on ( add the name of the site where you've found the job ad ). My goal as a nurse graduate is to be able to work as an ER nurse, and I would love to be a part of the medical team at this prestigious clinic. My previous medical practice and a big desire to save people in extreme situations drive me to pursue a career in this medical field.

At Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, I had an excellent preparation for ER nursing. Identifying the best way to stabilize patients and minimize their pain was always a challenge. I know how to evaluate and treat patients almost simultaneously, especially when they appear in the emergency room after car accidents. I have proven to be a quick and eager learner, ready to handle whatever comes my way in nursing.

Thank you for reading my cover letter! I am excited about working for San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital because no other medical institution has saved so many lives like yours. 

Best wishes,

Your Name and Surname

Cover Letter Template for a New Grad Nurse

Before you apply to the company after nursing school, you must prepare a pile of the necessary documentation. Hiring managers don’t choose cover letters that aren’t written according to a modern cover letter template. If you are a new grad nurse, don’t forget to format it according to these conditions:

• Cover letter font: Georgia, Helvetica, Calibri, Trebuchet MS, or another respected font.
• Cover letter line spacing: 1.15.
• Margins: 1 inch per edge.

If you need professional resume help, resume writing services near me are a solution! They are in Houston, Chicago, Nyc, Dallas, Seattle, San Diego, Phoenix, Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Charlotte, San Antonio, Columbus, Kansas, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Detroit. We are near you and always ready to give you a hand!

Ultimate Guide on How to Write a Cover Letter for a New Grad Nurse

Did you know that only 10% of all job applicants who submit a cover letter for a new grad nurse manage to land an interview? Young professionals usually can’t handle this task as well as people with experience in the writing business. They can find a cover letter new grad nurse example but never repeat it on the highest level.

Creating a cover letter sample has never been easier. SkillHub professionals helped more than 30,000 people to pursue a new career opportunity. Save your time and ask a pro writer to showcase your key skills in a cover letter, and a rewarding new grad nurse career won’t keep you waiting. With the help of experienced cover letter writers, you can be sure that your cover letter will meet all of the formatting rules.

Why Proper Cover Letter Formatting Matters

Why does neglecting cover letter formatting in a new grad nurse cover letter may ruin your opportunity to get an interview? Because every professional should be aware of the key elements of a cover letter:

• Date and Company details
• Closing Paragraph 

Cover Letter Heading 

You need to put a good impression on your hiring manager right from the beginning of your job application. Creating the proper cover letter header is not difficult. Check out the heading of an example cover letter new grad nurse right below. You might have also seen it before while studying in the department of graduate nursing.

Cover Letter Sample for New Grad Nurse [Heading]

Let’s look at a traditional cover letter example to learn the simplest way to format the heading. Normally, it should contain your full name and contact information. Include your email, phone number, home address, and the link to your LinkedIn profile. 

New Grad Nurse Cover Letter

Jane Cunningham 

(415) 202-3711

12 Ponce De Leon Ave

Atlanta, Georgia (GE), 3036

[email protected] 

www.linkedin.com/in/j_cunningham

Date and Company Details

Every hiring manager divides the received number of cover letter for new grad nurse according to date. If your date of submission is earlier than your competitor’s, there are more chances that the company will invite you for an interview.

Other company details include the name of the person you’re writing to and the address. If you don’t know the name of the recruiter, you can skip it in a cover letter sample new grad nurse. But adding the address is obligatory because otherwise, your cover letter can be delivered to the wrong recipient. 

Example of Cover Letter for a New Grad Nurse [Date and Company Details]

Most recent grads don’t find it easy to apply for the desired job and get noticed by employers. They should use career resources and look through example cover letter new grad nurse to put the date and company details according to formatting rules.

June 8, 2022

Emily Havoc

11 Leroy St

Camillus, New York (NY), 13031

(315)672-3618

Cover Letter Greeting

There are various tried and true ways to write a winning cover letter greeting. 

If you know the recruiter’s name, “Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Recuiterr’s Surname],” is a quite good option. In case you don’t know the name of the employer, the classic “to whom it may concern” is an acceptable salutation as well.

Cover Letter Example for a New Grad Nurse [Greeting]

Each cover letter greeting should be taken seriously if you want to build a successful career. The more you explore samples like a cover letter example for new grad nurse, the better. Chances that someone will decide to hire you grow if you put the full name of the manager in the cover letter greeting: 

“Dear Emily Havoc!”

What to Include in a New Grad Nurse Cover Letter [Body]

The body of cover letter for an new grad nurse is a part of presenting your key achievements to the hiring manager. Usually, it consists of 2-3 short paragraphs. Try to make them as informative as possible. Don’t make up your accomplishments if nothing comes to your mind. Nurse school grads with no work experience should focus on what contribution they can bring to the company if they land the desired position. 

New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Sample [Body]

Check the body of the new grad nurse cover letter sample below.

“I have the relevant background for the position in your company that corresponds to the requirements stated in your job post. I am not afraid of new challenges and always ready to take more responsibility. At the University of North Carolina, I got my first experience as a surgical assistant registered nurse. I can surely say that I find myself in the OS like a fish in the water.” 

Closing Paragraph for a Cover Letter

A successful example of new grad nurse cover letter will always include a closing paragraph. If the body has to contain information that proves your qualification, the closing line has a communicative goal. Job seekers who show a clear representation of their written communication skills raise their chances of getting hired. Check out the sample of proper closing in the next paragraph.

New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Example [Closing]

It is important to put a call to action in the ending line, so recruiters would know that you’re truly willing to land this interview. Take a look at the new grad nurse cover letter example below: 

“Please feel free to contact me at (415) 202-3711 4 to further discuss my skills. I hope to speak with you soon regarding this amazing job opportunity.

Jane Cunningham” 

You can still get help from a nursing resume writing service to make your resume stand out.

Introduce Your Skills 

For getting more interviews, it is important to highlight both hard and soft skills of yours. If you organize them correctly, you won’t have to bother about the applicant tracking system (ATS) or resume-scanning software that recruiters use widely during the job application. Every cover letter new grad nurse example includes the set of applicant’s skills, usually presented in a bullet point list:

• basic patient care skills;
• knowledge to perform and evaluate diagnostic tests;
• ability to communicate directly with patients, families, and doctors;
• experience in assisting doctors in medical procedures;
• knowledge of CPR;

The set of skills may vary depending on the branch of medical practice you’re about to attend. For example, if you want to work in the emergency room, showing the ability to cope with situations of extra difficulty is a must.

Learn More About the Company 

It is important to customize each of your cover letters depending on the company you're going to apply to. Hiring managers should notice that you’re motivated enough to work in their firm. It is also necessary to beat the applicant tracking process and make your cover letter stand out among others. The best way to do it is to insert the relevant to your job description keywords. For instance, in the new grad nurse cover letter, you can use “CPR,” “ICU,” “first-aid certification,” and “patient care.”

If you read all of the paragraphs of this guide and reached this one, congratulations! Now you know how to write a cover letter for a new grad nurse, and you’re ready to get started with your job application. Remember to:

• keep to the cover letter format and structure;
• make a proper greeting to the hiring manager; 
• prove your qualification in the body section;
• add quantifiable achievements to prove you’re the best new grad nurse hire;
• end the new grad nurse application letter with a meaningful closing statement.

Writing a cover letter for the first time can be very exhausting and time-consuming. Trust your cover letter to our professional resume writing service and save both your time and nerves. The new grad nurse cover letter samples above will come in handy if you want to craft a cover letter on your own.

Knowledge is Power

Get a list of 50+ books to boost your productivity at work

More Cover Letter Examples

Privacy preference center

We care about your privacy

When you visit our website, we will use cookies to make sure you enjoy your stay. We respect your privacy and we’ll never share your resumes and cover letters with recruiters or job sites. On the other hand, we’re using several third party tools to help us run our website with all its functionality.

But what exactly are cookies? Cookies are small bits of information which get stored on your computer. This information usually isn’t enough to directly identify you, but it allows us to deliver a page tailored to your particular needs and preferences.

Because we really care about your right to privacy, we give you a lot of control over which cookies we use in your sessions. Click on the different category headings on the left to find out more, and change our default settings.

However, remember that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of our website. Finally, note that we’ll need to use a cookie to remember your cookie preferences.

Without these cookies our website wouldn’t function and they cannot be switched off. We need them to provide services that you’ve asked for.

Want an example? We use these cookies when you sign in to Kickresume. We also use them to remember things you’ve already done, like text you’ve entered into a registration form so it’ll be there when you go back to the page in the same session.

Thanks to these cookies, we can count visits and traffic sources to our pages. This allows us to measure and improve the performance of our website and provide you with content you’ll find interesting.

Performance cookies let us see which pages are the most and least popular, and how you and other visitors move around the site.

All information these cookies collect is aggregated (it’s a statistic) and therefore completely anonymous. If you don’t let us use these cookies, you’ll leave us in the dark a bit, as we won’t be able to give you the content you may like.

We use these cookies to uniquely identify your browser and internet device. Thanks to them, we and our partners can build a profile of your interests, and target you with discounts to our service and specialized content.

On the other hand, these cookies allow some companies target you with advertising on other sites. This is to provide you with advertising that you might find interesting, rather than with a series of irrelevant ads you don’t care about.

New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Sample

Get invited for more job interviews and get inspiration for your new cover letter with this highly instructive New Grad Nurse cover letter sample. Make a copy of this cover letter sample at no cost or modify it in any way using our proven and tested cover letter creator.

Related resume guides and samples

How to create a compelling dentist resume in 2022?

How to craft the ideal medical assistant resume

How to Write a Medical Doctor CV: What to Include Section by Section

Land a job in mental health therapy with this resume guide

How to write a job-winning nurse resume

How to build an effective pharmacy technician resume

Find your dream physical therapist job with this resume guide

A quick guide to writing your veterinarian resume

New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Sample (Full Text Version)

Samantha McGee

[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, Zip Code] [Email Address] [Phone Number] [Date]

[Recipient Name] [Hiring Manager] [St George Hospital] [Hospital Address] [City, State, Zip Code]

Dear [Recipient Name],

I am writing to express my interest in the Nurse position at St George Hospital, as advertised on LinkedIn.com. With a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from the University of Manchester and hands-on experience as a Nursing Intern at The Royal London Hospital, I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively to your team.

During my time at the university, I excelled academically and actively participated in various clubs and societies, honing my teamwork, communication, and organizational skills. My internship experience allowed me to develop strong clinical skills, effective patient communication, and meticulous attention to detail.

I am a native English speaker with proficiency in French and basic knowledge of Spanish, enhancing my ability to connect with a diverse range of patients. I am eager to bring my proactive approach, exceptional work ethic, and ability to remain calm under pressure to the Nurse position at St George Hospital.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my qualifications align with the needs of your team in more detail. I can be reached at [Phone Number] or [Email Address] to schedule an interview at your convenience. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to the exceptional care provided at St George Hospital.

Milan Šaržík, CPRW

Milan’s work-life has been centered around job search for the past three years. He is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) as well as an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches (PARWCC™). Milan holds a record for creating the most career document samples for our help center – until today, he has written more than 500 resumes and cover letters for positions across various industries. On top of that, Milan has completed studies at multiple well-known institutions, including Harvard University, University of Glasgow, and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

Edit this sample using our resume builder.

Don’t struggle with your cover letter. artificial intelligence can write it for you..

Similar job positions

High School Student Medical Doctor Natural Sciences Student University Student Mental Health Therapist Student Internship Dentist Social Sciences Student Veterinary Formal Sciences Student Professions And Applied Sciences Student Pharmacy Technician

Related nurse resume samples

Related university student cover letter samples

Let your resume do the work.

Join 5,000,000 job seekers worldwide and get hired faster with your best resume yet.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to footer

Incredible Health

Empowering healthcare professionals to find and do their best work.

Nursing Resume & CV Examples

Jul 22 2024

Discover the best resume and CV examples to help you stand out in your nursing career.

Registered nurse resume examples.

Build the perfect nursing or healthcare professional resume — quickly, easily, and without stress. Whether you’re a critical care nurse, an emergency nurse, or a nurse manager, our CV samples will show you what employers really want to see in an application.

ICU/Critical Care Nurse Resume

ER Nurse Resume

Nurse Case Manager Resume

New Graduate Nurse Resume Examples

Welcome to the nursing! Create an impressive, interview-ready resume with our New Graduate Nurse resume templates. Learn how to showcase your skills and potential, even with little to no nursing experience, to make a strong impression on potential employers.

New Graduate Nurse Resume – RN

New Graduate Resume – OR RN

New Nurse Resume – PCU RN

Advanced Practice Resume Examples

Creating an impressive Advanced Practice Nursing resume is now effortless with our employer-approved templates! See examples for Family Nurse Practitioners, APRNs, and Nurse Practitioners, and customize with your unique skills and experience. Create a powerful profile that sets you apart, wows potential employers, and takes your advanced nursing career to new heights.

Nurse Practitioner Resume

Family Nurse Practitioner Resume

CRNA Resume

Create a professional interview-ready nursing resume with Resume Wizard

Wow employers and recruiters with our easy-to-use resume builder made for nurses. Ready to download in minutes.

• Browse jobs
• Nursing CEUs
• Interview questions
• Job search guides
• New nurse graduates
• Nurse advice Q&A
• Nurse specialty quiz
• Nurses blog
• Nursing degree guides
• Personal finance
• Resume Wizard
• Resume guide

BROWSE JOBS

• Los Angeles
• Philadelphia
• San Francisco
• Washington, DC
• Schedule a demo
• Why Incredible Health
• Customer case studies
• Inside Incredible Health
• Contact & support

Navigating the Job Market as a New Grad Nurse

Table of contents.

And yet, when we first graduate, we often run immediately into a new barrier standing between ourselves and our dream positions. Before we can pick and choose between the units and schedules we like best, we’ll need something to show for it – namely, a couple of years of experience.

Does that feel unfair? Certainly, we need experience for all the good jobs , but without jobs, there is little chance of gaining experience. What’s more, without direct experience it can be difficult to determine what counts as a “good” job offer. 

What Makes a Good First Job?

Although harder to find, the truth is that many places are willing to hire recent graduates. Naturally, many won’t pay as well as jobs geared toward experienced nurses, and a few might come with a few “hidden” downsides that are not immediately obvious.

The first thing to remember here is that your first job is just that: a stepping stone on the bottom third of your nursing career. This means you shouldn’t hold out for the perfect fit forever, but you shouldn’t take the first offer you find, either. Unless you’re in a financial emergency, it will pay off to be a little picky to ensure you stay en route toward your dream specialty or career path.

Depending on local demand, hospitals in your area might offer other incentives, ranging from cash bonuses to pension plans and even gym memberships. Only some of these perks will add value to you , and often, flashy perks come with some trade-offs. Instead, look at the benefits and features that will have a deeper impact on you, a brand-new nurse looking for their first job.

Related videos

The take-home pay 💵.

An obvious consideration for any job hunt is salary, even if it shouldn’t be the only thing you look at. Salaries for new nursing graduates will vary vastly depending on your state and the cost of living in your area. The easiest way to compare pay is usually looking at the base rate per hour – but sometimes, this only tells half of the story.

A higher hourly salary can quickly disappear if you don’t have a guaranteed number of hours per week or month. If you are willing to (or prefer to!) work night shifts , overtime pay and bonuses can easily make up the difference. So make sure to crunch those numbers!

The length of orientation ⏳

Any new nursing job will require some time to find your footing. Never is this leap more pronounced than when starting your first shift as a nurse. Suddenly, you’ll be missing the guidance and supervision of your preceptor or clinical instructor – and the patient’s outcomes will be signed with your name. Most hospitals know this and have special “new graduate programs” and even “ nursing residencies. ” 

Residences are usually designed to prepare you for critical care positions, which would otherwise require you to have at least two years of bedside experience. They often combine direct nursing practice with classroom hours and even a close preceptorship or mentor .

But even if you’d rather start at a regular medical unit, a “new graduate program” will provide a longer orientation and the chance to ease into independent nursing more slowly. Think of it like a prolonged orientation. You might be paid slightly less or require a senior nurse to sign off on specific procedures – but it beats a “sink or swim” experience.

The opportunities for internal transfer ↔️

Generally speaking, small private facilities tend to be more welcoming to new graduates than large hospital systems. At their best, close-knit units mean that senior nurses will probably keep an eye out for you while you perfect your advanced nursing skills and gain confidence.

On the other hand, large hospitals and government facilities are more likely to offer a wider variety of units and experiences. Are you still trying to determine which specialty suits you best? Then after your first year, you can sign up for their “pool” and cover staffing gaps on various floors until you find your fit. Do you dream of being an ER or labor and delivery provider? Make a good impression and wait for the chance to request a transfer.

The length of the contract ⏱

Both nursing residencies and sign-on bonuses have an important drawback: they often require you to stay put for a minimum time (usually between three and five years). If you leave before this initial contract is up, you will have to pay back some or all of your bonus or some sort of “breakup fee.”

On the one hand, job stability is great, especially if you want to cover as much student debt as possible. However, not all hospitals provide welcoming work environments, and some might simply not be a good personal fit. It will be up to you to counter your safety versus your freedom.

The presence (or strength) of their union 🤝

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , approximately 20% of all RNs in the United States belong to a union. Once again, this varies depending on the state: in California, union participation is mandatory , while in South Carolina and Utah, union nurses account for less than 3% of the total.

There are definite pros and cons to union membership: according to some studies, unionized nurses have slightly higher rates of job dissatisfaction , but they are also more likely to work in well-staffed units, which protects them from burnout. Union membership will also provide you with better benefits, health insurance, and yearly raises – even if their “seniority rules” can feel confining.

Where Can You Find Good Openings for Newbies?

Before you can bring contract terms and staffing ratios to the negotiating table, you’ll have to find a few job openings to apply to. This is often the most discouraging part: most recruitment ads quickly ask for experience up front. You can expect competition to be stiff and even to run into an old classmate or two in the few who don’t!

The key? Go beyond the full-page ads and typical online job boards.

Only a minority of nursing jobs make it to the front page. Most hospitals prefer to fill vacancies with internal transfers first, followed by word-of-mouth recommendations. After all, these are much cheaper than making large recruitment drives!

Some strategies include the following:

• Approaching the nurses you met during clinicals – and if you’re still in school and currently rotating somewhere you’d like to work, make sure to save a few numbers!
• Ask your former classmates, especially those who signed up with a temporary staffing agency. Some of these will offer small referral bonuses, so it’s a win-win.
• Scout every hospital in the area and look up their main website or that of their parent company. Most have a Jobs portal where you can upload your resume or create email alerts for new openings.

Once you spot a gap where you can squeeze through, make sure to check out Nurse Liz’s tips to ace your application and turn the doors wide open.

4 Myths and Mishaps to Avoid While Job Hunting

During nursing school, I was treated to regular nuggets of career advice. Most of them came from instructors or lecturers, and they were all well-meaning – except that some of my lecturers had not job-hunted in a decade. I ran a few of these ideas through some of the recent graduates on my friends list and dispelled a few myths.

1. You don’t have to start at a medical-surgical unit

This was practically a mantra for my lecturers: “When you graduate, your first job will necessarily be at a general medical-surgical unit, especially with long-haulers who are not critically ill. Those are the only ones who will hire newbies!”

However, it appears that the market has changed a bit since that was true. For starters, the point of nursing residencies is to let you skip med-surg! Plus, in some areas, non-critical specialized areas such as labor and delivery or primary care will hire new graduates. Increase your chances by taking a few electives or extra certificates that well match your dream area.

2. You don’t need to hold out for the perfect position

Although no hospital administrator will be happy to see you leave the week after orientation, the truth is that jobs come and go. Even if you locked yourself into a three-year contract, you will find that it is but a fraction of your future nursing career.

This is all to say that while you don’t want to settle for an unlivable salary or horrible shifts, you don’t need to wait eternally until you find your dream job. If you’re an okay fit but will be one step closer to your dream job after a year, that’s good enough.

3. Good jobs are not confined to big cities

Large cities will usually have two or three competing hospitals covering almost every conceivable specialty – but they will also have a much deeper pool of applicants and a cost of living to match.

If moving is possible, consider looking into rural hospitals and urgent care clinics. You may not have access to the same equipment as you would in a big city hospital system, but you’ll also find fewer applicants and more open vacancies.

4. A nursing license is not ALL you need

Throughout most of your nursing school years, your aim has been to obtain that golden nursing license, which will allow you to call yourself a “registered nurse.” Ultimately, every class you took and every NCLEX® study session was really about meeting the requirements for licensure – yet that’s not where professional development ends.

Many hospitals will also want to see a valid Basic Life Support or CPR certificate before hiring, as well as proof of your last flu shot. Best to have them ready before the interview!

Final Thoughts: Think Strategically

After years of stress and hard work, it is natural to want a great, fulfilling position right away. And yet, there is so much we don’t know yet! In healthcare, there is almost no end to the possibilities and specialties you can pursue. Your first nursing job should help you get there, but it is not the end of the road.

Ximena is a copywriter and medical interpreter turned Nursing student. She feels very strongly about patient education and about opening healthcare access among women from immigrant and rural communities. During her downtime, she enjoys jogging, RPG gaming, and reading about classical history.

We've been there. We get it.

Don’t have a clue what to expect in nursing school?   Terrified of clinical?

Nurse Liz has spent years troubleshooting the challenges of nursing school for her social media community. Get her proven strategies and inside tips for every step of nursing school. 

Further Reading

Do Nurses Need Malpractice Insurance? Lawsuit Statistics and Advice

How to Create a Nursing Portfolio: Professional from Cover to Binder

How to Get a Nursing Job with No Experience: Tips for New Grad Nurses

• Data Privacy
• Terms and Conditions
• Legal Information

USMLE™ is a joint program of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB®) and National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME®). MCAT is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). NCLEX®, NCLEX-RN®, and NCLEX-PN® are registered trademarks of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc (NCSBN®). None of the trademark holders are endorsed by nor affiliated with Lecturio.

User Reviews

Politics latest: Chancellor admits 'I think I will have to increase taxes' - as 'radical' housing plan unveiled

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has detailed the government's proposed planning reforms to boost housebuilding, describing them as "radical". Meanwhile, the chancellor has dropped another hint about potential tax rises.

Tuesday 30 July 2024 23:18, UK

• Rayner announces 'radical plan' to boost housebuilding
• Deputy PM admits planning reforms not 'without controversy' as local housing targets to become mandatory to hit 1.5 million within five years - and greenbelt land may be used
• Jon Craig analysis: One of the most ambitious parts of government's plan
• PM heckled at scene of Southport attack
• Chancellor admits taxes likely to rise in budget
• Sky News Daily: Is there really no money left?

We're bringing the Politics Hub to a close a little earlier than usual tonight - here's your final bulletin on what you need to know:

• Angela Rayner has unveiled a "radical plan" to "get Britain building", with mandatory local housing targets to be brought back and rules protecting the greenbelt from developments to be loosened ;
• The deputy PM and housing secretary admitted her proposals "won't be without controversy" but were needed to address "the most acute housing crisis" the country has faced for generations;
• Labour want to build 1.5 million homes during this parliament , with 370,000 new properties per year ;
• Our chief political correspondent Jon Craig said it might be "the most ambitious part of the new government's programme" - and said it would be a challenge for ministers to deliver.
• Chancellor Rachel Reeves has dropped another hint that tax rises are coming this autumn, telling The News Agents podcast: "I think we will have to increase taxes in the budget" ;
• The budget was announced yesterday for 30 October , and comes after huge spending cuts were revealed as she accused the Tories of "covering up" massive gaps in the public finances.
• Sir Keir Starmer has visited Southport this afternoon to pay tribute to victims of yesterday's knife attack and meet emergency services who;
• The prime minister offered a "personal thank you" to first responders and laid flowers at the scene;
• Home Secretary Yvette Cooper , who was also in Southport today, told the Commons tonight the emergency personnel who responded represent "public service at its best";
• She and shadow home secretary James Cleverly also called on social media companies to do more to clamp down on misinformation about the suspect .

That's all from us tonight - the Politics Hub will be back tomorrow morning from 6am.

Have a good night, and do join us again when you can.

By Alexandra Rogers , political reporter

Kemi Badenoch has rejected allegations of bullying against her as "smears" designed to "disrupt" her campaign for the Tory leadership.

She accused The Guardian of a "hit job" after it published claims she created an "intimidating" atmosphere as secretary of state in the Department of Business and Trade - something she has strongly denied.

In a post on X, Ms Badenoch dismissed the allegations as "smears from former staff who I sacked after they were accused of bullying behaviour, lying about other colleagues to cover up their own failures and general gross incompetence - intolerable behaviour I would not stand for".

What's Badenoch been accused of?

According to The Guardian, at least three officials found her behaviour so "traumatising" they felt they had no other choice but to leave their roles.

Last year, on 13 December, a senior official held a town hall meeting to address concerns about the culture in the department in response to feelings of low morale, its report said.

Ms Badenoch claimed her campaign to be Conservative leader had "spooked the lefties and now they're coming for the one person they know can beat Keir Starmer".

A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said there had never been any formal complaints or investigations into her conduct while working there.

It has been a long time since the House of Commons has been overwhelmed by a mood of such profound grief and shock.

The atmosphere in the chamber - so often rowdy, raucous and ill-tempered – was one of sheer numbness as Yvette Cooper delivered her sombre statement on the Southport stabbings.

Over the years, the Commons has heard many shocking statements on terrible terrorist atrocities such as the Brighton bombing in the UK, hideous massacres abroad and other terrible crimes.

But what seemed to leave MPs stunned into silence and disbelief this time was the tender young ages – six, seven and nine - of the innocent victims in Southport. Many MPs were moved to tears.

MPs united in grief and shock

Indeed, throughout her statement, the voice of the home secretary, who earlier in the day had visited Southport and spoken to many of those caught up in the horror of what happened, appeared to be trembling.

Towards the end of the exchanges, Democratic Unionist MP Jim Shannon, normally one of the most affable and cheerful MPs in the House, struggled to finish his plea for children's safety before his voice gave way.

"We share his emotion," the home secretary told him sympathetically, prompting the usually confrontational Lee Anderson of Reform UK to pay tribute to her for having "carried herself with great dignity".

In her opening statement, Ms Cooper said the investigation was being supported by counter-terror police and would pursue "any contact the suspect may or may not have had with different agencies" beforehand.

But after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle had warned MPs to be careful about what they said, that was as far as she went on the police investigation.

However, both Ms Cooper and her Tory predecessor James Cleverly, now shadow home secretary, hit out at social media companies.

She urged them not to "spread damaging misinformation online". 

Mr Cleverly criticised "speculation and gossip" and spoke of his discussions with social media firms about their responsibilities.

An almost eerie House of Commons

Then, at the very end of the exchanges, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urged the government to "challenge the whole knife culture on the streets, that carrying a knife is a good and cool thing to do".

Her voice still apparently trembling with emotion, the home secretary politely told him that argument was for another today and this day was all about the young victims and those grieving their loss. How right she was.

And so, after a bruising election campaign, the frantic pace set by a new government and a House of Commons full of hundreds of new MPs, no-one could have predicted MPs would be leaving Westminster for their summer break numb with grief like this.

It may have been a highly emotional and at times tearful half-hour – and the silence on the benches on both sides of the chamber throughout the exchanges was almost eerie.

But after her visit to Southport only hours earlier, the home secretary's statement was greatly appreciated.

And she deserves great credit for conveying to MPs the grief of the people of Southport in such a calm, measured and dignified way.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves dropped a few strong hints yesterday that tax rises could be on the way later this year to help sort out the public finances - and she's now delivered perhaps the biggest one yet.

Having warned of more "difficult decisions" to come when her first budget rolls round on 30 October, she's now straight-up said she reckons taxes will indeed need to go up.

"I think we will have to increase taxes in the budget," she said.

Reeves defends 'sensible fiscal rules'

Ms Reeves was speaking today on The News Agents podcast, which repeatedly pressed her on whether inheritance tax, pension reform, and capital gains tax rises were on the cards.

She would only repeat Labour's manifesto commitment not to raise income tax, national insurance, and VAT.

She added: "We had in our manifesto a commitment to fiscal rules to balance day-to-day spending through tax receipts, and by the end of the forecast period to get debt down as a share of GDP.

"Those are sensible fiscal rules to keep a grip of the public finances."

Chief among her announcements yesterday was scrapping winter fuel payments for some pensioners, as she accused the Tories of having hid unfunded spending commitments from her and the public.

The housing secretary has urged Labour MPs representing rural communities not to stand in the way of the government's ambitious housing targets.

Angela Rayner used a major Commons speech today to detail planning reforms aimed at helping deliver 1.5 million more homes over the next five years - including allowing more building on greenbelt land.

The government has argued much of this is actually "grey belt" land - greenbelt areas taken up by things like disused petrol stations rather than lush green fields and bountiful nature.

Speaking from a development in Basingstoke, Hampshire, Ms Rayner reminded her party colleagues they were "elected on the manifesto pledge for 1.5 million homes".

"And I would say to all MPs actually, that driving forward mandatory local plans means they will have greater engagement with local communities."

'There will be more building across UK'

Ms Rayner said the "grey belt" argument should "reassure people" that only sites like car parks and abandoned developments will be built on - and "not the rolling hills of Suffolk".

"There will be more building across the whole of the UK," she vowed, including more social and affordable housing.

"That's what we want to see."

She's admitted her plans are controversial, but are needed to address a housing crisis not seen for generations.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has paid tribute to emergency workers and all who responded to the "unimaginably distressing" Southport attack yesterday.

Speaking in the Commons after visiting the scene this morning, she says she met emergency personnel who attended the scene, "aided by passers-by, NHS workers and off-duty emergency workers who heard the calls of distress and ran to help".

"They do these jobs knowing they can be called upon in the toughest of times but nothing still can prepare you for an attack on little children."

They represent "public service at its very best", she adds.

Ms Cooper said police must be given time to carry out their "extremely serious criminal investigation", and warned against speculating about the attack online.

All must "show some respect for the community in Southport and for families who are grieving and in trauma", and not seek to use such an incident to "stir up division or advance their own views".

It comes after police called on people to stop speculating about the suspect.

All we know is he is a 17-year-old boy from nearby Banks, although he was originally from Cardiff. He remains in police custody.

'We should never take their bravery for granted'

Shadow home secretary James Cleverly echoed Ms Cooper's statement.

"I want to thank our emergency services - we should never take the bravery of those people who serve us for granted," he said.

Mr Cleverly said the attack has "left families broken, and a community scarred" and "all our thoughts are with the victims of this appalling attack, their families, and the people of Southport".

He repeated calls for an end to speculation on social media, and asked the home secretary to consider reaching out to social media companies to compel them to crack down on misinformation.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is giving a statement to the Commons on yesterday's knife attack in Southport.

Three children have died and eight are injured, five critically, after a dance class was targeted.

Two adults are also in a critical condition, and a 17-year-old boy is in police custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

Watch Ms Cooper's statement in the stream at the top of the page or below:

Larry the cat is used to his own space inside 10 Downing Street - but could tensions have arisen?

Sir Keir Starmer has now moved in as the new prime minister, and he already has his own feline companion called Jojo.

Are we on course for a cat fight at the heart of government...?

The government has pledged to "reset" relations with the EU after its landslide election win earlier this month - but talks over new deals with Brussels are still some way off.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, minister for EU relations in the Cabinet Office, wants there to be an "ambitious" fresh agreement on food safety and animal and plant health in a bid to lessen the need for checks on goods going between the bloc and the UK.

But speaking in Belfast today, he told reporters negotiations likely won't begin until early next year.

Recent EU elections mean the new-look European Commission is not in place and so the government is limited in what it can do for now.

Mr Thomas-Symonds said he would look to lay the groundwork for a new agreement for now, until "hard-edge formal negotiations" can start.

Sunak's deal remains in place

For now, the Windsor Framework that Rishi Sunak negotiated with Brussels involves a requirement for checks and additional red tape on the movement of goods from Britain into the EU.

Northern Ireland effectively aligns with many EU rules in order to maintain an open border on the island of Ireland.

Any deal to smooth agri-food trade between the UK and EU would reduce the requirement for those type of internal barriers and checks.

Yesterday saw the chancellor deliver a series of announcements around public cuts and spending - and today it has been the turn of the deputy prime minister and her housing agenda.

Here's your teatime Politics Hub bulletin with what you need to know:

• Ms Rayner's boss Sir Keir Starmer has visited Southport this afternoon to pay tribute to victims of yesterday's knife attack and meet emergency services who responded;
• The prime minister offered a "personal thank you" to first responders and laid flowers at the scene, where he was heckled by some people;
• Our correspondent Ashna Hurynag was there and said "among the shock and sadness and deep, deep grief", there was "anger" over what happened.
• And the fallout from the chancellor's aforementioned spending announcements has continued ;
• Rachel Reeves  has accused her Tory predecessor of having "lied" about the public finances, but Jeremy Hunt said that was "absolute nonsense".

We'll keep you updated with the latest political news and analysis throughout the evening - including a statement on the Southport attack from the home secretary .

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free