Nursing School Letter of Intent Examples

What is a Nursing School Letter of Intent?

If you are interested in pursuing a program at nursing school, you are required to state the reasons for your interest in your application. You should be able to explain your motivation behind pursuing the program, your future goals, and past qualifications to help the admissions committee learn more about you as a potential candidate. Their job is to evaluate your application against their school's benchmark to determine whether you are a suitable match or not. A letter of intent makes this job easier, complementing other components of your nursing school application, such as your nursing school application resume in presenting your candidature. Unlike medical school letters of intent, nursing school letters of intent are submitted as part of primary applications. Not all schools require this application component, but it is fairly common and used as an addition to the rest of the primary application.

Every nursing program will have its own structure and format requirements when it comes to letters of intent. Some schools ask for letters of intent to be short essays that touch upon certain topics/prompts. Some schools want short answers to specific questions. You should carefully research the requirements of their school before you sit down to write the letter and stick to these requirements religiously. If you go over the word limit or decide to write an essay instead of answering specific questions, your letters will be discarded and you will be removed from the competition.

What to Include in a Nursing School Letter of Intent?

Take the time to plan to write this letter due to its significance in your application. Like any other statement of intent, you should write a nursing school letter of intent in a formal tone. Focus on providing the most accurate information as per your nursing school’s requirements, including the following sections:

Remember, as we already emphasized, every school will have its own requirements, formats, and prompts, so please make sure to follow them closely. The sections we outline above are the most common talking-points of this application component, but your chosen programs may require something different.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write a Nursing School Letter of Intent

Writing a letter of intent involves your dedicated time and effort. Give yourself at least 4 weeks to read through the schools’ guidelines, brainstorm and draft your letter. Additionally, consider getting help from nursing school admissions consulting to create the best possible letter of intent for your application.

Interested in a quick summary of the section below? Take a look at this infographic:

Step 1: Research the required format

Check the format of the letter with the schools for which you are writing your letter of intent. Often, the schools lay out their own requirements about what to include in the letter of intent. Hence, it is the best to confirm on those requirements.

Step 2: Create a structure

The first step in writing a nursing school letter of intent is by outlining what you wish to mention in your letter. Create a structure by identifying and writing heading for the sake of easing your process of writing. It will help you in organizing your thoughts better. Based on the requirements of the letter outlined by your school, start planning how you can structure your submission. For example, if you are submitting a short 500-word essay, you should structure your letter as an academic essay, including an intro, body, and a conclusion.

If you are responding to a list of questions, similar to medical school secondary essay prompts, your answers should still follow the academic essay structure, but you will need to shorten them significantly to keep to the word limit.

Step 3: Brainstorm

Once you know what structure you will be following, you can think about your reasons for joining a nursing school in general or a specific program. Accumulate all ideas in one place so that you have access to all the information at once and you don’t end up missing out on anything. Start by answering these questions:

1. When was the first time you learned about the profession of nursing?
2. What inspired you to choose nursing as a career?
3. What makes you a qualified candidate for a nursing program?
4. What do you plan on doing after completing your nursing program?

Step 4: Write the first draft

After collecting your ideas, start drafting the first copy of your letter of intent. Organize your thoughts into meaningful paragraphs with a logical flow for a clear presentation of information.

While you should try your best to write a professional nursing school letter of intent initially, do not expect your first few drafts to be error-free. Ideally, it will take you a few weeks to finally create the perfect document, so be patient with your work. You can get a nursing application review service to help you with your drafts.

Step 5: Make sure to use examples and personal stories

It is best to demonstrate your arguments with the help of examples to provide concrete proof of your abilities. 

For example, rather than initiating the letter with “I have been interested in nursing since I was in the 6th grade,” can you think of a story about why you even started thinking of becoming a nurse in the first place?

“I had my first experience in a hospital when I was in 6th grade. My grandmother was in an accident and was hospitalized. The selfless nature of the nurses moved me. They took utmost care of my grandmother and helped her with medicines and meals. Due to their diligence and service, my grandmother recovered speedily in a fortnight. This incident inspired me to take an avid interest in the profession of nursing.”

Step 6: Proofread and edit

Revise and re-check your letter of intent several times to eliminate grammatical, spelling, and logical errors. If a sentence is not adding value to your statement, replace it with something that makes your letter impactful or remove it all together. Remember, your letter should be concise and clear, so do not add any fluff to it! 

There are some nursing programs that use unified application systems, but all nursing programs have their own application requirements. Some may request a resume, while some may not. So, if you are applying to each program separately, your letter of intent should include what makes you a perfect candidate for a specific school. If you are applying via a school portal and not a unified application system, your entire application should be tailored to the school.

Tips for Writing a Strong Nursing School Letter of Intent

While writing a nursing school letter of intent is not a daunting task, a few tips can make your work faster and easier:

Nursing School Letter of Intent Examples

Let’s take a look at some nursing school letter of intent examples:

Example 1

Dear Admissions Committee,

I am writing this letter to express my interest in the University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Nursing's prestigious Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. It is one of the best programs to help aspiring healthcare professionals like me get started in the noble field of providing patient care.

My passion for building a career in healthcare goes back to my primary school days. Once, while playing on the school playground, my friend fell of a swing and badly injured his ankle. When I escorted him to the school infirmary, I saw the gentle care the nurse provided by cleaning his wound and dressing it up. Her kind approach and the ease with which she managed to help my friend left a great impression. Since this incident, I have always considered nursing as a potential career path for me. My dedication solidified further as I entered high school.

During my time at the X high school, I pursued the study of physical science, including biology, chemistry, and physics. In grade 11, I enrolled in a competitive anatomy and physiology workshop, which I completed with honors. Throughout high school, I often spent my lunch hours and after school hours in the biology and chemistry labs to get acquainted with the practical use of concepts in these subjects. My hard work paid off, and I graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.8. I am confident that my strong foundational knowledge will help me better understand the courses in your prestigious nursing program. 

Apart from my academics, I worked as a member of the Red Cross Club for two years. This experience was crucial in developing my understanding of what I can expect in my career as a nurse. I took part in events like "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" to raise awareness for breast cancer among the members of our community in Boston. I also helped organize Blood Drives where I interacted with donors, assisted in medical checkups, and served refreshments after a donor completed the donation process. I believe that these experiences will help me in nursing school since I have prior knowledge of working with patients and handling medical equipment.

My time at nursing school will pave the way to gain professional expertise as a healthcare professional in the future. My career goal is to achieve professional training and become a registered nurse after completing my Bachelor's degree. I wish to specialize in critical care and work in the same division of a local healthcare institution to serve my community. 

I believe that these reasons make me a suitable match for your nursing school. If selected, I will be grateful for such a life-changing opportunity. While pursuing the program, I will continue my sincere efforts to study meticulously and finish my degree with honors. I also wish to continue my volunteering activities by becoming a part of the UMass American Red Cross.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Richard Keith

Example 2

Dear Admissions Committee,

This statement is regarding my interest in applying for the distinguished nursing program at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. My educational background and experience in healthcare have contributed to my suitability as a candidate for this program. 

My motivation to become a nurse goes back to the beginning of my senior year at school, when I had to undergo an appendectomy. During my time in the hospital, the selfless attitude of the nurses moved me. I was extremely nervous before my surgery, but my attending nurse made sure that I was comfortable, answered all my questions, and helped to calm me down. Her kindness and support inspired me to build a career in nursing. 

I chose an undergraduate degree in Microbiology and learned how microorganisms affect our lives. I was particularly interested in the study of global health issues. During this time, I engaged in a shadowing opportunity through the volunteering program at the local hospital, where I learned to communicate with patients, recorded their responses, administered basic medications, and checked for symptoms. I participated in the IVHQ’s volunteering programs abroad for my summer breaks. I spent a fortnight in Argentina in 20XX, working on a Healthcare Volunteer Project in Buenos Aires. I assisted in local clinics and nursing homes for disabled children with essential healthcare tasks. 

I want to work as a pediatric nurse after completing my nursing program. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in Buenos Aires working with children, and I wish to drive my career in that direction. I firmly believe that becoming a nurse will give me a sense of achievement in life, and I will thoroughly enjoy my career as a nurse. I wish to conclude my statement by thanking you for your time and consideration of my application. 

Sincerely,

Amanda Brown

Example 3

Dear admissions committee,

I am interested in enrolling in the nursing program at the Northwestern State University of Louisiana. I am confident in my abilities as a motivated and enthusiastic individual with an avid interest in nursing, which will make me fit for your program. 

I started considering nursing as a potential career when I watched my uncle fight cancer. The nurses who were there to help him were compassionate and kind-natured. Their support meant a lot to us because good bedside manners count the most during such times. I remember realizing that supporting people was something I wanted to do. Thus, I decided to become a nurse. 

My previous accomplishments show my qualification as an eligible candidate for your nursing program. I have pursued a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration that I cleared with a GPA of 3.5. I worked at the local community hospital as a volunteer to get the first-hand experience of being a nurse. Initially, I was responsible for assisting wheelchair patients in transferring to different departments. I progressed to become a part of the discharge team, where I assisted in preparing paperwork and helped patients move. This opportunity allowed me to build relationships with other nurses, doctors, and patients. I learned to function efficiently as an individual and as a part of a team for supporting people in need.

In the next two years, my goal is to complete my studies and training and begin my career as a nurse. During my course in your nursing program, I intend to achieve academic excellence while striving to improve my participation in humanitarian endeavors. I wish to use my passion for nursing and previous accomplishments in my service to patients. 

I am a self-driven individual with the urge to make the world a better place. After reviewing the curriculum of your nursing program, I am confident that it matches my learning needs. With appropriate training at your institution, I can achieve success and make a difference in people's lives. 

I thank you for the opportunity to express myself. 

Sincerely,

Cynthia Perez

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