Cover Letters, Resumes, and Online Applications

[MissCharlieRN]

Okay, it's time for me to start applying for jobs (I'll be graduating in May) and all of the hospitals in the Pittsburgh area require you to fill out a fun online application. These applications give you the option to upload your resume to send in to the hospital's human resources department. Now here's my question: Does this also mean the cover letter? I put together a resume and had it read and reviewed and corrected etc, but as far as a cover letter goes: I'm stumped. This is a first career for me and I don't actually have a lot of nursing experience. I don't know what to say or where to start. But the way these online applications are set up it doesn't really look like a cover letter is needed? I don't know. If anyone has any input it would be much appreciated. Do I include a cover letter or leave it out? If I include it, does it get attached with the resume? Thanks for any advice!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I have a question. To work in a hospital, is a registered nurse license needed? I just graduated from a foreign nursing school and I just arrived here in the states last week. I'm going to take the nclex soon, but I want to start working in the hospital as early as now. Your feedback would be awsome!.

In Virginia, you can work as an "RN applicant" (RNA) once your Authorization to Test (ATT) for the NCLEX-RN is issued to you. It varies in other states, though. You should check with your state's Board of Nursing. Good luck!

[FLJsin]

thanks for the reply! I'll look in on that. :)