You know how to provide compassionate patient care, work seamlessly within healthcare teams, and stay calm under pressure. You’ve mastered clinical skills, medication administration, and building rapport with patients from all walks of life. But when it comes to writing a cover letter for an Enrolled Nurse role, you’re stuck. How do you convey your clinical competence, empathy, and adaptability in just one page? And how do you stand out when every other EN applicant is equally dedicated to patient care?
If you’re struggling to translate your nursing experience into a compelling narrative, you’re not alone. Enrolled Nurse cover letters need to demonstrate both your practical skills and your ability to work collaboratively in clinical settings—all while reflecting the professionalism expected in healthcare. The good news? With the right structure and approach, you can craft a cover letter that positions you as the reliable, skilled EN every Australian healthcare facility is looking for.
This comprehensive guide walks you through writing an Enrolled Nurse cover letter tailored to the Australian healthcare system. You’ll find a complete example, formatting guidelines, section-by-section breakdowns, and practical tips to help you stand out whether you’re applying to public hospitals, aged care facilities, private clinics, or agencies. From NSW Health to private providers, we’ll help you craft an application that gets noticed. Let’s transform your nursing experience into your next career opportunity.
Enrolled Nurse (EN) Cover Letter Example (Text Version)
Jessica Martinez
[email protected]
0412 345 678
linkedin.com/in/jessicamartinez
Perth, WA 6000
2 October 2025
Mr David Chen
Nursing Unit Manager
Riverside Aged Care
45 Caring Way
Perth, WA 6000
Dear Mr Chen,
When I read about Riverside Aged Care’s person-centred approach and commitment to maintaining residents’ dignity and independence, I knew this was a facility that shares my values as a nurse. As a Division 2 Enrolled Nurse with three years of experience in aged care and acute medical settings, I’m excited to bring my clinical skills, compassionate nature, and collaborative approach to your nursing team.
In my current role as an EN at Greenwood Aged Care, I provide direct nursing care to 20-25 high-care residents per shift, including medication administration, wound management, continence care, and palliative support. I’ve developed strong relationships with residents and their families, consistently receiving positive feedback for my gentle approach and clear communication. Last year, I contributed to our facility achieving full accreditation with zero non-compliances, particularly in medication management and clinical documentation—areas where I take great pride in maintaining meticulous standards.
I’m experienced in working with residents with dementia, complex medical conditions, and behavioural challenges. I’ve completed additional training in dementia care, palliative approaches, and manual handling, and I’m confident using clinical systems including Medi-Map and care planning software. I work closely with RNs, GPs, allied health professionals, and families to ensure holistic, coordinated care. My supervising RN recently commended my ability to “recognise subtle changes in residents’ conditions and escalate appropriately”—a skill I believe is crucial for safe, effective enrolled nursing practice.
Your facility’s reputation for supporting professional development and fostering a positive team culture strongly appeals to me. I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss how my clinical experience, attention to detail, and genuine passion for aged care can contribute to maintaining the high standard of care Riverside Aged Care is known for.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to join your team.
Kind regards,
Jessica Martinez
[email protected]
0412 345 678
linkedin.com/in/jessicamartinez
How to Format an Enrolled Nurse (EN) Cover Letter
Professional presentation is essential in healthcare. A well-formatted cover letter demonstrates your attention to detail and professionalism—qualities every nursing manager looks for. Australian healthcare employers expect clean, professional formatting that’s easy to read quickly.
- Length: Maximum 1 page (3–5 paragraphs). Nursing managers review numerous applications daily. Respect their time with focused, concise writing.
- Font: Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman, 10–12pt. Use professional, accessible fonts that are easy to read both on screen and in print.
- Spacing: Single or 1.15 line spacing with clear paragraph breaks. Good use of white space improves readability.
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides. This is standard for Australian professional documents and ensures proper printing.
- File format: Always PDF unless the position specifically requests otherwise. PDFs preserve formatting across all devices and operating systems.
Name your file professionally: JessicaMartinez_EnrolledNurse_CoverLetter.pdf. Avoid generic filenames like “cover_letter.pdf” or “EN_application_v2.docx”.
What to Include in an Enrolled Nurse (EN) Cover Letter (Australia)
Every effective Enrolled Nurse cover letter follows a proven structure. Here’s how to organise yours for maximum impact:
1. Contact Details
Start with your full name, mobile number, email address, LinkedIn profile (optional), and location (city and state). You don’t need your complete street address, but employers want to know if you’re local or willing to relocate for shift work.
2. Date and Employer Details
Include the current date, followed by the hiring manager’s name (if available—often the Nursing Unit Manager or Director of Nursing), their title, facility name, and address. Research the contact person’s name on the facility website or LinkedIn when possible.
3. Salutation
Use “Dear [Name]” whenever possible. If applying to a hospital or aged care facility, try to find the Nursing Unit Manager or Director of Nursing’s name. If you genuinely cannot find a name after research, “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Nursing Unit Manager” is acceptable. Avoid “To Whom It May Concern”.
4. Opening Paragraph – Your Hook and Intent
Start with something specific about the facility—their values, care philosophy, specialty areas, recent achievements, or reputation. State the position you’re applying for and briefly explain why you’re an excellent fit. Show you’ve researched the organisation and aren’t sending generic applications.
5. Middle Paragraphs – Why You’re the Best Fit
Use 1–2 paragraphs to highlight your most relevant nursing experience, clinical skills, and patient care approach. Connect your experience directly to what the facility needs. For Enrolled Nurse roles, employers want to see current AHPRA registration as a Division 2 Enrolled Nurse, relevant clinical experience in similar settings, medication administration competency, clinical skills appropriate to the setting, ability to work collaboratively with RNs and multidisciplinary teams, strong communication with patients and families, and commitment to ongoing professional development.
6. Closing Paragraph – Call to Action
Express enthusiasm for the opportunity, reiterate your interest in contributing to patient care at the facility, and invite further discussion. Keep it confident and positive.
7. Sign-Off
Use “Kind regards,” “Sincerely,” or “Yours sincerely,” followed by your full name and contact details.
Right vs Wrong Example
Right: “When I read about Riverside Aged Care’s person-centred approach and commitment to maintaining residents’ dignity and independence, I knew this was a facility that shares my values as a nurse. As a Division 2 Enrolled Nurse with three years of experience in aged care and acute medical settings, I’m excited to bring my clinical skills, compassionate nature, and collaborative approach to your nursing team.”
Why it works: Specific facility research, demonstrates alignment with care philosophy, clear credential statement (Division 2), relevant experience mentioned, shows understanding of aged care values.
Wrong: “I am writing to apply for the Enrolled Nurse position at your facility. I have nursing experience and am good at caring for patients. I am hardworking and a team player.”
Why it fails: Generic, could apply to any facility, no specific clinical experience or skills mentioned, vague statements like “good at caring” provide no evidence of nursing competence.
Entry-Level Enrolled Nurse (EN) Cover Letter Tips
Are you a newly graduated EN looking for your first role? Or transitioning from student placements to permanent employment? Here’s how to position yourself effectively as a new graduate:
- Focus on transferable skills and enthusiasm: Highlight your clinical placements—where you worked, what clinical skills you performed, which patient populations you cared for, and positive feedback from supervising RNs or clinical facilitators.
- Highlight course projects, volunteering or part-time work: Include any healthcare-related work such as assistant in nursing (AIN) or personal care assistant (PCA) roles, volunteer work at hospitals or aged care facilities, community health programs you participated in, and additional training like first aid, manual handling, or dementia care.
- Show career motivation: Explain why you chose enrolled nursing specifically. What draws you to hands-on patient care? Show genuine commitment to the profession and continuous learning.
Entry-Level Cover Letter Sample for Enrolled Nurse (EN)
“As a newly registered Division 2 Enrolled Nurse who recently completed my Diploma of Nursing at TAFE NSW, I’m eager to begin my nursing career at Riverside Aged Care. During my clinical placements, I completed over 400 hours across aged care, medical-surgical, and community health settings. At Peninsula Aged Care, I provided direct care to high-care residents for eight weeks, administering medications under RN supervision, performing wound care, and supporting residents with dementia. My clinical facilitator commended my ‘gentle manner with residents and strong attention to documentation standards’. I also worked as an AIN for two years while studying, which gave me solid foundational skills in personal care, mobility assistance, and building rapport with elderly patients. I bring current AHPRA registration, fresh knowledge of evidence-based practice from my recent studies, and genuine enthusiasm for providing compassionate, person-centred care.”
Why it works: Highlights recent qualification and registration, provides specific placement details with clinical hours, mentions relevant prior experience, includes positive feedback, demonstrates understanding of aged care nursing, shows readiness to practice.
“I don’t have experience but I’m a quick learner. I just finished my nursing diploma and got my registration. I’ve always wanted to be a nurse because I like helping people. I’m willing to work hard and learn from experienced nurses.”
Why it fails: Apologetic tone, no mention of clinical placements (which all nursing students complete), vague statements about liking to help people, sounds uncertain rather than ready to practice as a registered nurse.
Top Mistakes to Avoid in an Enrolled Nurse (EN) Cover Letter
- Repeating your resume word-for-word: Your cover letter should explain your nursing philosophy, describe meaningful patient care experiences, and show your personality—things that don’t fit on a resume.
- Not addressing the company or role directly: Generic cover letters are obvious. Research the facility’s specialty, patient population, values, and care model. Reference them specifically.
- Using filler phrases like “I’m a team player” without proof: Phrases like “passionate about nursing,” “caring person,” or “hard worker” mean nothing without specific examples. Show your nursing effectiveness through patient outcomes, clinical skills, or team contributions.
- Being too technical or too vague: Balance clinical terminology with accessible language. Show you understand nursing scope of practice without overwhelming with jargon or being so vague you sound inexperienced.
- Not mentioning AHPRA registration: Always state that you hold current AHPRA registration as a Division 2 Enrolled Nurse. This is a non-negotiable requirement for practice in Australia.
- Ignoring the scope of practice: Demonstrate understanding of EN scope of practice—working under RN supervision, following care plans, recognising and escalating changes in patient condition. Don’t overstate your role or claim responsibilities that belong to RNs.
How to Tailor Your Cover Letter to a Job Ad
- Use keywords from the ad (but naturally): If the job description emphasises “aged care,” “palliative care,” “wound management,” “dementia care,” “medication administration,” or specific clinical skills, incorporate these terms where relevant and honest about your experience.
- Mirror the tone and priorities of the employer: A public hospital will have different priorities than a private aged care facility or community health service. A facility emphasising “clinical excellence” wants to hear about your skills and outcomes; one focused on “compassionate care” wants to hear about your patient relationships and person-centred approach.
- Mention specific tools, software or experience if listed: If the ad mentions electronic medication management systems (Medi-Map, MedChart), clinical documentation systems, or specific equipment, reference your experience or willingness to learn these systems.
How to Sign Off Your Enrolled Nurse (EN) Cover Letter
- Use “Sincerely” or “Kind regards”: These are the most professional sign-offs for Australian healthcare contexts. “Kind regards” is warm yet professional and commonly used in nursing. “Yours sincerely” is more traditional and formal.
- Include full name, phone number, LinkedIn (optional): Repeat your contact details below your signature even though they appear at the top. This makes it easy for nursing managers to contact you immediately for interviews or shift opportunities.
Cover Letter Signature Example
Kind regards,
Jessica Martinez
[email protected]
0412 345 678
linkedin.com/in/jessicamartinez
How to Submit a Cover Letter in Australia
- Always attach as a PDF (unless instructed otherwise): PDFs preserve your formatting regardless of device or software. Only submit a Word document if the application specifically requests it.
- Label file professionally (e.g. JessicaMartinez_CoverLetter.pdf): Use FirstnameLastname_CoverLetter.pdf or FirstnameLastname_EnrolledNurse_CoverLetter.pdf. Professional filenames demonstrate attention to detail—critical in nursing.
- If submitting via Seek or LinkedIn, include a brief intro: Many nursing positions are advertised through health service websites, recruitment agencies, or job boards. If applying via email, include a brief message: “Please find attached my application for the Enrolled Nurse position at Riverside Aged Care. I look forward to discussing how my clinical experience and person-centred approach align with your facility’s values.”
Final Tips for Writing a Great Enrolled Nurse (EN) Cover Letter
- Make every sentence count – avoid repetition: You have limited space, so ensure every sentence adds value. Focus on your most relevant clinical experience and skills.
- Use confident, positive language: Write in active voice. Instead of “I was responsible for providing care,” write “I provided care to” or “I cared for.” Instead of “I helped with medications,” write “I administered medications under RN supervision.”
- Proofread carefully (get a second pair of eyes if you can): Errors in a nursing application suggest carelessness—concerning in a profession where attention to detail can be life-or-death. Read aloud, use spell-check, then ask a colleague or friend to review.
- Match tone to employer (formal, friendly or creative): A large public hospital expects more formal language; a small private aged care facility may expect warmer, more personal communication. Research the facility culture and adjust accordingly.
More Resources for Job Seekers
Your cover letter works best alongside a strong resume and thorough preparation. To build a complete application package, explore Enrolled Nurse resume examples to see how to structure your clinical experience and qualifications effectively. Many healthcare positions require responses to selection criteria, so learn our selection criteria template using the STAR method to address key competencies. You should also prepare for interviews by reviewing common interview questions guide and practising your responses to questions about clinical scenarios, teamwork, and patient care philosophy. Additionally, ensure your AHPRA registration is current by checking the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency website.
Writing an Enrolled Nurse cover letter that showcases your clinical competence, compassionate care approach, and professional commitment doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With clear structure, specific examples of patient care, and a solid understanding of what Australian healthcare employers value in ENs, you can create a compelling application that positions you as the skilled, reliable nurse every facility needs. Remember: your cover letter is your opportunity to demonstrate the clinical skills, empathy, and teamwork that define excellent enrolled nursing practice. Be authentic, be specific, and let your genuine dedication to patient care shine through.
