CNA Cover Letter: A 2023 Guide with 10+ Samples and Examples

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How to write a CNA cover letter?

When you start applying for a certified nursing assistant job, this particular question comes to your mind.

You are confident about your skills as a certified nursing assistant, but how do you convince the hiring manager that you are qualified?

The answer is, with a professional CNA Cover Letter.

More than 80% of professionals say that they prefer to read cover letters when evaluating a job candidate.

Your certified nursing assistant cover letter is the perfect opportunity to set yourself apart from the rest of the candidates and create a personal bond with the hiring manager.

We agree that writing a cover letter for CNA position is difficult, It’s even more difficult to write a CNA cover letter with no experience.

But writing a wrong cover letter is more damaging for your candidature.

Not to worry though, in this article, we walk you through everything you need to know about writing CNA cover letters, including tips and samples.

• What is a Certified Nursing Assistant?
• CNA cover letter sample
• How to Write a CNA cover letter with step by step guide
• CNA cover letter checklist
• Tips to writing a professional CNA cover letter
• FAQs related to CNA cover letter

What is a CNA?

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A Certified nursing assistant or CNA is a professional work under the direct supervision of a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or the registered nurse(RN) and helps patients with their healthcare needs and daily activities.

A CNA is responsible for many critical job functions, such as monitoring patients' vital signals, regulating medicines, helping patients do daily chores, etc. This is a crucial job as they are responsible for notifying registered personnel if the patient's condition changes.

They are also responsible for keeping the patient's room clean and even feed the patients if they are unable.

Average Salary: The average salary of a Certified nursing assistant is around $25000- $30,000 a year. However, this figure is subject to change based on the location.

CNA cover letter sample?

Here is a CNA cover letter for you:

How to write a CNA cover letter?

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You have less than 5 seconds to hook the hiring manager to read your CNA cover letter.

So, how do you make sure that they open and read your cover letter?

The subject line!

The subject line is the first thing the recruiter sees even before opening the cover letter. So, nail the cover letter subject line, and we guarantee that they will read the cover letter.

Here's how to write the CNA cover letter - Subject line

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Keep in brief

Your CNA cover letter subject line should be clear and conscious; 70% of recruiters check emails on their mobile. So make sure your cover letter subject line is no more than 40 characters long.

Specify "Certified Nursing Assistant" or "CNA" on the subject line
Remember that many candidates are applying for various positions to the hiring manager. So clearly specify on the cover letter for CNA position subject line what role you are applying for.

Include referral

If someone gave a reference for the job opening, include their name on the CNA cover letter subject line. This way, you will have a higher chance of getting noticed by the hiring manager and getting an interview.

Include the job ID

If the job description has a job ID, include that in the nursing assistant cover letter subject line. It will help the hiring manager understand from where you have known about the position.

Example:
Wrong-way to write a cover letter for cna job subject line:

"Hey hiring manager, applying for Certified Nursing Assistant job at XYZ Hospital."

The right way to write a CNA cover letter subject line:

"Job Application: Certified Nursing Assistant (ID: #21232); Reff: Joe Smith"

CNA Cover Letter- Introduction

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Start with Proper heading

Ensure to add the date, title, organization, and address of the organization correctly before addressing the hiring manager.

Use professional salutation

Address the hiring manager properly. For Example, if the hiring manager's name is John Snow, address on the CNA cover letter with "Dear Mr. Show.". If you do not know who is the hiring manager, address the cover letter by "Dear Hiring Manager,"

Start your CNA Cover letter intro with your experience

Start your certified nursing assistant cover letter by showing the hiring manager your experience and why you are the organization's best fit. If you are a fresher and don't have the experience, you can highlight your intro's academic achievements.

CNA Cover Letter Example- Introduction:

Wrong:

"To whomever it may concern

I am a recent nursing graduate from XYZ University with a Nursing Assistant Certification. And I'm applying for the Certified Nursing Assistant position at Alabama Hospital."

Right:
"Dear Ms. Gem,

I am a patient-oriented, reliable, and compassionate Certified Nursing Assistant with 3+ years of experience. I am thrilled to apply for the post of Certified Nursing Assistant at Alabama Hospital. I believe my educational qualification and my care-aligned nursing skills make me an apt candidate for this post."

Note: Do not address the cover letter for CNA position with a generic address such as "To whom it may concern."

Okay, we have seen the cover letter intro for an experienced Certified nursing assistant. But what about entry level CNA cover letters?

Example of CNA cover letter with no experience

"Dear Ms. Gem,

I am an enterprising Certified Nursing Assistant pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of California with an overall GPA of 3.8. I am thrilled to apply for the post of Certified Nursing Assistant at California Hospital. I believe my educational qualification, along with my care-aligned nursing skills, make me an apt. candidate for this post."

CNA Cover Letter- Main Body

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So, you have nailed the subject line, Salutation, and the intro of your cover letter for CNA job.

Now it's time to put all your efforts into writing your cover letter's main body so that the hiring managers are still interested in reading through your cover letter till the end.

How?

It's relatively straightforward.

You just have to tailor your cover letter to the CNA job you are applying for.

Here's how to do that:

• Read the job description thoroughly
• Underline or highlight the responsibilities and skills required for the CNA position
• Match the skills and responsibilities with your previous academics or internship experiences

CNA cover letter example - main body:

I am currently serving as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Oscorp Hospital, where I am assisting 5+ senior doctors in performing physical assessments, monitoring & administering catheters and ventilators. In addition to that, I am providing direct care to 50+ daily patients with medication and preparing treatment records in the telemetry and Intensive care unit. Additionally, I am coordinating with licenced practical nurses to monitor patient care and set up the sterilization unit for the intensive care unit's optimum quality.

I am skilled at managing different tasks with 5+ years of experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Note: Notice that this CNA cover letter's main section talks about your experience, skills, and responsibilities you have successfully managed in your career.

CNA Cover Letter- Ending

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Congratulations, you have successfully managed to hook the hiring manager to the main body.

80% of your work is done.

Now, you just have to close the cover letter for CNA position nicely with a powerful closing statement.

Things to remember:

1. Show that you are really interested in working with the organization.
Example:
The passion for excellence that ABC Hospital has showcased to date has been nothing short of extraordinary. Owing to such value and reputation, I consider ABC Hospital to be my most preferred employer.

2. Tell that you are open for call and discussion
Don't just end the cover letter abruptly. Tell the hiring manager that you are interested in discussing with them about the opportunity in detail.

Don't:
"Let's get on a call someday to discuss my qualifications.
Thanks in advance.

Jordan Wall "

Do:
"Enclosed for your consideration is my resume. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my suitability and qualifications with you on call or in person.

Sincerely,
Jordan Wall"

Do not forget to enclose your resume below your cover letter.

Put a simple, "Enclosed: Resume" will do the trick.

CNA Cover Letter Checklist:

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Here's a small checklist for you to help you write the best cover letter for CNA job.

• Date of writing
• Hiring Manager's name
• The company's details
• Professional Salutation to the hiring manager
• Start with a powerful opening statement
• Highlight your work experience in your previous jobs
• A short paragraph on why the prospective employer is perfect for you
• Closing statement with a call to action for an interview to discuss further
• Complimentary close (e.g., Sincerely,)
• Enclosed Resume

Bonus tips to write a killer CNA cover letter

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• If you are fresher, you might find some struggle to highlight your cover letter for CNA job skills. Nonetheless, here are some bonus tips for you to write a killer CNA cover letter.
• Make sure to write a proper heading of the cover letter for CNA resume, including date, name of the hiring manager, organization, address, and the role you are applying for.
• If you do not have the hiring manager's information, search on Linkedin or Directly call the hospital front desk to know the hiring manager's name and contact information.
• Research has found that hiring managers only read the starting and the end of the cover letters. So make sure to write something that grabs the hiring manager's attention.
• Start your CNA cover letter highlighting your experience achievements. It will grab the attention of hiring managers.
• In the CNA cover letter's main body, highlight your previous experience and achievements, and show what skills you are bringing to the table.
• Do not exceed one page for your CNA cover letter.
• Write the CNA cover letter clearly and concisely. Hiring managers do not spend much time reading one cover letter.
• End your cover letter by restating that you are incredibly interested in this position and with a strong CTA to get on an interview to discuss your qualifications for the job post further.
• If you are a licensed professional, make sure to mention your license in the cover letter for CNA resume.
• Lastly, make sure all the information you add to your CNA cover letter is correct and aligns with the information on your resume.

FAQ

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How long should a cover letter be for a CNA position?

The main body of your CNA cover letter should not be more than 200- 350 words. Recruiters do not have all day to read a long cover letter. The shorter it is, the better.

Do you need to put your address on the CNA cover letter?

Yes, as a CNA cover letter is a business letter, you have to include the date, the company address, and your address on your cover letter.

If you are sending the cover letter via email, you may choose not to include your address on the electronic cover letter.

What date to put on a CNA cover letter?

No, it is not mandatory nowadays to put a date on your cover letter. Traditionally the cover letters were sent via postal mails. That's why job seekers used to include the date to let the hiring manager know when they sent it.

Nowadays, cover letters are sent via email, where dates are automatically recorded.

But at Hiration we recommend including the date in your cover letter for CNA resume. The correct format to write the date is: [Day] [Mon] '[Year]. Example: 13th Feb '19.

Key Takeaways

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With that, we have come to the end of this blog. We hope you have got all the information you need to write a CNA cover letter.

Here are the key takeaways from the blog:

• Personalize your cover letter by addressing the cover letter directly to the hiring manager
• Start your CNA cover letter with a powerful statement such as "5+ years experienced Certified Nursing Assistant…"
• In the main body of your CNA cover letter, highlight your skills that align with your prospective employer's requirements
• End your CNA cover letter with a strong CTA for an interview
• Do not forget to enclose your resume at the end of your CNA cover letter

If you want to create a CNA cover letter, go to Hiration Cover Letter Builder and select from 20+ templates and create a professional CNA cover letter all by yourself.

Go to Hiration career platform which has 24/7 chat support and get professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries. You can also write to us at support@hiration.com and we will make sure to reach out to you as soon as possible.