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Nurse: CV and cover letter examples

2 fully written cover letters, a ready CV with a placeholder portrait and practical tips – open the example and replace the details with yours.

Use this CV templateUse a cover letter

Cover letter examples

Each example is written for a different starting point. Borrow the structure, not the sentences – your own examples and numbers are what make a letter work.

1Newly qualified nurseEntry level

Leah Brandon
7 Chestnut Walk
Lancaster LA1 3QE
040 66969 646 · leah.brandon@example.com

St Anne’s Hospital
Brennan
Abbey Road
Lancaster LA1 4RP

DD Month YYYY

Application for the position of Staff nurse – medical ward

Dear Mr Brennan,

I did my second-year placement on your Ward 4B, and on my last day the ward manager asked whether I would come back once I qualified. I passed my final assessments in September – and the answer is yes.

On placement I cared for patients with heart failure, diabetes and several conditions at once, with frequent admissions and close teamwork with the medical team. My final project was on falls prevention. I document carefully and stay calm on nights when two call bells go at once.

I am looking for a ward with a proper preceptorship, and I know you offer one. Full-time rotating shifts suit me. I could start in November.

Yours sincerely,

Leah Brandon

Enclosures
CV
Registration confirmation
Placement reports

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2Experienced nurse moving into the communityExperienced

Daniel Morgan
18 Bare Lane
Morecambe LA4 6DE
040 66969 871 · daniel.morgan@example.com

Bayview Community Care
Kessler
41 Station Road
Morecambe LA4 5HF

DD Month YYYY

Application for the position of Community nurse (30 hours)

Dear Ms Kessler,

After nine years on a trauma ward, the last four as deputy ward manager, I still want to nurse – but differently: with more time for each person.

I am a qualified tissue viability link nurse and have managed chronic and post-operative wounds for years, including negative pressure therapy. I have coordinated discharges, agreed medication plans with GPs and taught families how to manage compression stockings.

I have held a driving licence since 2009 and know the area well. Earlies, lates and every other weekend are fine; my notice period is three months.

Yours sincerely,

Daniel Morgan

Enclosures
CV
Registration
References

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All people, companies and contact details in the examples are fictional.

CV example

A complete CV for the role – with an illustrated placeholder instead of a photo.

Preview of the CV of Leah Brandon in the Modern design
Read the CV as text

Leah Brandon

Registered nurse

7 Chestnut Walk, Lancaster LA1 3QE · 040 66969 646 · leah.brandon@example.com

Placeholder portrait: replace it with your photo in the editor, or remove it.

Work experience

  • 09/2023 – 09/2026
    Student nurse placements
    St Anne’s Hospital and community teams, Lancaster
    • Medical, surgical and older people’s wards
    • Admissions, discharges and documentation
    • Night shifts under supervision
  • 2021 – 2023
    Healthcare assistant (part-time)
    Willow Court Care Home, Lancaster

Education

  • 2023 – 2026
    BSc Nursing (Adult)
    University of Cumbria, Lancaster
    • Final project: falls prevention on medical wards

Training

  • 2026
    Moving and handling
  • 2025
    Basic life support

Skills

Patient assessment, Documentation, Wound care, Medication rounds, Falls prevention

Languages

English (Native), French (A2 – elementary)

Interests

Netball, volunteering with St John Ambulance

Use this CV template

Good to know

Your application in three steps

  1. Add your own photo – or none

    The example uses an illustrated placeholder. Replace it under “Choose photo” in the editor, or remove it: in the UK, US and many other countries a CV photo is not expected.

  2. Replace the details

    Name, contact, jobs, skills: everything is filled in and can be overwritten field by field.

  3. Save as PDF

    The PDF is created in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, no account needed.

What employers look for

Healthcare employers read carefully who will fit their team. They want to see your registration, the settings you have worked in, the shifts you can cover and concrete examples of how you handle pressure, families and documentation.

  • Registration with the nursing regulator of your country

  • Experience in the relevant setting: acute ward, care home, community, intensive care

  • Clarity about shifts, nights and weekends

  • Careful documentation and medication management

  • Calm communication with patients, families and doctors

Tips for your application

Do

  • Say exactly which settings you have worked in.
  • Name training with hours or dates.
  • Be honest about shifts you can cover.

Don’t

  • Write “I love working with people” without an example.
  • Criticise previous employers or staffing.
  • Forget your registration details.
Typical interview questions

Prepare a short, honest example from your own work for each one.

  1. How do you prioritise two patients needing help at once?
  2. Tell us about a difficult conversation with a family.
  3. Which shifts can you work?
  4. What would you do if you noticed a medication error?

Salary expectations

If the advert asks for your salary expectations, give an annual gross figure or a range you have researched – through pay scales, salary surveys from public sources or people who do the job. If it does not ask, leave pay out of the letter; it will come up in the interview.

Frequently asked questions
Can I apply before I qualify?

Yes. Most nurses apply in their final months of training. Mention when you expect to qualify and register.

Should I put a photo on my CV?

It depends on the country. In the UK, Ireland and the US a photo is usually left out to avoid bias, and many employers prefer CVs without one. In Germany and some other countries it is common but optional. If you use one: recent, friendly, plain background, dressed as you would be on a good day at work.

Can I copy the example letters?

Yes, they are free to use. But recruiters read a lot of letters – one with your own examples, numbers and a real reason for choosing this employer will always do better. Use the examples as scaffolding and write the sentences yourself.

Is my data stored anywhere?

No. The CV and the letter are created in your browser. Nothing is stored unless you switch on “Save the draft” in the editor – and then only on your device.

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Finish your application

Cover letter and CV as PDF, certificates added, all in one file – small enough for any job portal.