A job-winning CNA cover letter must prove you’re great at assisting patients, administering medication, cleaning, and monitoring issues. Here’s how to write one.
Sure, doctors are important. They save lives. It’s the Certified Nursing Assistants, however, that are the invisible force that keeps the hospital running smoothly.
It’s one of those jobs you do for one reason, and one reason only—To help people. And we’re going to help you get there.
In this guide:
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To start, here are two CNA cover letter examples. See how the one for an experienced CNA differs from the one for an entry-level candidate—but also how both these samples follow a similar pattern. And seriously boost the candidates’ chances of getting hired.
The first CNA cover letter sample comes from Mary, who is applying for the position of a Certified Nursing Assistant with experience.
The hospital in question is searching for someone to maintain positive relations with patients, basic care duties, monitoring patient conditions and maintaining cleanliness. Here’s her CNA cover letter example:
Mary Needham
341 Linda Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
267-733-4930
mary1@needham.com
Philadelphia, Sept 31, 2019
Jim Employer
Nursing Manager
Evergreen Hospital
1 Main Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Dear Jim,
Being personally indebted to Evergreen Hospital for the excellent care my father received there, I was delighted to see a Certified Nursing Assistant opening there. After 4+ years of experience in maintaining not only patients’ condition, but also upholding warm relations, I believe I can give back something valuable to the Evergreen Hospital.
You require a CNA that can not only perform basic care duties, but also monitor the patients’ condition and general hygiene. In my previous position as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Central Hospital, I implemented an improved cleaning schedule that cut time spent cleaning by 15%. I was responsible for the care duties of up to 60 patients a day, including activities such as perineal cleaning. I am always alert and looking out for the patients, I have been commended twice for spotting a change in patient vitals, allowing doctors to prevent a worsening of the condition in time. I pay attention to all parts of the job and see them all as equally important, so I believe I have what it takes to excel in the Certified Nursing Assistant role at Evergreen Hospital.
I am not only very grateful to Evergreen for the care my father received; I was also equally impressed by the style it was delivered in. The warm, family atmosphere is something I have not experienced in any other hospital, which is my motivation for applying for this position. I myself have been commended several times by my nursing manager for upholding good relations with patients and supplying them not only physical, but also emotional comfort.
When could we schedule an interview to discuss how I can contribute my experience to the atmosphere and standard of care at Evergreen Hospital?
Thank you,
Mary Needham
267-733-4930
mary1@needham.com
This cover letter for CNA positions will clean up better than quaternary ammonium.
Do you need to write a CNA cover letter with no experience? No worries. We have a sample for this too:
Here’s Thomas. He is applying for an entry-level Certified Nursing Assistant job, which calls for someone that will assist patients in daily living, bathing, dressing and feeding, as well as monitoring patient condition. He has no relevant employment history, but his Certified Nursing Assistant cover letter shows he has the vitals they’re looking for.
Thomas Taylor
370 Vineyard Drive
Warrensville Heights, OH 44128
440-380-9859
thomas@taylor.com
Warrensville Heights, Sept 31, 2019
Jim Employer
Nursing Manager
Evergreen Hospital
1 Main Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Dear Jim,
While at Evergreen Hospital, I was excited to spot an opening for a Certified Nursing Assistant. As an outgoing, energetic Nurse Assistant Program graduate, I am ready to step up and gain real-world knowledge at Evergreen.
The job posting calls for a person that will assist patients in daily living, bathing, and feeding, as well as monitoring patient condition. I have a good grasp on the reality of elderly care, having cared for my grandmother suffering from Alzheimer’s for the past 7 years, helping her with everything from medication to bathing. I have over 80 classroom hours with modules such as Monitoring Vital Signs. The CPR certification will allow me to be ready in any emergency. I am confident I have the skills to make a difference at Evergreen hospital.
What I admire about Evergreen is that you are just as committed to maintaining good psychological condition of your patients, not only the physical one. I have taken extra classes in Supporting The Elderly and have real-world experience of supporting my grandmother through her difficult illness, so I believe I can contribute to this aspect at Evergreen.
Can we schedule a meeting to discuss how I can use these skills to help Evergreen uphold its high standards?
Best Regards,
Thomas Taylor
440-380-9859
thomas@taylor.com
Have you written your CNA resume yet? If not, check out this guide because a cover letter alone won’t get you that job: Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Resume—Examples and 25 Tips
Now, let’s get working on your cover letter.
Before every medical procedure, there are always steps that need to be taken. This is no different. Once you have the Nursing Manager’s attention, you don’t want them to get discouraged or annoyed before they get to the end.
Make it easy for them. Here’s the professional cover letter format:
Once you have the operating area set, it’s time to give them a taste of your medicine. There are different things you can include in your cover letter, but for a CNA cover letter, you gotta have these for sure:
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When writing a cover letter for CNA jobs, make the header of it match your resume header, and provide your name, job title, and contact details. Drop a space, enter the city and date, space, and paste in the details of the manager you’re writing to. You can use this template to check you got it right:
[ Your Full Name]
[ Your Job Title ] (Optional)
[ Address ]
[ Phone Number ]
[ Email Address ]
[ City and Date ]
[ Hiring Manager’s Full Name ]
[ Hiring Manager’s Position]
[ Company Name ]
[ Company Street Address ]
[ City and Zip Code ]
Expert Hint: Most industries are declining, and people are losing jobs to machines. Machines are not compassionate, or good with people—but you are. There won’t be any robotic Certified Nursing Assistants for a while. There will be approximately 137 thousand, or 9% more CNA jobs in the next decade, according to BLS data.Get to the front of the waiting list with ResumeLab’s cover letter tips, dos and don’ts.
Contrary to what the papers would tell you, there are a lot of people out there that want to help others. There is a lot of interest in CNA jobs, as it is a gateway to other nursing and medical positions. This is why you should get right to the point to make them want to choose you.
In your cover letter, address them by their name. Read the job posting closely, and if necessary, call up to find out who is dealing with the recruitment—whether it’s the nursing manager or someone else. When starting your cover letter, tell them which position you’re applying for, and give them a strong reason to keep on reading.
See our CNA cover letter sample. Fill in the [blanks] with information relevant to you and the position you’re after.
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name]:
Once I saw that you are looking for a CNA at [Target Institution Name], I was overjoyed. As a [CNA/Previous Position Title] with [number of years]+ years of experience, and with significant [First Aid/Emergency Response/Mental Health Care/Empathy & Compassion/other relevant skills you have] skills, I know I can be a productive part of the nursing team [Target Institution Name].
Expert Hint: For many, working as a Certified Nursing Assistant is a step to becoming a licensed RN. There are many programs, institutions, and hospitals that offer scholarships for CNAs to become RNs, or simply, your CNA experience will be a strong argument in your favor when applying for any nursing scholarship. Keep up to date with nursing industry websites to find the scholarship opportunities, and when you’re ready, use ResumeLab’s nursing resume and nursing cover letter guides.
After introducing yourself, your CNA cover letter should not waste time. The point is to put the operating light on your skills and experiences that make you the cure-all for their ailments. Do a thorough examination of the job description—and identify the things that they’re looking for in you.
Think about the ways you have shown in the past that you excel at these. There are many specific manual aspects to being a Certified Nursing Assistant, but remember that the compassion and empathy side of things is also crucial to this job.
So event if you’ve developed these soft skills through other activities and life scenarios than being a nursing assistant, do mention it in your cover letter. It will matter a lot. But, since this is a relatively entry-level position, your CNA cover letter will also gain in value if you already have some medical skills and relevant certifications.
The job ad calls for a Certified Nursing Assistant skilled in [refer to the requirements of the job]. At [Name of Your Previous Employer], I have always tried to go above and beyond in terms of [responsibilities, duties, or projects you’ve successfully completed, supported by metrics, if possible]. I have the necessary diligence, commitment and compassion to make a difference as part of the nursing team at [Target Company Name].
Expert Hint: Do you want to get certified before you write your CNA cover letter? The American Red Cross offers CNA courses that will prepare you to get certified with your state, starting at $1250. Having more certifications on your resume is always a plus.
After spending some time explaining why they should choose you, you ought to spend some time explaining why you chose them.
Letting them know that you are copying and pasting only 80%, not 100% of your cover letter can make the difference when getting a CNA job. Find something impressive, notable, or simply something that speaks to you personally about the institution you are applying to.
It is genuinely valuable to spend some time doing this, not only to placate the employer, but also to make sure you are choosing the right place. Once you find a place you get genuinely excited about, you’ll be able to write the best possible version of your Certified Nursing Assistant cover letter. Try something like this:
I admire it about [Target Employer Name] that you pay so much attention to making sure that [something you genuinely admire about the company/values/way of working/infrastructure]. This is especially important to me because […]. For this reason, I think that working at [Target Employer Name] as a CNA would be enjoyable, efficient and effective.
There’s a chance that the nursing manager will want you in scrubs right away. But let’s not neglect those that may still be slightly on the fence about you as their new Certified Nursing Assistant.
Make the best of your chances, and right at the end of your cover letter—Request an interview or at least a phone call.
If you do it in the way you have seen in our CNA cover letter examples, you will help your chances. Without being pushy or brash. See how we close our sample cover letters for CNA jobs:
When would be a good time to talk about how my [your best, most relevant skill/experience/their most important requirement] can help [Target Institution Name] achieve [something important to this employer]?
Best regards,
[Digital Copy of Your Handwritten Signature]
[Your Full Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]
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As you write your cover letter for Certified Nursing Assistant positions, make sure that you:
Do you have any more questions about writing a cover letter for CNA jobs? Did you find our CNA cover letter examples helpful? Leave us a comment, I’ll be more than happy to hear from you!
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Dave is a career expert delivering a wide range of well-researched advice regarding the job hunting and application process. At ResumeLab, his data-driven resume and cover letter guides help readers capitalize on their potential.
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