Cover Letter and supporting documents?

[NewbieNurseRN]

I have perhaps a dumb question so I am sorry ahead of time if so ha. I'm a new grad and have a referral from an RN (Who is awesome and I definitely look up to, with a little over a year of experience now), anyways, the application only has a space that says "how did you hear about the posting" and I can put "employee referral" but there is nowhere to enter a name or anything. Also, I am on the very last part of the application and it says I can submit a "cover letter and any supporting documents" my interpretation of this is to write a short letter saying why I believe I would be a good fit? Is that basically what it is? Also, would this be an okay spot to mention my referral? Should I add some references to this? Are the supporting documents like referral letters? Because I do not have any of those at the moment, I guess I did not know I would need one. 

[travelnursefuture]

If there is no place to put a name more than likely during your interview they will ask you. You can also bring it up after you are hired. 

Typically cover letters are a place where you can highlight your specific interest in said position you're applying to and a little background about yourself that applies to the position and why you would be a great asset/ candidate. Supporting documents are usually things like certificates, licenses, awards etc. Pretty much anything that highlights you as a potential candidate that they may ask you for once hired anyway. 

Hope this helps!

[NewbieNurseRN]

On 6/20/2021 at 12:57 PM, travelnursefuture said:

If there is no place to put a name more than likely during your interview they will ask you. You can also bring it up after you are hired. 

Typically cover letters are a place where you can highlight your specific interest in said position you're applying to and a little background about yourself that applies to the position and why you would be a great asset/ candidate. Supporting documents are usually things like certificates, licenses, awards etc. Pretty much anything that highlights you as a potential candidate that they may ask you for once hired anyway. 

Hope this helps!

Oh my goodness this is great help! Thank you so very much. I appreciate you taking time to help out like this it means a lot! 

[Blatant Shannon]

I feel that nursing was one of those fields that didn't quite require cover letters to get an entry job. I agree with the other comments, you can bring up your referral via the interview phase. You can go down to HR afterwards and let them know who referred you. HR and the interviewing manager normally don't talk to each other very well. You are best to go there and give them the full name and make sure you watch them either put it into their computer or write it down. Follow up with it later if you get hired. Hospitals like to forget to give incentives to their nurses.