Nursing Admission Essays - How not to Fail
A nursing admissions essay is also known as a letter of intent. It gives you an opportunity to talk about why you want to work as a nurse, why you'll be good at the job and why you deserve an education. There are always nursing jobs to be filled and there tends to be waiting lists at many colleges - which is why the essay needs to reflect why you are the perfect candidate for their program. Although it puts a lot of pressure on you as a student, it's the best way to increase your chances of getting the best education.
It's essential that in the admission essay you talk about what kind of experience you have nursing. Your job is to speak about how you can serve a patient's needs. Elaborate on what type of volunteering experience you have and who may have influenced you to work in the medical industry. Don't be hesitant toward reflecting on why you want to be a nurse; this is your opportunity to shine and also think more about your future.
Don't get Technical
Writing a nursing admissions essay isn't for the purpose of showing that you can put up a debate. The instructors are the ones that are going to teach you and they will not be grading you on your medical knowledge. It is merely to separate your work from other students, talk about why you are the best fit for the program and why you will be a great representation at their institution. You don't need to use fluff content or intellectual wording - all that matters is that you can tell them why you are most deserving of the program and why you will use the education to make a positive change within the medical industry.
Grades Shouldn't Hold you Back
Even if you don't have a perfect grade track record, it doesn't mean that you aren't going to get into the program. There are a lot of students who deal with emergency situations that prevent them from doing well in school. If you have a low GPA or grade in the semester because of one reason or another, you'll want to be open and honest about it in your admissions essay. By explaining what things happened that may have kept you from getting good grades it will show the committee that you are honest in your approach. Also write in a way that demonstrates your personality well. Speak of why you take an interest in the field - the program will want to know that the person they are choosing is passionate about working in the medical field. Your nursing admission essay is somewhat of a first impression, which is why it's best to be reflective in your writing.
The essay that you write needs to be broken down into clear sections and each of the paragraphs needs to have a definite purpose. Spend enough time on your introduction as it will introduce who you are and what you are presenting. You'll benefit from designing an outline beforehand that highlights all of the important points. Put yourself in the shoes of your audience and write in a way that is both authentic and meaningful.
