Maybe you have learned this before, though I'll say it yet again: it's vital that you know your audience. This is true whether or not you are on stage performing or should you be writing a letter to a person you don't know. These suggestions is very true when you are writing a cover letter for a nursing job. The main point of a cover letter is to introduce yourself to somebody who can be interested in hiring you, and to clearly show a few reasons why they ought to "read on" to the rest of your application packet - and bring you in for an interview. Being very specific and straightforward is vital, but nothing is more vital than knowing to whom you're writing. There are two main things you will want to think about when writing a cover letter for a nursing job.
First, establish who will be the first person reading your letter. Some job ads will list the name of the person to whom you should send your application materials. For example, the ad might list "Send resumes and a cover letter to Carrie Jones, Human Resources, 123 Forth St.,..." If you are writing a letter that will first be read by a non-nurse - normally, a human resources associate - you ought to be a little less nursing-centric with your language. I would probably recommend you not include terms like, "I've worked in high acuity ERs, SDUs, and HOTCs for many years." The human resources associate is probably going to understand the ER acronym, but the other ones are going to not add value in your letter. So, know your audience.
Conversely, you should write to things a hiring manager - likely a nurse - would understand. If there is a unique skill that you possess that is rare in your geographic area, then feel free to emphasize that skill. Say, for example, you are skilled at inserting peripherally inserted central lines (PICC). Feel free to highlight not only your proficiency, but your practical knowledge in this area.
The second thing to take into account when "knowing your audience" is that your letter may be read by a variety of people, beyond human resources staff or hiring managers. If you will be interviewed by a group, your cover letter will almost certainly be passed out to the group along with your resume and (these days) your online application. So, be cautious what you claim in your letter, to confirm that everything is accurate and absolutely nothing is inflammatory. I once saw a cover letter which said the job seeker had left a prior job because the administrator was, essentially, a depraved dictator. It turns out the cover letter and resume were distributed to the sister of the manager criticized. Big mistake! So, know your audience!
