Struggling to showcase your clinical skills, compassionate patient care, and ability to work under pressure in a way that demonstrates your value to nursing teams across Australia’s healthcare system? You’re not alone. Many enrolled nurses find it challenging to articulate their hands-on experience and dedication to patient wellbeing in compelling written content that resonates with nurse managers and healthcare administrators. The reality is that directors of nursing and clinical managers want to see evidence of your ability to provide quality patient care, work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, and maintain professional standards whilst adapting to the demanding pace of modern healthcare environments. This comprehensive guide includes a realistic cover letter example, healthcare-specific formatting strategies, and proven techniques to help you secure positions with leading Australian healthcare providers, from major public hospitals to private healthcare networks and aged care facilities registered with AHPRA.
Enrolled Nurse Cover Letter Example (Text Version)
[email protected]
0423 456 789
LinkedIn.com/in/rachelstevens-enrollednurse
15 September 2025
Ms Amanda Foster
Nurse Unit Manager
Royal North Shore Hospital
Reserve Road
St Leonards NSW 2065
Dear Ms Foster,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Enrolled Nurse position in the Medical Ward at Royal North Shore Hospital. With my Diploma of Nursing from TAFE NSW, current AHPRA registration, and three years of experience providing compassionate patient care in acute medical settings, I am excited to contribute to RNSH’s reputation for clinical excellence and patient-centred care within the Northern Sydney Local Health District.
In my current role as Enrolled Nurse at Westmead Hospital, I provide direct patient care for up to 8 patients per shift across general medical and surgical units, working collaboratively with registered nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals. My experience includes medication administration under RN supervision, wound care management, vital signs monitoring, and patient education regarding post-operative care and chronic disease management. Recently, I contributed to our unit achieving a 95% patient satisfaction score by implementing a structured bedside handover process that improved communication and reduced patient anxiety during shift changes. My commitment to infection control protocols and safe medication practices has contributed to maintaining our ward’s zero medication errors record over the past 18 months.
What particularly attracts me to Royal North Shore Hospital is your commitment to professional development and evidence-based practice, demonstrated through your Magnet Hospital accreditation journey. During my placement at Prince of Wales Hospital, I participated in a quality improvement project focused on falls prevention that reduced patient falls by 22% through enhanced mobility assessments and environmental modifications. I am passionate about continuing professional development and recently completed additional training in palliative care and mental health first aid, recognising the holistic needs of patients and families during challenging health journeys.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my clinical skills, commitment to patient advocacy, and collaborative approach to healthcare delivery can contribute to your nursing team’s continued success. Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to the possibility of joining the dedicated nursing professionals at Royal North Shore Hospital.
Kind regards,
Rachel Stevens, EN
How to Format an Enrolled Nurse Cover Letter
- Length: Max 1 page (3–5 paragraphs)
- Font: Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman (10–12pt)
- Spacing: Single or 1.15 line spacing
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- File format: PDF
What to Include in an Enrolled Nurse Cover Letter (Australia)
Your enrolled nurse cover letter should demonstrate both clinical competency and genuine commitment to patient-centred care:
- Contact Details: Include your full name with EN (Enrolled Nurse) designation, professional email address, phone number, LinkedIn profile, and consider mentioning your AHPRA registration number or current registration status.
- Salutation: Address the nurse unit manager, director of nursing, or hiring manager by name when possible. Research the hospital or healthcare facility structure to identify the appropriate nursing leader.
- Opening Paragraph: State the specific position and ward/department you’re applying for, mention where you found the role, and immediately highlight your strongest qualification (AHPRA registration, years of experience, or relevant specialty training).
- Middle Paragraph(s): This is your clinical showcase. Discuss your patient care experience, mention specific skills like medication administration and wound care, highlight any quality improvement contributions, and demonstrate your understanding of collaborative healthcare delivery.
- Closing Paragraph: Express genuine interest in the specific healthcare organisation, mention their values or reputation that resonates with you, and include a confident call to action requesting an interview.
Right vs Wrong Example
Entry-Level Enrolled Nurse Cover Letter Tips
New to nursing or transitioning into enrolled nursing? Focus on these strategies to demonstrate your caring potential:
- Highlight clinical placements: Include specific wards or departments where you completed practical training, types of patients you cared for, and skills you developed during supervised practice.
- Showcase relevant experience: Include aged care work, disability support, healthcare assistant roles, or volunteer work that demonstrates your commitment to caring for vulnerable populations.
- Emphasise professional development: Mention additional courses like First Aid, CPR certification, infection control training, or specialised workshops that show your commitment to safe, quality care.
- Demonstrate personal qualities: Provide examples that show empathy, resilience, attention to detail, and ability to work effectively under pressure – all crucial qualities for enrolled nursing.
Entry-Level Cover Letter Sample for Enrolled Nurse
Top Mistakes to Avoid in an Enrolled Nurse Cover Letter
- Underestimating the enrolled nurse role: Don’t present enrolled nursing as a stepping stone. Show pride in the EN profession and understanding of your scope of practice and valuable contribution to healthcare teams.
- Being vague about clinical skills: Instead of “patient care experience,” specify “experience with wound dressing changes, catheter care, diabetes management, and post-operative monitoring under RN delegation.”
- Ignoring teamwork aspects: Enrolled nursing is highly collaborative. Show you understand your role within the nursing team and your ability to work under RN supervision effectively.
- Forgetting continuing education: Healthcare evolves rapidly. Mention recent training, willingness to pursue additional qualifications, or interest in specialty areas.
- Not addressing the specific healthcare setting: Acute care requires different skills than aged care or community health – tailor your examples to match the environment.
How to Tailor Your Cover Letter to a Job Ad
- Match specialty area requirements: If applying for surgical wards, emphasise post-operative care experience. For aged care, highlight dementia care or palliative care training.
- Address specific patient populations: Paediatric nursing requires different skills than geriatric care. Mental health settings need trauma-informed care understanding.
- Highlight relevant certifications: If they mention wound care, infection control, or medication management, ensure you address any relevant training or experience in these areas.
- Reference organisational values: Research their mission statement, patient care philosophy, or recent achievements, then provide examples of how you embody these principles.
How to Sign Off Your Enrolled Nurse Cover Letter
- Professional healthcare closing: Use “Kind regards,” “Sincerely,” or “Respectfully” to maintain appropriate professionalism for healthcare environments
- Professional nursing credentials: Include “EN” after your name to clearly identify your professional qualification, along with your complete contact information
- AHPRA registration reference: Consider mentioning current registration status to immediately establish your legal ability to practice
Cover Letter Signature Example
Sarah Johnson, EN
[email protected]
0421 345 678
AHPRA Registration: Current
LinkedIn.com/in/sarahjohnson-enrollednurse
How to Submit a Cover Letter in Australia
- File format: Always submit as PDF to preserve professional formatting across different hospital systems and applicant tracking software.
- Professional naming convention: Use “FirstnameLastname_CoverLetter_EnrolledNurse_HospitalName.pdf” to help nurse managers organise applications efficiently.
- Healthcare recruitment platforms: When applying through HealthJobs or hospital career portals, ensure your cover letter complements any online forms or competency assessments required.
- Multiple facility applications: For healthcare groups with multiple sites, specify your preferred location and willingness to work across different facilities if relevant.
Final Tips for Writing a Great Enrolled Nurse Cover Letter
- Show genuine compassion: Provide specific examples of how you’ve made a difference in patients’ lives or supported families during difficult times, demonstrating the caring nature essential to nursing.
- Emphasise professional development: Show commitment to lifelong learning through mention of recent courses, conference attendance, or plans for further education in nursing specialties.
- Demonstrate resilience: Healthcare can be emotionally and physically demanding. Provide examples of how you’ve maintained professionalism and quality care during challenging situations.
- Highlight cultural competence: Australia’s diverse population requires culturally sensitive care. Mention language skills, cultural awareness training, or experience with diverse communities.
- Balance humility with confidence: Show respect for the RN-EN collaborative relationship whilst demonstrating confidence in your clinical abilities and professional contribution.
More Resources for Job Seekers
Enhance your nursing application with our comprehensive Enrolled Nurse Resume examples designed for Australian healthcare settings. Prepare for competency-based interviews with our interview questions guide, covering clinical scenarios and patient care discussions. For public health positions requiring detailed responses, our Selection Criteria templates will help you demonstrate your clinical competence and professional values across key healthcare competencies.
Your journey in Australia’s essential healthcare system starts with a compelling cover letter that showcases your dedication to patient care and professional nursing practice. Use this guide and example to create a personalised application that demonstrates your value to potential employers, whether you’re targeting major public hospitals, private healthcare providers, or specialised facilities like those accredited by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. Remember, exceptional enrolled nurses combine clinical competence with genuine compassion – let your cover letter be the first demonstration of this vital combination that drives quality patient outcomes and supports the nursing profession’s mission to heal, comfort, and care for all Australians.
