how to write a personal statement for a nursing job

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Nursing Personal Statement Examples

What is a nursing personal statement?

Your nursing personal statement should tell the universities you are applying to all about your strengths and where you see yourself in the future as a nurse.

It should give nursing admissions tutors a good picture of who you are and why you would make a valuable candidate for their course.

If you are applying for a job as a nurse , it's possible you’ll need to provide a nursing personal statement for this, too.

To show that you’ve met the minimum requirements for promotion, you may need to write a band 6 or 7 nursing personal statement.

This piece of writing tells an employer all about your hands-on patient contact experience and why you are a good fit for the job.

How do I become a nurse?

Most people become a nurse by applying to study for a degree at university.

However, there are alternative routes available, such as Nursing Degree Apprenticeships , and starting out as an Associate Nurse .

You will also need to hold the correct entry requirements to secure a place on a degree course, and will also be expected to have some level of work experience.

Take a look at our blog post for more in-depth information on how to become a nurse .

How do I write a nursing personal statement for university?

If you're applying for a nursing degree to set youself on a nursing career path, we always recommend starting your personal statement by brainstorming ideas. Your notes should cover the following:

• achievements
• academic results
• part-time or Saturday jobs
• volunteering
• wider reading
• extracurricular activities

as well as anything else you can think of.

Take a look through our nursing personal statement examples above to give yourself an idea of what a successful nursing statement looks like.

Once you have put together an initial draft, it's a good idea to ask for feedback from family, friends and tutors. They will be able to look at your statement objectively and suggest ways it could be improved.

Incorporate their comments, and ask for further feedback. Don't worry if you have to do this three or four times - it's important you get your statement as perfect as possible before sending it off on your UCAS form.

How do I structure my nursing personal statement?

Your nursing personal statement should be structured with a clear beginning, middle and end, with the opening telling an anecdote or explaining why you are passionate about nursing.

The middle should generally focus on your work experience and current/past academic studies, and how these have helped you to develop skills that are useful and relevant to a career in nursing.

For example, you might talk about how your experience working in a care home helped you build and offer empathy to elderly people.

You should then write a memorable conclusion that mentions your plans for the future, and how you hope your nursing degree will help you achieve these.

What should I include in my nursing personal statement?

• Look at the content of the course and make sure your statement addresses the specific branch of nursing you are applying for, i.e. mental health , adult or child nursing . 
• Demonstrate important skillls that are required for a nursing degree , e.g. patience, empathy, teamwork and communication. Talk about how you have developed these, either at school/college, at your job or during hobbies or other activities.
• Most applicants spend the opening of their personal statement talking about why they want to study nursing , e.g. an unwell family member, or a friend who was in a car accident. Think carefully about whether there was one particular incident that sparked your interest in nursing.
• Don’t include any over-used phrases or quotes in your statement that university admissions tutors will have seen and heard before.
• Now is also not the time for jokes or humour - it often doesn't work well and admissions tutors might not be impressed!

For more help and advice on what to write in your nursing personal statement, please see:

• Personal Statement Editing Services
• Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
• Analysis Of A Personal Statement
• The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
• Personal Statement FAQs
• Personal Statement Timeline
• 10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
• What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.

How do I write an introduction to my nursing personal statement?

Like with any type of personal statement for university, we recommend you open with a paragraph on what you enjoy most about nursing, and why you want to study it at university. Again, an anecdote that inspired you to learn more about nursing will work well here, as long as you have a relevant story to tell.

For example, this applicant chose to talk about how their mother's illness inspired them to go into nursing:

"There has been many occasions during my life that I have spent hours sitting at a hospital bedside.

My mother battled a long term illness and as I sat with her trying to keep her spirits up, the Nurses who cared for her always drew my admiration. I feel there are a handful of truly inspirational professions and Nursing is without doubt one of them.

Along with doctors and other medical staff, nurses provide an invaluable service to society and to be part of that group has long been an ambition of mine."

Another applicant chose to talk about how their experience with mental health services as a teenager made them want to help others and make a difference in the world as an adult:

"I have wanted to work in Mental Health since I was 15 years old. When in crisis, I received a level of care which changed my life and I aspire to do the same for others. I also received care that was detrimental at times so I want to be a part of making a difference. I have seen a wide range of nursing approaches and I have learnt so much from my colleagues since working within the NHS, I now know what kind of nurse I want to be when I complete my training."

However you choose to open your nursing personal statement, make sure it's engaging and explains why you want to pursue nursing at degree level. You can see more examples of introductions over at our nursing personal statements section.

How do I write a conclusion for my nursing personal statement?

Try to round off your nursing personal statement with something memorable. This often includes talking about your extracurricular activities, hobbies and/or your ambitions for the future. For example:

" I am confident in my ability to communicate with people from any cultural background and an example of this would be during my time volunteering in a dog sanctuary in Paraguay. This was difficult due to the language barrier, and a virus outbreak between the dogs. I had to organize my time efficiently, an important skill for a nurse, communicate with vets and host families, in often very distressing times.

I acted effectively, thinking on my feet, all whilst remaining calm and treating the animals with compassion. This was a very challenging time for me but it was also very rewarding. I feel a career as a nurse, whilst challenging at times would also be very rewarding, educational, and encourage personal growth."

This applicant demonstrates that as well as communicating what you do currently, or have done in the past, it's also a good idea to try to include how these experiences have helped to shape you as a person, and how they make you a better candidate for a nursing course.

For more inspiration on how to write your conclusion, please see our nursing personal statement examples section.

Further information

• UCAS Nursing Advice
• Indeed.com - How To Write A Nursing Personal Statement
• Nursing Times - How To Write An Effective Personal Statement
• University of Cumbria - How To Write A Good Nursing Personal Statement For University
• Nurses.co.uk - How To Write A Personal Statement For A Nursing Course
• University of South Wales - How To Write A Personal Statement For Nursing & Midwifery

Related resources

Nursing university interview questions.

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12 Complete Templates of Nursing Personal Statement for A Job and Tips To Make The Employers Interested

Do you wish to become a nurse? If you’re applying to the hospital, you’ll need a nursing personal statement for a job . The “personal statement” term is generally used in the educational field, though. However, if a hospital asks you to make one, you can’t deny this chance. Because it might be interested with you and want to know more about you through the personal statement. Here are some tips you can apply to make it.

The nursing personal statement is an important part of a nurse’s application process. It demonstrates their knowledge and skills of the profession, which helps the recruiter make a hiring decision.

The personal statement provides insight into your personality, work ethic and qualities that will contribute to the success of a nursing position.

How to Write a Nursing Personal Statement for a Job

Nursing personal statements are a set of documents that are required for the application process. Therefore, it is important to know how to write these documents so you can land the job.

It is often said that writing a nursing personal statement for a job is not easy. This is because it requires an explanation of your personal experience and qualifications related to this field. If you’re having trouble writing these documents, then you’ll want to find an expert who can help you with this task.

A nursing personal statement should be written in first person so the reader understands what it’s like to work with you as a nurse and your ability and willingness to care for patients while attending medical situations. It should also include your education, professional experiences, and certifications related to this field

Tips To Make The Employers Interested

Explain your educational history.

First and foremost, explain what educations you’ve through so far. You could be a polytechnic graduate or having special training as a nurse. Whatever it is, mention it as clearly. It’s better if you have more than one certificate. Because it means you’re trained more than anyone does. At last, the chance for your acceptance is bigger.

Add Your Experience as A Healthcare

When writing a nursing personal statement for a job, you need to show your experience. Especially if you choose to apply to a reputable hospital. Hence, it’s good for you to collect more experiences you can get. Far before you decide to apply for a nursing job.

What kind of experience can be included? Must it be a professional one? The answer is no. If you have experience as a nurse at a refuge, for example. You can include this as your nursing experience on the personal statement you’re applying.

Write The Special Qualifications You Have

When people want to be recruited for a job, they must explain if they have suitable qualifications. This rule is also used in the nursing job. If you want to be a nurse at a hospital, you have to show your exceptional quality. You can highlight some achievements or awards you’ve gotten during school. If you haven’t, you can tell simple stories like your family, how you interact with neighbors, or what dreams you’re pursuing.

Show Your Specific Goals of Applying

In the nursing personal statement for a job, you also need to write your specific goals. Explain how the nursing job could help you to reach what you aim for. Such as, if you have a life goal to help as many people as you want. This is the typical goal of nursing, though. Nevertheless, this goal is relevant to the job you’re applying to. And mostly, the more you’re relatable to the job, the more your chance to be accepted.

Include The Personality Test Results

Nursing isn’t only a technical job. Furthermore, it includes the logical and emotional work. You need to use logic when helping the patients, especially if they lead a critical condition. Aside with this, you need to have good emotional management as well. Since you’ll often face patients (or their family) in a panic situation.

When you’re making a nursing personal statement for a job, you can include your personality test results. It can’t be the best reference to see your character, though. But it can give a glance look at it.

Tell What You’ve Done for Society

This tip doesn’t mean to make you look boastful. You probably aren’t people who think it’s good to mention the good things you’ve done. However, telling the hospital if you have any volunteering activity is essential.

The hospitals generally seek nurses who’ve been accustomed to handling people wholeheartedly. Because it’ll help them when it comes to nursing training. Recruiting socially caring people will ease them to do emotional management training.

Check The Nursing Personal Statement References

If you still feel confused, it’s recommended for you to search for the nursing personal statement for job references. You can find it anywhere. Below this, we’ll just provide some most ideal nursing personal statement template you can use. You can download the nursing personal statement printable as well. Writing a nursing personal statement is quite hard, though. But if you believe it’ll help you to reach your dream job – as a nurse, of course -, the tips mentioned is worth trying.

Nursing Personal Statement for A Job

The personal statement for a job is a document that provides an extensive overview of the applicant’s work experience and leadership qualities. It should be engaging, articulate, and succinct. This document is meant to be read by human members of the committee who will be evaluating the application for employment.

The purpose of this essay is to introduce nurses to companies at which they may want to apply for employment in order to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities when applying for a position in nursing or healthcare (Nursing Personal Statement). There are many different types of Nursing Personal Statements:

– Nursing personal statements written specifically for specific organizations (e.g., Mission Hospitals)

– Writing multiple versions

Nursing Personal Statement Example

Nursing as a profession is becoming more and more competitive. Prospective nurses must make sure their personal statement does not make mistakes that jeopardize their chances of admission. The personal statement is the most important marketing tool for any nurse, so it is crucial that it be written well and accurately.

Sample Nursing Personal Statement for A Job

A nursing personal statement is a paragraph or two sentence that can be written in response to an inquiry, typically on the subject of

Do you have any experience as a nursing personal statement for an A job. A sample nursing personal statement for an A job might feature who you are and why you want to pursue this career.

Example Nursing Personal Statement for A Job

Printable Nursing Personal Statement for A Job

Nursing personal statement is a type of essay that is written by nurses to show their skills and experience. In some cases, this may be the first time they have written something in an essay format.

Nurses should prepare for job interviews by writing a personal statement based on their experiences and skills. It will help them to get prepared for the interview because it will give them more insight about what the company is looking for and how it would fit into the company’s culture.

We believe that this article will be helpful not just to aspiring nurses but also to those who are already working as nurses in order to help prepare themselves for interviews and provide tips on how they should write their personal statements.

Printable nurses personal statement for a job application

Child Nursing Personal Statement

The Child Nursing Personal Statement is a personal statement used by health professionals to determine if a child is eligible for admission into their pediatric nursing program. It must contain specific information such as the child’s age, grade level, and health status.

The Child Nursing Personal Statement must answer the following questions:

– What are your strengths and weaknesses?

– What are your goals?

– What leadership or volunteering experience have you had?

– What academic and extracurricular experience do you have?

– How would you describe yourself as a student?

Nursing Personal Statement Example for A Job

Nursing Practitioner Personal Statement for A Job

Nursing Critical Care Personal Statement Sample

Nursing is a very demanding profession. When it comes to critical care, personal statement plays an important role in the nursing job search process.

Nursing personal statement is a professional resume for nurses. It consists of your educational background and professional experiences that are relevant to nursing care delivery. It also explores your career goals and how you will work with patients who have complex medical needs.

The following are some of the most common types of personal statements used in the The Nursing Critical Care Personal Statement:

– Current Status/Professional Experience – Describe your current position and work experiences relevant to critical care, such as acute care nursing experience, long-term care experience, etc.

– Professional Goals – What are your career goals? Why do you want to be

The purpose of this essay is to explain your interest in pursuing nursing as a career, your commitment to providing care and support for patients in the critical care unit, and why you believe you are qualified for this position.

The personal statement is seen as a highly subjective document where an applicant can make the best case for themselves. It is important that you present yourself in an honest manner without embellishments or falsehoods.

The art of writing a personal statement is no easy task and it requires practice and patience.

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Tips for Writing a Great Nursing Personal Statement

When preparing to apply to a graduate nursing program, there are many requirements and submission guidelines to remember. The component that allows you to tell your unique story — your personal statement — is one of the most important.

Writing a compelling personal statement for an MSN program, like the Nursing@Simmons online  Family Nurse Practitioner  (FNP)  or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs, takes time and can be challenging for some applicants. Just as a poorly written essay can hinder your chances of acceptance, a great one can set you apart from other applicants. Below are three steps to writing a personal statement that will make a positive impression on any admissions committee.

1. Plan Your Story

Very few people can sit down at a keyboard and craft the perfect personal statement without preparation. It may take several weeks of thinking about how to communicate your story, so give yourself plenty of time to plan, jot down thoughts, and make an outline as ideas come to you. Use the following tips to gather the information you’ll need to create an excellent statement.

• Consider how your work experience as a registered nurse (RN) has influenced you and shaped your goals for the future.  How will an advanced education promote your professional growth and help you transition into the role of an FNP or PMHNP?
• Think beyond your resume.  What traits, strengths, and accomplishments aren’t captured there? Consider your interests, including how they will contribute to your success in the program. Provide examples of nursing goals, leadership, mentorship, or growth you have accomplished or experienced. Write these down and keep them in mind as you begin your draft.
• Choose appropriate topics for your statement.  Avoid soapbox issues, and don’t preach to your reader. This kind of statement can come across as condescending and obscure the point you’re trying to make.
• Research the program.  Make sure you understand the school’s values and reputation. Do they align with yours? How so?

2. Create Your Draft

• When it is time to start putting your thoughts on paper, try to avoid overthinking your work.  Strive for a natural voice. Pretend you are talking to a friend and write without fear — you can edit and polish your piece to perfection in the next stage.
• Avoid cliches and nursing generalities.  Generic descriptors, such as “caring,” “compassionate,” “people person,” and “unique,” have been so often overused that they no longer carry much weight with an admissions committee. They also don’t address your personal experience in the nursing sphere. Try not to start your story with phrases like “for as long as I can remember” or your audience may stop reading.
• Show, don’t tell.  Strong storytelling is grounded in personal details that illustrate who you are, both as a nurse and a person. Be specific by describing how many patients you managed, how you earned promotions, or a time when your supervisor praised your professionalism and clinical abilities. Here are examples that illustrate the difference between telling and showing: 

“I perform well under pressure.”

“Although my patient arrived for a different ailment, I suspected that her symptoms were consistent with a serious infection. As a result, I was able to advocate for a care plan that prevented further damage.”

• Use specific examples when talking about your experience with direct patient care and evidence-based practice.  Provide details about how your clinical experiences have demonstrated patient advocacy, leadership, communication, or confidence.
• Discuss how earning a  Master of Science in Nursing  aligns with your career plans and why you want to become a FNP  or PMHNP .  Explain that you understand the commitment required and that you have the skills and dedication to become an FNP   or PMHNP. Be sure to let the admissions committee know why you are choosing their program and what makes their program stand apart from the rest. Reflect on the school and program research you did during your planning stage.

3. Edit and Perfect

Even the best writers have to edit and polish their work. Reviewing and revising your personal statement ensures that the piece is clear, organized, and free of errors.

• Once you have written your first draft, take a break and distance yourself from your work.  This will allow you to return to the draft with a clear head to review objectively and spot potential issues and errors.
• Read your statement aloud.  Does it sound like you? Does it reflect your best qualities and the strengths you’ll bring to a nursing program?
• Always use spell check on your essay, but be careful as it won’t catch every spelling error.
• Use a grammar editing tool, such as  Grammarly .
• Ask a friend, family member, or mentor to review your statement. This is a great way to catch errors or awkward phrasing that you may have missed.

Your nursing personal statement should be a window into your life. Use it to share specific experiences that have influenced your decision to advance your nursing education. Adhering to professional standards and presenting yourself in a positive, open, and honest way will help the admissions committee determine your fit and future in an FNP or PMHNP program.

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NHS England. NHS long term workforce plan. 2023. https://tinyurl.com/muw8c9aw (accessed 3 October 2023)

Nursing and Midwifery Council. Standards of proficiency for nursing associates. 2018. https://tinyurl.com/45pc95ve (accessed 3 October 2023)

Creating an effective personal statement for RNAs

Director of Nurse Education, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton

View articles · Email Jo

Organisations are starting to redesign services to meet the changing health needs of the local community and align with the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan ( NHS England, 2023 ). These changes are creating new roles within a variety of settings, opening up the job market for the registered nursing associate (RNA). Applying for a new job can be a daunting and competitive process; standing out from the crowd is an essential criterion for success. When marketing yourself to potential employers, it is important to demonstrate that you have the qualities, skills and attributes they require, to convince them that you are the best person for the job.

Do your research

In the first instance when considering a new job, it is important to be sure it is what you want and where you want to work. If it is with a new employer, do your research: find out about its values and culture. As a health or social care provider, review its most recent Care Quality Commission report; review the latest news and developments shared on both its website and social media platforms. This will not only give an insight into it as a potential employer but also help with tailoring your personal statement and preparing for interview. More specifically, when considering the role, consider the job description and the person specification – is it clear what the role involves and what skills are required to undertake the role?

Adverts often include a contact person for an informal discussion; this is a great opportunity to interview them as a potential employer and get answers to questions about the organisation or the role. As an RNA, enquire about RNA roles in other departments and see how the role is being used across the organisation; it may even be possible to speak with an RNA already in post.

Applying for a role

The application form will consist of standard questions on previous employment and education. It is the personal statement section that provides the opportunity to showcase your skills and experience and to explain why you are the best candidate for the role. It is important to keep it concise and focused on the requirements of the role and to highlight how your skills and experience match these requirements.

Throughout the personal statement, reference should be made to the requirements of the job description and the personal specification. Take words and phrases from these to make it easier for the employer to see clearly how you are demonstrating the requirements of the role. Highlight your achievements and provide examples of how you have added value to previous roles. Use specific, measurable examples that demonstrate your skills and experience.

When looking to demonstrate performance in relation to professional practice, reflect on your previous studies, current and previous practice and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Proficiency for Nursing Associates ( NMC, 2018 ). By taking the time to reflect, you will naturally start to realise the skills and qualities you possess and identify examples that can be quoted to support a claim that you have the experience or skills required.

‘Examples of how you have used your teamwork and collaborative skills could include taking the lead in a project or activity, resolving conflicts, or encouraging others to achieve a common goal’

Demonstrate your skills

Some of the skills you will identify will be specific; for example, recording 12-lead ECGs if working in a cardiology department. However, other skills will be non-specific; these are equally important and often referred to as transferable skills.

Transferable skills are identified within the NMC standards for RNAs ( NMC, 2018 ) but can often be overlooked by people focusing on practical skills. The modern job market values individuals who can adapt to changing circumstances and continuously learn and develop. The journey from health or social care support worker to RNA will have supported this development. As an RNA, the journey through academia will have exposed you to various subjects, teaching methods, and learning environments, developing your ability to adapt and acquire transferable skills.

Whether through considering case studies, research projects or practical assignments, you will have encountered and resolved various challenges, therefore developing strong problem-solving abilities. Providing examples will demonstrate analytical thinking and the ability to consider creative solutions. These could include an instance where you identified a problem, developed a strategy, and implemented it effectively within your practice or your studies. Linked to this may be how you have honed your teamwork and collaborative skills through completing group projects on your academic journey.

Many job roles within health and social care require employees to work effectively in teams. Examples of how you have developed and used your teamwork and collaborative skills could include taking the lead in a project or activity, resolving conflicts, or encouraging others to achieve a common goal.

Demonstrating excellent organisational and time management skills will strengthen the examples of transferable skills already identified. During your studies, you would have balanced multiple assignments, exams, and extracurricular activities simultaneously. In addition, if you completed your Nursing Associate Foundation Degree as an apprentice you would have been working at the same time as studying. Ensure you identify instances where you have effectively managed your time and prioritised tasks to achieve desired outcomes. These examples will demonstrate your ability to meet deadlines and handle the demands of a professional role.

Underpinning all of this is demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively and professionally. Communication skills will clearly be shown through the personal statement, not only via the examples used for all the other transferable skills but also in the presentation of the personal statement. Ensure that what has been written is presented in a professional manner in the chosen writing style and terminology used, that there is clarity of thought and proofreading has been employed.

Submitting your application

The last stage in the application process is the submission of the application. Different organisations use different approaches to this, so ensure you have checked the closing date and time and that you have left yourself sufficient time to make the application. Make sure you keep a copy of what you have written; this will be useful when preparing for interview. Interviewers may want to explore the examples you have given with you, and it is helpful if you can remember what you wrote.

A strategic approach

Selling yourself via your application and, more specifically, your personal statement involves strategically highlighting the skills you have acquired through your academic and professional journey. Research the organisation and the role, communicate clearly, demonstrate problem-solving abilities, emphasise adaptability, showcase teamwork skills, discuss time management, and express your passion.

By effectively communicating how your values and skills align with the department's needs, you can leave a lasting impression and increase your chances of securing the job. Box 1 provides some top tips on writing your personal statement. Remember, an application is not just an assessment of your qualifications, it is also an opportunity to showcase your unique strengths and potential contribution.

Box 1.Personal statement top tips

• Tailor your personal statement to the job description
• Think about transferable skills, not just practical ones
• Use active words to give impact
• Give examples, not just sweeping statements
• Highlight positive things that only you can bring
• Proofread for errors, clarity and fluency

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Personal Statement for Mental Health Nursing With Examples

Table of Contents

A personal statement for mental health nursing is one of the most vital parts of any nursing student’s application. 

Writing a personal statement for nursing shows you have an interest and a clear understanding of why you want to pursue the career. 

A great personal statement can help you stand out from other applicants and land the nursing school of your dreams. This article focuses on how to write a captivating nursing statement with great examples to learn from.

What Is a Personal Statement for Mental Health Nursing?

 A personal statement is integral to your application package for a mental health nursing position. It allows you to share your story and highlights why you are interested in a nursing career.

In addition, it showcases your experience working with patients with psychiatric problems and your ability to provide support and nurturing care.

How to Write a Captivating Personal Statement for Mental Health Nursing

When writing a personal nursing statement , many people find themselves at a loss for words. After all, you want to impress the admission committee with your skills and qualifications but don’t want to come across as boastful or insincere. So, where do you start?

The best way to approach writing your nursing statement is by researching what makes a successful one. 

What are the critical points that admissions committees are looking for? Focus on highlighting those same qualities in yourself.

Be sure to give concrete examples of how you have demonstrated these qualities in past experiences. It could be during volunteer work, internships, or jobs shadowing nurses’ etcetera. 

Finally, be authentic and honest – reflect who you truly are!

Personal Statement for Mental Health Nursing Examples

When writing a personal nursing statement, one of the trickiest things can be striking the right tone. It’s important to sound professional while still showing your personality and motivations for wanting to become a nurse. Here are some great examples from INK.

Nursing is a unique and challenging field that requires technical skill and compassion. I am interested in becoming a mental health nurse because it would allow me to support patients struggling with complex issues.

Mental health nurses must build strong relationships with their patients, empathize with them, and offer emotional support. I have experience working with people going through tough times, and I am confident that I can handle the challenges of this career path.

I am motivated by chance to make a difference in someone’s life, as I believe nursing is one of the most rewarding professions. Thank you for your consideration!

I became interested in nursing because I wanted to help people. I have always been drawn to the medical field and knew nursing was the right path for me. My mental health background has also played a role in my decision to pursue a career in nursing. I want to use my experience and knowledge to help those struggling with mental health.

Nursing is not only a challenging but also a gratifying profession. I am excited about the opportunity to work and make a difference in the lives of patients of all ages and backgrounds. Nursing is more than just a job; it is a calling, and I am passionate about positively impacting others through this career choice.

Personal statements for mental health nursing can be daunting because it requires a personal touch. Often, this is something that students might not know how to do on their own. 

If you struggle with personal statement writing, you can use INK to create a unique statement. 

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Sample Supporting Statements

For Students and Newly Registered Nurses, Nursing Support Workers, and Nurses and Midwives.

The supporting statement is the most important part of your job application. This is effectively where you convince the employer that you're the right person for the job and explain why they should hire you.

This page offers sample supporting statements and a tutorial to help you. we can also offer feedback on your supporting statement via email..

Different employers will have different instructions or expectations with regards to supporting statements, but generally they'll be looking to see if you're applying for the right reasons and that you meet the essential criteria. If you haven't already done so, read the general advice on writing job applications first. To help give you an idea, have a look at our sample supporting statements which have been written to correlate to a sample Person Specification. In particular, pay attention to the way the sample supporting statements:

• Cover all the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification
• Use examples or evidence to demonstrate how the criteria is met
• Follow the order of the Person Specification as much as possible.

The samples should be used as a guide only. Your own supporting statement should be structured around the job and person specification you're applying for. You may also want to watch the Supporting Statements tutorial below.

• Apply for jobs that are right for you
• Never write a 'one size fits all' supporting statement
• Explain why you want the job, showing your passion/interest and motivation
• Demonstrate how you meet all the essential criteria from the person specification using examples or evidence
• Demonstrate how you meet any organisational/trust values if there are any
• Imagine you're being asked the question, "Why should we hire you?"
• Run a spelling and grammar check

Supporting Statement Tutorial Preview

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• 14 January 2019

How To Write A Personal Statement For A Nursing Course Application

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Writing your personal statement will take time, effort and several revisions before you can submit it, so don’t leave it right up until the deadline to start work on it.

Putting together a high quality nursing personal statement can be difficult, but we’ve broken it down into manageable sections below to give you some ideas of how to get started., start with who you are.

Your personal statement is your chance to talk directly to the course admissions officer about who you are, what motivates you, and why you should be chosen for a place in the branch of nursing you’ve applied for.

If you've worked in healthcare previously, you can definitely give details of your experiences to back up your reasons for applying.

Be specific about how your work has affected your decision to apply and why you feel suited to progressing your career in nursing .

Give practical examples of your interactions with nurses, and how they may have influenced your decision to apply.

Check out Eniola's advice on applying to university for a student nursing degree course  - she talks about applying through UCAS and interviews!

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Relevant experience and skills

Everyone has skills and experience that can be applied in a nursing environment, even if they weren’t acquired in a healthcare setting.

Here are some examples of skills and qualities that can be applied in nursing:

1. Communication - it is a vital skill that every nurse must possess. The ability to convey information in a concise and clear manner with both colleagues, patients and their family.

You could use examples from previous work to demonstrate this; maybe a difficult situation with a customer while working in a retail job that you managed to diffuse and resolve.

2. Organisation - another essential skill is to maintain an organised routine in a very busy environment, and often under pressure. Think of another situation where you worked under pressure in a logical fashion.

Here you could maybe talk about your time management of juggling a-levels with a part-time job, or your access to nursing course with a family.

• Applying to university for a student nursing degree course

• How to get into nursing schools in the UK

• How to get into Nursing at University

3. Advocacy - this is the active support of those in your care. It’s a specific point in the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code and you should address how you will be an advocate for your patients when you become a nurse in your personal statement.

Your ambitions and career goals in nursing

The competition for nursing course places in every branch at every university is fierce, and consequently they want to ensure the places go to candidates who genuinely want to become a nurse, and are motivated to pursue their career in nursing.

Even if you don’t have a specific nursing role you would like to attain in your career, you should go into some detail about what sort of environment you could see yourself working in.

Upload or create your CV on Nurses.co.uk. Our CV building tool is designed specifically for UK healthcare. Use it to apply for jobs and get hired.

Things to watch out for

Check any documentation from the university to see if there is a word limit set for a personal statement.

You don’t want to risk your application not being considered because your personal statement is too long.

If you’re applying through UCAS, they set their own character limit, so make sure you stick to it.

Send your application in before the deadline; the earlier the better. This means you need to start work on your personal statement as soon as you decide to apply.

Some courses will close applications before the given deadline if they’ve filled all their places, so you don’t want to miss out because you procrastinated.

It’s by far the most time consuming part of the application process, and it will undoubtedly require revisions prior to submission.

Don’t feel you have to write in a ‘forced’ way. It’s easy to feel insecure if you don’t feel you can write well, but it’s worse if you feel you have to write in an unfamiliar way just to sound more academic.

It’s important it comes from you and your experiences, and if you can get the reader interested in you as a person from the very beginning, you’ll be in with a better chance of getting an interview.

A personal statement should be just that - personal.

Any employer, or university in particular, could check your statement using specialist plagiarism software that detects whether or not you’ve directly lifted text from someone else.

If they discover you have copied someone else’s work, you could be rejected by that university or employer for this or any future place.

So, the message is, make it personal to you.

About the author

I qualified as a Mental Health Nurse (RMN) in August of 2018 and started as a newly qualified nurse shortly after. On top of nursing I juggle creating content for both my YouTube channel and blog.

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