Career opportunities in healthcare vary widely; registered nurses, physicians, physician's assistants, physical therapists and licensed practical nurses face vastly different responsibilities throughout the day.
But if you have your sights set on any of these healthcare positions, you'll need to discuss a few key points during your application process.
Address each of these three core issues in your healthcare cover letter, and make sure you're ready to talk about them during your interview.
Your Healthcare Cover Letter: Key Points
1. You proactively seek out optimal patient care
A medical facility works best when every staff member is fully invested in patient care. Everyone on the team, including back-office and housekeeping staff, should execute their tasks with patient satisfaction, health and safety in mind. When it comes to individual treatment plans, care decisions fall to each patient's physician and nursing team.
But regardless of your position in the chain of command, let employers know that for you, the patient comes first. Demonstrate that you're ready to act as a responsible and dedicated patient advocate. Show that you respect the proper channels and are ready to intervene if patients require adjustments to their treatment plans.
2. You're able to assess patient conditions and determine the best treatment methods
EMTs, paramedics, nursing staff, physician assistants and physical therapists are often called upon to diagnose patient conditions and enact treatment plans. Share your approach to this process with your employers.
Discuss your training and describe how you typically evaluate patient conditions and make decisions that take every factor into account. Let your employers know that you value physical, emotional, nutritional and spiritual wellbeing in your diagnostic approach and treatment goals. And discuss how you typically follow up and evaluate the results of a given plan.
3. You're able to communicate clearly with patient's families regarding continued treatment and care at home
Treatment doesn't end when patients leave the hospital or medical facility, and neither do your responsibilities. Your employers will want to know how well you communicate with patients and their families regarding continuing and at-home care, so be ready to discuss your communication style.
What's your approach to patient education? What experiences have you had in this area and what were the results? If your patient leaves the facility with a tracheotomy, a prosthetic limb, a new baby, a cancer diagnosis or a healing surgical incision, how will you prepare them for what comes next? How do you balance compassion with the clear communication of difficult facts or complex instructions?
Describe your communication style in your cover letter and let employers know that you're able to communicate clearly and evaluate your listener's level of comprehension. Chris Lewandowski, President of Princess Dental Staffing, suggests you should "use the language that is understandable for your patients and their families." Your ability to keep patients informed and engaged in their own self-care will have a powerful impact on your success in the healthcare sector.
Test Your Cover Letter
You've now gotten some great ideas on what to focus on in your healthcare cover letter. For more help, explore the resources LiveCareer has to offer, including our expert cover letter writing service.
