Even with a great resume you might still not be able to land the job you want without a really solid cover letter. If you’re on the job search for a nursing assistant position it literally pays to know how to write a good CNA cover letter. We’ll walk you through some of the key elements to writing a winning cover letter and also provide you some downloadable CNA cover letter examples that you can use as templates for workshopping your own cover letter. Whether you’re looking to land a job at a nursing home, hospital, medical center, or governmental facility, our cover letter samples are a great tool to help you stick out from the crowd.
What to include in your cover letter
Whether you’re a CNA with decades of experience or no experience at all, you’ll likely want to clarify the status of your CNA license right away, so make sure to include that in your letter. More than anything, you want to include job specific items whenever possible to show that you’re a good fit for the position. For example, working in a hospital and working for a home healthcare company are two very different environments. Working with a hospital staff will likely require a lot more day to day coordination with a large healthcare team, so you should play up your teamwork experience and skills. Working in home healthcare likely means a lot of one on one time with a patient, so it would be worthwhile to play up your interpersonal skills.
While you want to be specific, you also want to make sure you cover the basics to put any doubts to rest. Being a CNA can be a physically demanding job, so play up your physical skills and stamina. The job also requires a tremendous amount of wherewithal to deal with difficult patients and tough circumstances. Making it clear that you have the physical and mental skills that every CNA needs is worth spelling out in your cover letter.
What’s the right format for a CNA cover letter?
A mistake that many CNAs make when creating a cover letter is making it too informal. Rather than creating your own format, or following a format that’s a bit “outside the box”, you’re best off sticking with something formal and straightforward as far as formatting goes. This is a serious job, and you’re a serious candidate – the format of your cover letter should represent that as well. We recommend following a structured template like the Google Docs and Microsoft Word cover letter templates we’ve designed specifically for CNAs below.
- CNA cover letter example (Microsoft Word)
- CNA cover letter sample (Google Docs)
CNA cover letter tips
Should you choose to go off script and write a cover letter from scratch, there are some general guidelines we would recommend you follow to make sure that you write a letter that will be well received during your job application.
- Include the current date, your complete contact information and the address of the location of the CNA job you’re applying for.
- If you have the hiring manager’s name and job title, be sure to mention their complete name.
- Use your opening paragraph to get the recruiter’s attention and sells yourself and your skills.
- Let your potential employer know about your passion for patient care and the CNA skills you bring to the table. If you have any certifications, education, classes, or other skills and experience that could set you apart from other candidates make sure to highlight them.
- Tailor your letter around the job description and the unique elements of the job or the business as a whole.
- DO NOT GO OVER ONE PAGE. That’s in all caps because hiring managers often won’t read the entirety of a one page nursing assistant cover letter. When it comes to resumes and cover letters, it’s a safer bet to stick to one page so that they don’t end up in the trash before it’s even given a look.
- Mention your license status and the status of any other certifications that are required for your state (such as CPR certification)
- Sign your letter. That little personal touch makes a difference.
How do I write a CNA cover letter with no experience?
Writing a CNA resume or cover letter when you’re seeking your first job can be exceedingly difficult. The truth is, most businesses want someone with experience. So, knowing that your resume won’t have much specific experience, the most important document you can submit is your cover letter. As mentioned above, having a professional cover letter format is step one, but you’ll really want to push hard on selling your traits, classroom experience (both classroom and hands-on demonstrations), and past achievements or related experience from other jobs you’ve held that are applicable to the job you’re trying to get. While it won’t be easy, a well-crafted cover letter can help you land the all important interview that will let you win the hiring manager over in person. Check out our example cover letter for a CNA with no experience below.
- CNA cover letter example for candidate w/ no experience (Microsoft Word)
- CNA cover letter example for candidate w/ no experience (Google Docs)
Text versions of CNA cover letter examples
Experienced CNA
Jeneace Smith
[email protected]
(555) 123-4567
555 Best St., Wondertown, NE 62314
July 4th, 2021
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to you today in reference to the Certified Nursing Assistant position at Wondertown Home Health Care. I have more than six years of experience as a CNA and I would love to become a part of your award-winning organization. I noticed that you were awarded as the leading home care agency in Nebraska by bestofhomecare.com, and I feel my experience and patient care skills will only add to your impressive reputation.
After finishing near the top of my class in the Omaha Tech CNA program, I took a job at Pawnee Medical Center where I gained a tremendous amount of experience and truly sharpened my skills these past six years. I realize how important it is to provide a positive attitude while working in home health care, and my passion for the job allows me to bring a positive, optimistic outlook to the job each day. During my time at Pawnee, my positive demeanor was a driving factor in helping me earn the Employee of the Month Award a record seven times.
As you will note in my attached resume, my CNA certification is up to date in the state of Nebraska, and I also hold my CPR certification from the American Red Cross. Beyond my certifications I have ample experience providing nursing assistant duties, particularly those most critical for a home health care position. I have spent countless hours providing basic care including grooming, feeding, dressing, mouth care, while always keeping the patient’s needs and privacy top of mind. I feel that my patient-driven approach, exceptional stamina, interpersonal skills, and desire to constantly improve will also make me an asset to Wondertown Home Health Care.
Thank you for your time and consideration for this position. I look forward to speaking with you to learn more about this opportunity. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Jeneace Smith
CNA with no experience
Jeneace Smith
[email protected]
(555) 123-4567
555 Best St., Wondertown, NE 62314
July 4th, 2021
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to you today in reference to the Certified Nursing Assistant position at Wondertown Home Health Care. I have several years of experience in caring for clients and I recently finished at the top of my class at Omaha Tech as I achieved my CNA certification. I noticed that your company was recently awarded as the leading home care agency in Nebraska by bestofhomecare.com, and I feel my go-getter attitude and attention to detail will make for an excellent addition to your team.
Despite being a recent graduate of the Omaha Tech Nursing Assistant program, I spent my hands-on hours working at Memorial Health Center where I gained invaluable knowledge, skills, and understanding of the patients there. My patients and instructors were consistently impressed with my dedication to my craft for important skills like feeding, grooming, dressing, and overall patient care skills. I have gained valuable experience outside the classroom as well. While I earned my CNA certification, I gained experience working at Sprocket Wireless, where my tireless work ethic and dedication to my clients’ needs allowed me to be promoted to shift manager after only three months. I hope to bring that same dedication to excellence to the Wondertown Home Health Care team.
As you will note in my attached resume, my CNA certification is up to date in the state of Nebraska, and I also hold my CPR certification from the American Red Cross. Thank you for your time and consideration for this position. I look forward to having a chance to speak with you to learn more about this opportunity. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Jeneace Smith