college essay for nursing

How to Write an Admission Essay for Nursing School

The nursing school admission process is rigorous. One of the critical requirements for new applicants is an application essay, and writing a compelling nursing essay will give you a major head start over other nursing school candidates.

Once you have figured out why you want to be a nurse, all your memories, accomplishments, ambitions, and goals will align. Therefore, writing an essay on why you are interested in becoming a nurse and selecting a specific nursing college or university allows the admissions team to understand why they should choose you over other candidates.

A well-written, organized, and polished nursing school essay automatically increases your chances of acceptance. With thousands of applications destined for assessment and judgment by the admissions committee, you would want to make your application essay for the nursing school admission stand out.

We have admission essay-writing experts and consultants who, luckily, have compiled this intensive guide to help you write an intentional, focused, and perfect essay for nursing school.

Note: If you are in a hurry or you need direct assistance in writing your nursing college essay, please place an order and let our expert essay writers craft for you an original, engaging, and compelling nursing essay!

What Is a Nursing School Essay?

A nursing school essay is a written piece that demonstrates your interest in a nursing career and elaborates why you are the perfect fit for a specific nursing program.

Most nursing schools (colleges and universities) require aspiring students to write an application essay for nursing school admission. It is a personal essay submitted as part of the application process, which the admission officers review to determine if you can be accepted.

A good nursing school essay shows your interest in the nursing field, your chosen career path, why you want to pursue your nursing education through a specific nursing school program, and why you believe you should be accepted into the institution. It has to show why the entire process is crucial to you and why you are a worthy candidate to select for the nursing school program.

Sometimes, it is the only hope one has left, especially if the competition is stiff. Imagine a situation where the application materials such as grades, resumes, test scores, or recommendation letters are all qualified; a nursing school essay will be the only means to select the best out of the rest fairly.

Writing a perfect nursing essay will demonstrate that you are ready to go down the thorny path of training to become a nurse. Nursing education entails research and writing assignments, and a well-written essay demonstrates your readiness.

Helpful Information to Include in a Nursing Admission Essay

You are probably wondering what goes into an application essay for nursing school admission. Well, your nursing essay will answer an essay prompt from the university. Most colleges will specify the essay questions for college of nursing applicants for various levels of study (MSN, DNP, BSN, Ph.D., or ADN).

Below are some examples of what might be expected:

• Your goals and ambitions for a successful nursing career
• How do you plan to achieve your academic goals
• The specific reasons why you want to join the nursing field
• Reasons you are selecting the particular nursing school or program
• Personal accomplishments that set you apart as the right candidate
• Experiences and encounters that make you love nursing career
• Plans for the future once accepted
• Experience with medical training or patient care
• Character traits aligned to being a nurse
• How you are prepared to become a successful nurse
• Academic, personal, and career interests
• Any other reasons to convince the admissions committee to approve your admission

In some quarters, a nursing school application essay might be a statement of purpose, personal essay, or letter of intent. It is a chance to plead with the admissions committee to accept you into your dream nursing college or program. Having looked at what goes into it, it is also essential to cover the steps to writing a perfect and comprehensive admission essay for nursing school.

Structure of a Nursing School Essay

A nursing essay for admission into a nursing program or school follows the typical format of an academic essay. It is organized into three main sections: introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction

• This is the opening paragraph that has to impress your readers (admissions officers)
• It can make or break your admission essay or personal statement
• It should be direct to the point
• It is a roadmap that helps the readers to know what to expect as your story grows.
• Open it using an enticing quote, event, anecdote, or statement
• You are allowed to use personal pronouns such as I in the introduction and the rest of the essay
• It has 2- 3 and sometimes five paragraphs
• Elaborates the introduction
• Every paragraph has a unique opening sentence that is a mini-thesis statement.
• Bears the best ideas yielded in your brainstorming session
• It can be as long as your word limit allows but contributes to at least 70-80% of the word count
• Focuses on quality over quantity
• Has one idea or experience per paragraph
• You should mention the skills you intend to develop and how they will help you become a successful nurse
• Connect the skills and experiences to the program and your future career
• Summarize and emphasize the main ideas
• It should be captivating and insightful
• Conveys a sense of closure to the readers
• Invites the readers to reflect on the ideas in your essay
• Creates one last lasting impression on the readers

Outline for a Nursing School Essay

A good nursing school essay outline should give you directions that help you visualize what the essay will look like in its final draft.

If you are writing a nursing essay, having the outline is the first thing you do after brainstorming (as shown in the steps).

It helps you to figure out how to arrange the ideas and points in the essay for a better flow. You can develop each section independently, regardless of the sequence, and still have a quality essay. 

In most cases, the outline is meant for personal consumption, especially when writing a personal statement. However, if you are writing a nursing essay on a given nursing topic , you might be required to write an outline, annotated bibliography , and the nursing essay , and each will be graded separately.

Given the structure, you can outline your nursing school essay as follows:

    Introduction paragraph

• Hook (quote, statement, or anecdote)
• Background information
• Thesis statement
• Transition sentence

    Body paragraph 1

• Topic sentence
• Evidence, data, and facts
• Transition to the second body paragraph

    Body paragraph 2

• Transition to the third body paragraph

    Body paragraph 3

• Transition to the conclusion

    Conclusion

• Summary of the main ideas
• Restate the thesis statement
• Last impression (call to action to the admissions committee)

Steps for Writing a Nursing School Essay

Optimizing your application essay increases your chance of getting accepted into the nursing program or nursing school. The essay should elaborate on your person (who you are as an individual) by providing a comprehensive perspective of your career ambitions, goals, and plans related to your passion for nursing. You should elaborate to the admissions committee why you are a good fit for their nursing program. Students at the ADN, BSN, ABSN (Accelerated BSN), MSN, DNP, or Ph.D. might be required to write an admission or personal essay, and here are the five steps to make it successful.

• Read the prompt
• Brainstorm for ideas
• Plan your essay
• Write the first draft
• Edit and Polish your Essay

Let's explore all these steps before delving into the tips to help you write the essay better.

Read the Prompt

If you are considering applying to a specific nursing school, you need to begin by researching the application process to know when you will be expected to submit your application essay.

In most cases, the nursing schools have essay prompts and instructions for the potential nursing candidates published on their websites. The prompts might vary depending on the programs you are interested in pursuing and the institutional preferences. Therefore, it is vital to begin by locating the nursing school essay guidelines. A quick search online can help, or you will also find it enclosed in the email sent to you by the school's admissions committee.

Read the instructions thoroughly with a specific focus on the essay question, word limit, and topics you must cover. If you apply to many nursing schools, you should locate and read each prompt before moving to the next steps.

Reading and understanding the instructions is the first step in writing an excellent application essay. Besides, it helps you to customize the essay to the requirements and not the other way around.

Brainstorm for Ideas

Now that you know what is expected of you, you need to decide what to include in your nursing essay to make it stand out. For this, get into an idea-generation marathon where you brainstorm ideas based on the prompt and the requirements.

Give every idea a thoughtful consideration and make shorthand notes so that you have all the ideas condensed. Consider your ambitions, accomplishments, drive, passion, preferences, strengths, weaknesses, character traits, and other attributes that might relate to your urge to pursue nursing as a career.

Also, research the nursing program and relate it to your personal ambitions and desires. Such information will help you spot the specific things you like about it. You can then tailor your experiences and encounters to the requirements. Look at the program's website and examine 2-3 aspects that stand out. This will help you focus on what you have that makes you the best pick for the program. You can also reference experiences, events, or traits related to the program.

Consider the environment and people around you and relate them to your desire to become a nurse.

Experiences, encounters, and events can inspire ideas to pen into your nursing school essay.

You can also research some well-written examples of nursing personal statements and essays to get inspired when brainstorming ideas for yours. Besides, you can also ask people in your network, such as family, friends, or peers, for ideas that can stand out and then choose the best.

To get the most robust ideas, rate them depending on how best they answer the prompt; this is the fodder for the entire application essay. Choose 3-5 strongest points and make them the central focus of your essay.

Plan your Essay

As a nurse, planning is everything, even when it comes to clinical decision-making. And because you are destined for this noble career, planning your personal essay won't hurt. Instead, it helps you know what to put and where to engage the admission officers from the beginning to the end of your nursing school essay.

With the ideas in mind, create a rough outline and adjust it until you are fully satisfied that your thoughts, facts, and opinions are well-organized. The outline will help you to structure your essay, avoid derailing it, and write a draft that bears all the quality ideas.

A good step is to organize the essay into paragraphs that align with the word count (often given as the minimum or maximum number of words, exact number of words, or characters).

Include an introduction to give your readers a clear understanding of the focus of your essay. Yes, a good nursing essay has a thesis statement that shows your central claim or the main idea you are focusing on the entire essay.

You should include the body paragraphs, each with a topic sentence supporting the thesis and a series of supporting facts such as examples, evidence, and illustration.

Finally, include a conclusion as the last paragraph that reverberates the thesis, summarizes the essay, and has a call to action to the admissions committee.

Write the First Draft

After the outline, you must begin writing your essay sentence by sentence and paragraph after paragraph. Whatever approach you take, ensure that every detail covered in the outline ends up in your essay as long as it is valid.

Write the introduction paragraph by giving a hook or attention grabber. You can begin with a quote from a famous nurse or a scholarly nursing article. You can also state facts or give statistics if they matter to your application. You should also elaborate on your selected topic, especially if the prompt provides options. End your first paragraph with a thesis statement that describes the focus of your nursing school essay. The introduction should account for 10-15% of the word count.

Each body paragraph has a unique, unmistakable, and concise topic sentence followed by supporting details and a concluding sentence that transitions to the next paragraph. Ensure that you have at least two body paragraphs considering that you can write either a three-paragraph or a five-paragraph nursing essay. Collectively, the body section should be 70-80% of the essay's word count. The body paragraphs should outline your encounters, experiences, and events and how they relate to the specific nursing program.

The final part is the conclusion, where you summarize the main ideas in the essay. for this, avoid the clich� conclusion starters such as "in conclusion," "to sum up," or "in summary." Instead, use conclusion opening sentences that demonstrate to your reader that the essay has ended � it gives the best closure and helps close the information loop in your essay. Rephrase your thesis and summarize the main ideas before appealing to the admissions committee to accept you into their nursing program. It should be 10-15% of the word count, like the introduction paragraph.

Edit and Polish the Essay

Now that you are done with your first draft, it is only the beginning, and you are far from being done. You need to take a break to cool down your frustrations, anxiety, and adrenaline developed when writing. It is a chance to establish an objective mind to look at things from a broader perspective when you settle for editing and proofreading.

If you are not good with editing and proofreading, you can hire a professional proofreading and editing expert to look at your essay and suggest changes to make. You can also use friends and family as a second and third eye to see what you cannot see. Using their feedback will help you optimize the essay for better results. You can incorporate the suggestions and proceed to editing and proofreading.

As for editing and proofreading, you can take advantage of tools such as Grammarly, Ginger, Hemingway Editor, and other editing and proofreading tools available by students and professionals. Revise the essay until it meets the requirements and addresses the prompt. If anything, do not be afraid to do away with an entire paragraph or a few paragraphs that don't make sense.

It is better to start over again than submit a subpar nursing school essay that will be a laughingstock of the admissions committee. The only way to entertain the admissions officers is to write an outstanding nursing school essay that will automatically dial you into the nursing program of your choice. Best of luck!

Example of Nursing School Essay Prompts

• Discuss your interest and understanding of the clinical nurse leader role. What's your story? And what experiences have contributed to your interest?
• The DNP program aims to prepare nurse leaders at the highest level of nursing practice to improve patient outcomes and translate research into practice. Describe experiences that exhibit your formal leadership role or informal leadership skills.
• How will the program help you achieve your academic and career goals?
• What experiences have influenced your interest in pursuing a clinical specialty you have chosen?
• The DNP program aims to prepare nurse leaders at the highest level of nursing practice to improve patient outcomes and translate research into practice. Describe experiences that exhibit your leadership skills.
• Why have you chosen to pursue a nursing research doctorate?
• How does becoming a nurse fulfill your ambitions?
• What does becoming a nurse mean to you?
• What drives you to become a nurse?
• Why do you want to become a nurse?
• What is your nursing philosophy?
• What was your reason for choosing nursing as a career? Do you have any additional information that you would like the admissions committee to know about you that has not been previously considered in the application?
• What are your professional goals? How will this accelerated nursing program help you materialize those goals?
• Discuss a specific leadership position (e.g., manager, director, associate dean) you wish to attain within three to five years after completing the DNP program.

Note: Some of these prompts have been rephrased from the Rush University Website . They keep changing depending on the preferences of the admissions committee. Inquire with your university or college of nursing to get specific directions on the most current prompts and instructions.

Related Reading: Ideas for a nursing capstone project.

Tips for Writing an Effective Nursing School Admission Essay

When grades, test scores, and other material entries don't count , a nursing school essay, referred to as a personal statement, suffices. In this case, a great nursing school can only be your hope for getting into nursing school. If you want to get ahead of the competition, these proven tips will significantly help you.

1. Plan Well

To pen an excellent nursing school essay that gets you accepted, you need to plan the essay.

Read the instructions, brainstorm as you take notes, research widely, and create an outline.

And even when done, the purpose is to have a reverse outline to help you score the essay against the requirements. Planning helps you to know what attention-grabbing statement to begin the essay with, the sequence of the body paragraph ideas for a logical flow, and what specifics to include in the conclusion.

Having an outline will help you save time when writing the first draft and help you to stay focused when writing.

2. Show, Don't Tell!

All effective nursing school essays express your personality, experiences, and encounters while convincing the admissions officers that you are the best fit for the program.

You should not focus on telling your story alone. Instead, show how your account relates to the prompt.

Discuss experiences, encounters, and events but show how they have impacted your choice of the program and desire to become a nurse.

If you are applying to a specific program, enlighten your readers on why you are specifically interested in the program and what that means.

It could be the hybrid learning model that entails both online and classroom learning or the history or reputation the school has, parental preferences (if they were a graduate), mentor recommendation, etc.

3. Choose Information Wisely

Ensure that every idea or information in your essay is unique, authentic, and original. Don't just write fictitiously.

If you have no past experiences directly related to nursing, you can introduce them and twist them to fit the context.

Impress the admissions committee with your wits, not just a summary of what others have written online.

Standing out in your presentation of facts will always carry the day. Genuinely share your story about what made you want to become a nurse.

4. Avoid Excuses

Even if you don't have appealing past encounters with medicine, hospitals, or anything related to nursing, tell your story as it is.

Do not excuse yourself for telling the truth. After all, you are on your journey to becoming a nurse; all you are seeking is training to develop the knowledge and skills.

If you have cared for your family members at home, babysat your siblings, or have compassion for the suffering, these are the most authentic stories you have, and they can spell meaning on your ambition. Therefore, prove your strong candidature by stating things as they are without clutching at things that do not matter.

5. Let it Flow!

Instead of forcing things such as humor or stories, write plainly about your experiences, encounters, and past events that made you want to become a nurse.

Most "why I want to be a nurse" essays don't have to have any humor. If it clicks well and is good, if it doesn't, don't force it.

As well, avoid exaggerating things when writing your nursing school essay. You should focus on making it as interesting, engaging, and convincing as can be but be truthful.

Avoid mixing up stories. A good way is to focus each paragraph on the main point that relates to your thesis.

6. Show you care about People and Yourself

Nursing is a noble career that entails caring for oneself as you care for others. Your full-time attention and job will be to care for people to help them achieve better health outcomes.

You must show empathy, selflessness, and determination to be a nurse. You can bring examples of when you took care of others and yourself.

Let the committee know that even when training as a nurse, you understand self-care as much as you understand caring for others.

7. Bring in Current Issues

If there is a chance that you can introduce nursing concepts or ideas from current events, it will beef up your nursing school essays.

Get facts from well-established nursing organization websites such as the American Nurses Association, National League of Nursing, Emergency Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, or National Black Nurses Association, etc.

Intrigue your readers by understanding the challenges and opportunities in the nursing field.

You can relate your application to nursing shortages, medical errors, nursing burnout, continuing education, evidence-based practice, etc.

8. Briefly Explain your Qualifications

Since you have already provided material such as transcripts, resumes, and test scores, it is imperative to briefly expound on the qualifications without going into details. Tell them about your experiences, your education, and how you have set yourself up for success in nursing school . For instance, elaborate on how volunteering and internships helped you develop a sense of becoming a nurse or how they developed skills you will apply in nursing school.

9. Share your plans

Everybody has plans. You have short, medium, and long-term goals as you prepare to enter nursing school. You should include them in your essay and demonstrate how the program or school will help you achieve them. Admission officers are always wowed by hearing about goals, especially if they relate to their schools or programs. As you do this, be very specific with the goals and how you intend to achieve them.

All set, but before You Go �

As you contemplate entering nursing school, you must understand that it will never be a walk in the park. There is so much to learn within the specified time frame, and you must show your preparedness. A nursing school personal essay is one of the ways to do so.

Related Article:

• Writing a nursing philosophy ( a student's guide)
• Writing a nursing student resume (a guide)

Lucky for you, our nursing admission essay writers have shared insights, tips, and steps that can help you write an exceptional application essay for any nursing school or program. If you follow them, you will write a seamless admission essay that increases your chances of getting into the nursing school of your dreams.

We wish you luck in your endeavors and promise that were available in case you need a well-written, organized, and plagiarism-free admission essay tailored to your experiences and the specific nursing school or program requirements.

Struggling with

Related Articles

What are the Levels of Nursing Degrees?

Do Grades Matter in Nursing School? Find Out!

Writing a Nursing Research Paper that Meets Professor's Requirements

NurseMyGrades is being relied upon by thousands of students worldwide to ace their nursing studies. We offer high quality sample papers that help students in their revision as well as helping them remain abreast of what is expected of them.

10 Tips to Write an Effective Nursing School Essay

Each blog post is dated and contains accurate information as of that date. Certain information may have changed since the blog post publication date. If you would like to confirm the current accuracy of blog information, please visit our ABSN overview page or contact admissions at (866) 892-3819.

The nursing school essay is crucial to your application. It’s an opportunity to convince the nursing school admissions committee to accept you. First, articulate why you want to be a nurse. Then, develop an outline, write a compelling intro and carefully proofread the completed document.

When applying for an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program , some of the best advice to follow is to optimize your ABSN application to increase your chances of getting accepted. While the application process requires considering prerequisites, GPA and other general admissions requirements , several factors go beyond hard data.

Writing an excellent nursing school essay is one of the most important factors. Many accelerated nursing programs require a nursing school essay that outlines why you’d like to be a nurse and why you are a good candidate for the nursing program.

The essay shows who you are, providing a more well-rounded perspective of your career goals and passion for nursing. This will help the nursing school admissions committee see whether you are a good fit for their program.

Learning how to craft a compelling nursing school essay can yield excellent results when applying for nursing school. Follow these 10 nursing school tips for a more impactful essay.

1. Read the Essay Guidelines Thoroughly

Following the directions is essential, as every nursing school establishes its own nursing school essay policies, topics and procedures. For example, you may need to write within a minimum or maximum word count range, and you’ll likely need to address a specific essay prompt. Always follow the directions carefully to avoid disqualification.

2. Plan Your Nursing School Essay

Writing a good nursing school essay is essential to getting your application accepted for enrollment. To do this effectively, spend some time planning your essay. Highlight the items you want to include in your essay, summarize your personal story and remember to incorporate your qualifications. (You don’t need prior nursing experience or education to enroll in an ABSN program. Your qualifications might include soft skills, a passion for helping others and perhaps volunteer experience at a healthcare facility.)

Start your essay with an attention-grabbing topic statement to draw the reader in. You want to let the reader know who you are and what nursing means to you. Plan your main reasons for choosing nursing and elaborate by following your outline. Your outline can help you stay focused and cohesive throughout the essay.

Wondering how to prepare for nursing school ? Check out these top 7 tips.

3. Make Yourself Stand Out

An effective nursing school essay expresses your personality while convincing the reader you are the right candidate for the program. A great way to do this is by sharing a story about yourself. For example, you could discuss an experience that led you to apply for nursing school or sparked your desire to be a nurse.

You want to use your essay to show why you should go to their school rather than tell them why you want to go there. Use personal examples to make your writing more candid and intriguing. Share your motivation for wanting to attend that program and what inspires you.

4. Share Your Dreams

Getting into a good accelerated nursing school and earning your degree is essential for making your dreams of becoming a successful nurse come true. Your personal statement should include your long-term goals for your nursing career. For instance, you might discuss how your goal is to help children or that you wish to advance your education and become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).

Nursing school admissions committees are interested in hearing about your long-term goals; goals illustrate that potential students are determined, which can lead to a better performance in school. Be as specific as you can with your goals.

When you’re ready for a new field, follow these 6 steps to making a career change to nursing .

5. Show That You Care About People

As a nurse, your job will center on caring for people in a positive and friendly way while efficiently caring for their healthcare needs. It takes a specific type of selfless person to become a nurse, and you want to show that you are that person.

Give examples of times when you went above and beyond to care for a loved one or a stranger. Let the committee know about your passion for caring for others. Empathy in nursing is an excellent quality to have.

6. Explain Your Qualifications

Your academic and work qualifications are recorded for review on your transcripts, test scores and resume. However, those qualifications are only listed and don’t go into detail, which means the nursing school admissions committee may not understand what you gained from those experiences.

The ABSN admissions requirements at Northeastern include a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 62 non-nursing college credits, plus a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. You’ll also need to complete several prerequisite courses , including:

• Microbiology with Lab
• Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II with Lab
• Introduction to Chemistry with Lab
• Statistics (inferential stats and hypothesis testing)
• Social/Behavioral Sciences (100 level or above)
• Developmental Psychology (lifespan)

Use the nursing school essay as an opportunity to go into more detail about your education and how you’ve set yourself up academically to succeed in nursing school. You can also show how your volunteer opportunities or internships taught you lessons you can apply to your education at the nursing school. If you are looking for ways to beef up your resume and nursing application with experience, look into these volunteer opportunities in healthcare.

7. Tell Nursing School Admissions Why You Want to Go to Their School

Getting into a good nursing school is the most important factor for some applicants. For others, going to a specific nursing school, such as Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Science , is very important to them. Whatever your reasons for applying to that nursing school are, you want to include those reasons in your essay.

For example, if you’re aiming to attend Northeastern, you could talk about how the hybrid online learning model appeals to you, or you could talk about how earning a degree in as few as 16 months will help you start your new career sooner. You could share how attending a school with such a quality reputation will set you up for your future career. Share stories about your mother, an alumna, or a friend who suggested you go there.

Telling the nursing school admissions committee why you chose their school will help them understand your motivation and make it easier when deciding whether to accept you as a student.

8. Set Your Essay Aside and Reread with Fresh Eyes Later

Once you’ve followed these nursing school tips and crafted your essay, the next step is to do nothing. Setting your essay aside for at least a few days is best. Then, reread it with fresh eyes and make edits as needed.

If you edit too quickly after writing, your eyes will see what you expect to see. If you give yourself a waiting period, you can edit with greater clarity and likely detect careless mistakes or omissions you might have missed.

9. Have a Friend Edit Your Essay

After you’ve put your nursing school essay through at least one round of editing, consider asking a trusted friend or relative to proofread for you. After all, even the best writers make mistakes and miss things when writing. By having another person review your essay, they’ll pick up on errors and point out areas of confusion. Choose an editor who will be honest and provide good feedback, such as a family member, friend or even a past teacher.

When having a second pair of eyes review your work, receive their feedback openly. After all, you want to hear an objective opinion about your writing, which will help you improve it.

10. Give the Essay a Final Proofread

After your friend or relative has handed your essay back to you with suggestions and corrections, make the changes as needed. Then, set your essay aside for another day or two before giving it a final proofread. You should also use a grammar app to check for careless language-related mistakes.

Ready to Begin Your Nursing School Journey at Northeastern?

By following these nursing school tips on making your essay stand out, you may increase your chances of getting into the nursing school of your dreams.

If you’re interested in pursuing your degree with Northeastern University through our accelerated nursing program near Boston, MA, or in Charlotte, NC, complete our online form so we can contact you. Now is the time to take the first step toward a rewarding nursing career!

Published 07/23/24

Published 07/02/24

Published 07/01/24

Get Your Free ABSN Program Guide

Our ABSN program guide includes everything you need to know about the accelerated path to nursing.

How to Write a Nursing Essay with a Quick Guide

Ever felt the blank-page panic when assigned a nursing essay? Wondering where to start or if your words will measure up to the weight of your experiences? Fear not, because today, we're here to guide you through this process.

Imagine you're at your favorite coffee spot, armed with a cup of motivation (and maybe a sneaky treat). Got it? Great! Now, let's spill the secrets on how to spin your nursing tales into words that not only get you that A+ but also tug at the heartstrings of anyone reading. We've got your back with nursing essay examples that'll be your inspiration, an outline to keep you on the right path, and more!

What Is a Nursing Essay

Let's start by dissecting the concept. A nursing essay serves as a focused exploration of a specific aspect of nursing, providing an opportunity for students to demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and its practical application in patient care settings.

Picture it as a journey through the challenges and victories of a budding nurse. These essays go beyond the classroom, tackling everything from tricky ethical dilemmas to the impact of healthcare policies on the front lines. It's not just about grades; it's about proving, 'I'm ready for the real deal.'

So, when you read or write a nursing essay, it's not just words on paper. It's like looking into the world of someone who's about to start their nursing career – someone who's really thought about the ins and outs of being a nurse. And before you kick off your nursing career, don't shy away from asking - write my essay for me - we're ready to land a professional helping hand.

How to Start a Nursing Essay

When you start writing a nursing essay, it is like gearing up for a crucial mission. Here's your quick guide from our nursing essay writing service :

Choosing Your Topic: Select a topic that sparks your interest and relates to real-world nursing challenges. Consider areas like patient care, ethical dilemmas, or the impact of technology on healthcare.

Outline Your Route : Plan your essay's journey. Create a roadmap with key points you want to cover. This keeps you on track and your essay on point.

Craft a Strong Thesis: Assuming you already know how to write a hook , kick off your writing with a surprising fact, a thought-provoking quote, or a brief anecdote. Then, state your main argument or perspective in one sentence. This thesis will serve as the compass for your essay, guiding both you and your reader through the rest of your writing.

How to Structure a Nursing Essay

Every great essay is like a well-orchestrated performance – it needs a script, a narrative that flows seamlessly, capturing the audience's attention from start to finish. In our case, this script takes the form of a well-organized structure. Let's delve into the elements that teach you how to write a nursing essay, from a mere collection of words to a compelling journey of insights.

Nursing Essay Introduction

Begin your nursing essay with a spark. Knowing how to write essay introduction effectively means sharing a real-life scenario or a striking fact related to your topic. For instance, if exploring patient care, narrate a personal experience that made a lasting impression. Then, crisply state your thesis – a clear roadmap indicating the direction your essay will take. Think of it as a teaser that leaves the reader eager to explore the insights you're about to unfold.

In the main body, dive into the heart of your essay. Each paragraph should explore a specific aspect of your topic. Back your thoughts with examples – maybe a scenario from your clinical experience, a relevant case study, or findings from credible sources. Imagine it as a puzzle coming together; each paragraph adds a piece, forming a complete picture. Keep it focused and let each idea flow naturally into the next.

Nursing Essay Conclusion

As writing a nursing essay nears the end, resist the urge to introduce new elements. Summarize your main points concisely. Remind the reader of the real-world significance of your thesis – why it matters in the broader context of nursing. Conclude with a thought-provoking statement or a call to reflection, leaving your reader with a lasting impression. It's like the final scene of a movie that leaves you thinking long after the credits roll.

Nursing Essay Outline

Before diving into the essay, craft a roadmap – your outline. This isn't a rigid skeleton but a flexible guide that ensures your ideas flow logically. Consider the following template from our research paper writing service :

Introduction

• Opening Hook: Share a brief, impactful patient care scenario.
• Relevance Statement: Explain why the chosen topic is crucial in nursing.
• Thesis: Clearly state the main argument or perspective.

Patient-Centered Care:

• Definition: Clarify what patient-centered care means in nursing.
• Personal Experience: Share a relevant encounter from clinical practice.
• Evidence: Integrate findings from reputable nursing literature.

Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing Practice

• Scenario Presentation: Describe a specific ethical challenge faced by nurses.
• Decision-Making Process: Outline steps taken to address the dilemma.
• Ethical Frameworks: Discuss any ethical theories guiding the decision.

Impact of Technology on Nursing

• Current Trends: Highlight technological advancements in nursing.
• Case Study: Share an example of technology enhancing patient care.
• Challenges and Benefits: Discuss the pros and cons of technology in nursing.
• Summary of Key Points: Recap the main ideas from each section.
• Real-world Implications: Emphasize the practical significance in nursing practice.
• Closing Thought: End with a reflective statement or call to action.

A+ in Nursing Essays Await You!

Ready to excel? Let us guide you. Click now for professional nursing essay writing assistance.

Nursing Essay Examples

Here are the nursing Essay Examples for you to read.

Writing a Nursing Essay: Essential Tips

When it comes to crafting a stellar nursing essay, a few key strategies can elevate your work from ordinary to exceptional. Here are some valuable tips from our medical school personal statement writer :

Connect with Personal Experiences:

• Approach: Weave personal encounters seamlessly into your narrative.
• Reasoning: This not only adds authenticity to your essay but also serves as a powerful testament to your firsthand understanding of the challenges and triumphs in the nursing field.

Emphasize Critical Thinking:

• Approach: Go beyond describing situations; delve into their analysis.
• Reasoning: Nursing essays are the perfect platform to showcase your critical thinking skills – an essential attribute in making informed decisions in real-world healthcare scenarios.

Incorporate Patient Perspectives:

• Approach: Integrate patient stories or feedback into your discussion.
• Reasoning: By bringing in the human element, you demonstrate empathy and an understanding of the patient's experience, a core aspect of nursing care.

Integrate Evidence-Based Practice:

• Approach: Support your arguments with the latest evidence-based literature.
• Reasoning: Highlighting your commitment to staying informed and applying current research underscores your dedication to evidence-based practice – a cornerstone in modern nursing.

Address Ethical Considerations:

• Approach: Explicitly discuss the ethical dimensions of your topic.
• Reasoning: Nursing essays provide a platform to delve into the ethical complexities inherent in healthcare, showcasing your ability to navigate and analyze these challenges.

Balance Theory and Practice:

• Approach: Connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications.
• Reasoning: By bridging the gap between theory and practice, you illustrate your capacity to apply academic knowledge effectively in the dynamic realm of nursing.

Highlight Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

• Approach: Discuss collaborative efforts with other healthcare professionals.
• Reasoning: Acknowledging the interdisciplinary nature of healthcare underscores your understanding of the importance of teamwork – a vital aspect of successful nursing practice.

Reflect on Lessons Learned:

• Approach: Conclude with a thoughtful reflection on personal growth or lessons from your exploration.
• Reasoning: This not only provides a satisfying conclusion but also demonstrates your self-awareness and commitment to continuous improvement as a nursing professional.

As we wrap up, think of your essay as a story about your journey into nursing. It's not just about getting a grade; it's a way to share what you've been through and why you want to be a nurse.

Imagine the person reading it – maybe a teacher, a future coworker, or someone starting their nursing journey. They're trying to understand your passion and why you care about nursing.

So, when you write, remember it's more than just an assignment. It's your chance to show why nursing matters to you. And if you ever need help – there's always support from our essay writer online .

Ready to Excel in Your Nursing School Essay?

Order now and experience the expertise of our professional writers!

How to Write a Nursing Essay?

How can a nursing essay effectively address ethical considerations, what are some examples of evidence-based practices in nursing essays.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

Tips for Writing Your Nursing Program College Essays

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Giebien Na in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

The importance of your college essays, general advice for writing your nursing essays.

If you know you want to be a nurse, you probably have quite a few reasons for that. Instead of merely relying on your academic and test performances to tell your story, you get the opportunity in your essays to share exactly why you’re so passionate about nursing. Writing about this can be a clarifying and even exciting process. This article explains why college application essays matter and how you should write about why you want to become a nurse.

Grades and test scores matter when you’re applying to college, but your essays can help improve your chances of admission. They’re how you can express your experiences and make your desire to become a nurse clear and personal.

If your prospective school doesn’t have supplemental essays, it’s a good idea to include your interest in nursing in your Common App essay . This could mean that you end up with two different drafts of the essay: one for if there are supplemental essays where you can discuss your interests in nursing and one for if there are not. You’ll change them out depending on whether you also have to respond to specific prompts about why you want to pursue nursing. This may not sound like much fun, but it will help you be admitted to your school of choice.

It might seem exciting to apply to a place where you don’t have to write extra essays—it’s less work! If you don’t do that additional work, though, you’ll have fewer chances to explain yourself. You might not be able to share exactly why you think that you’re the right fit for a certain college or program. 

If you are writing supplemental essays for the colleges that you’re interested in, you can include more details about your passion for nursing. You’ll often be asked, “why this major?” or “why this school?” When you have those opportunities to share your specific reasons, you can let yourself get personal and go deep into your passion. Use that space to share important details about who you are.

Start Broad

When writing essays entirely about why you want to pursue nursing , try to start from a broad interest, then slowly work your way to telling specific personal stories and goals. 

When first thinking about your general interest in nursing, ask yourself what attracts you to the work of being a nurse. This can lead to powerful potential responses. Maybe you like taking care of people in the community. Perhaps you’ve always known that you wanted to make a difference in the healthcare profession, but you don’t want to be a doctor. You’d rather make patients’ healthcare experiences as comfortable and pleasant as possible. 

After you’ve described these broad, overarching motivations for wanting to go into nursing, consider any personal experiences that have made you want to be a nurse. Think about moments you’ve had during hospital visits or checkups or an anecdote from a time that you decided to volunteer in a healthcare role. Once you’ve written these stories, you can end the essay by discussing your planned major and career goals.

Discuss Your Future Goals

If you know what your end goal is, be sure to include it. You can write about becoming a registered nurse or maybe a nurse practitioner. It doesn’t have to be set in stone , but sharing a final ambition can help anchor your personal narrative. Writing about the future that you want can help the admissions officer reading your essay see how you view yourself. If they can do this, they’ll better understand your values and motivations and see you as a real candidate for their school. 

You don’t have to follow this pattern exactly. For example, it can be powerful to begin your essay in the middle of the action—you can dive right into an anecdote and get the reader interested in your story from the jump. 

While you should avoid dramatization, starting with a few clear, memorable scenes or a line or two of dialogue can make for an instantly interesting essay. All of this helps you show your passion, rather than simply explaining what intrigues you about a nursing career. 

Once you’ve led with your narrative, though, remember to ground it in clear reasons for your intended career and what you want your future to look like. A good essay will be balanced between the past, present, and future. It’s how a college will see who you are and everything that you have to offer.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

How to Write a Winning Nursing Application Essay

Not everyone dreads writing their nursing application essay. Some consider writing a strong suit. But others definitely don’t. If you fall in the latter category, take heart; submitting a well-crafted, winning essay isn’t as difficult as it may seem.

It may help to keep in mind that a bad essay probably won’t ruin your chances of becoming a nurse. But a good essay could mean the difference between getting accepted into a program of your choice, at a time of your choosing, or not. That’s because admissions personnel often turn to the application essay to differentiate among candidates who might otherwise seem equivalent. A good application essay can set you apart from the pack and help your application stand out.

Of course, if writing were your passion, you’d probably be pursuing a different career. Admissions staff for nursing programs throughout the U.S., including those at the Denver College of Nursing , understand this. In addition to giving you a chance to reveal a bit about yourself and your motivation for becoming a nurse, admissions personnel view the essay as a way to assess skills that go beyond writing ability. For example, it can be a quick way to assess whether you’re capable of following instructions carefully.

Importance of the Nursing Application Essay

The nursing school application essay is an important part of the admissions process. It not only provides insight about an applicant that goes beyond grades and test scores, but also gives the applicant an opportunity to discuss personal and professional aspirations and explain why they’re passionate about becoming a registered nurse (RN).

An application essay provides a glimpse into an applicant’s character and values. It also helps applicants demonstrate their ability to convey thoughts coherently, a vital skill for nurses who must communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare teams, among others.  

The admission essay also presents students with an opportunity to highlight unique experiences they’ve had, challenges they’ve overcome, and impactful moments in their lives that have motivated them to pursue a nursing degree. Whether it’s a story about a transformative volunteer experience or a story about how an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse helped care for a family member, these narratives help differentiate candidates by showcasing their potential contributions to the profession.

Writing a compelling nursing school application essay is about more than drafting words onto a page. It’s about crafting a final product that enables admissions counselors to see applicants as more than their GPA, educational history, and academic achievements. It can be an equally important skill for students looking to apply for grants and scholarships to help them pay for nursing school .

Tips for Your Nursing Admission Essay

Writing a nursing school application essay requires finesse and clarity. Below are just a few of the tips students can use to craft an essay they can be proud of.

1. Follow Instructions Carefully

Think of your essay as another type of screening tool. For example, applicants who fail to follow instructions properly are easily weeded out of the pile. This makes sense when you consider the ultimate importance of following instructions and staying on task in nursing school.

Managing your workload, meeting expectations, and making deadlines will be crucial to your success. It’s far too easy to fall behind — and never catch back up — if you don’t practice self-discipline during nursing school.

If the expected length of your nursing application essay isn’t spelled out, assume that you should submit no more than two pages of text. If you’re assigned a specific topic, be sure to address it, even if you only use it as a springboard to launch your essay in a new direction.

2. Don’t Procrastinate

Writing a strong essay may take more time than you realize. Accordingly, it makes sense to allow plenty of time to complete your essay. Unless you’re already an accomplished writer, assume that crafting a polished essay will take considerable time for brainstorming, drafting, editing, and rewriting.

It may be helpful to create an outline first. But try not to overthink it. Writing that comes from the heart — not the head — is often some of the most compelling writing there is. But even heartfelt sentiments require a bit of effort to shine on the page. Clear phrasing and attention to detail matter.

3. Don’t Be Intimidated

The idea of creating an outline and writing one or more drafts can sound daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. A rough draft can simply be a bunch of words strung together that capture your stream of consciousness. It’s OK not to worry about grammar, structure, transitions, or other technical details when writing a rough draft.

Remember, it’s called a rough draft for a reason. The point is to gather your thoughts, ideas, and even feelings, and give them voice. Once you’ve done this, you’ll likely find that making revisions; fixing grammar and spelling errors; and eliminating unclear, unnecessary, or inappropriate words or phrases comes more easily. Writers used to do this by hand. Today’s technology makes it remarkably easy to edit on the fly, and numerous digital proofreading tools are available to help you fine-tune your writing.

4. Make the Essay Yours

Lastly, avoid the obvious, the expected, or the banal. Recognize that there are certain sentiments that virtually every applicant will be tempted to express. Try to avoid the expected and do something a little different. That doesn’t mean you should be different for the sake of being different. But sharing something that other writers haven’t already discussed can be valuable.

Attempt to craft a strong, compelling opening sentence or paragraph. In any piece of writing, it’s important to hook your reader early for optimal impact.

You and your experiences are unique. Take the plunge and dare to bare a bit of your soul and bring some of the emotion that motivates you into your writing. As noted earlier, writing that comes from the heart is invariably more gripping than writing that appears to follow a template. Allow your essay to tell a story: the story of you. But keep it succinct and keep it honest. 

Pursue Your Dream of Becoming a Registered Nurse

Aspiring nurses across the U.S., whether they’re interested in earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) , a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) , an RN to BSN , or a Master of Science of Nursing (MSN) , must start their educational journey by applying to an accredited nursing program and crafting a nursing application essay.

Are you ready to take the next step toward your dream of pursuing a nursing job at a hospital, community care clinic, or group medical practice? Discover how completing a nursing degree with the Denver College of Nursing can prepare you for the next step in your career.

Recommended Readings Celebrating Important Women in Medicine and Healthcare Making a Difference in Texas as a Rural Healthcare Safety Net Provider Nurse What Does an OR Nurse Do?  

Sources BigFuture, Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay  Indeed, Writing an Application Essay for Nursing School Admission IntelyCare, "Tips to Write a Personal Statement for Nursing School” 

Share this content.

• online nursing school
• nursing programs
• rn to bsn degrees
• nurse application essay

Modal Question

Nursing Pros

How to Write a Nursing School Essay: Decoding the Essential Steps

A nursing school essay, often required as part of the application process for nursing programs, is a doorway to your journey in the field. It is your canvas to express your passion for the profession, share your experiences, and demonstrate your fit for the program. It serves a function beyond fulfilling an application requirement – it provides you, the aspiring nurse, with an opportunity to introspect, reflect on your motivations, and articulate your reasons for choosing this career path.

The essay allows you to present your story in a unique, personal manner that grades or standardized test scores cannot capture. It reflects your journey so far, your aspirations for the future, and your commitment to the values that nursing upholds.

Writing a compelling nursing school essay to join the best colleges is essential for every aspiring nurse. It is the first step in communicating your dedication to a lifetime of learning and empathetic service. It gives voice to your passion and intent, drawing a vivid picture for the admissions committee of the nurse you aspire to be and the contributions you hope to make in the field.

Nursing School Essay: Unveiling the Definition and Exploring its Significance

A nursing school essay is a piece critical to your nursing program application . This document provides a platform to highlight your personality, delve into your motivations and aspirations, and exhibit your values aligned with the nursing profession.

Join Our 10k Happy Nursing Students

• Get original papers written according to your instructions.
• Save time for what matters most.

From a definitional perspective, a nursing school essay isn’t just another academic paper. Instead, it’s a narrative, a story you weave to captivate your audience, in this case, the admissions committee. This narrative might encompass various facets: from your experiences that guided you toward nursing to your understanding of the nursing profession’s intricacies. Your essay should eloquently reflect your commitment and readiness to shoulder the responsibilities of being a nurse.

The significance of a nursing school assignments goes beyond fulfilling an application requirement – it’s an opportunity to add a human touch to your application. Think of your application as a canvas; your grades, certificates, and recommendations depict your academic prowess and technical qualifications. However, the nursing school essay adds depth and color to this canvas—it breathes life into your application, enabling you to shine in your unique light.

According to Robert Rosseter, “ There’s tremendous demand from students who want to enter nursing programs, but schools are tapped out .” With the sheer competitiveness of nursing school applications, your essay plays a decisive role in distinguishing you from the crowd. Amidst a sea of qualified candidates, your essay provides a glimpse into the individual behind the credentials. It unravels your unique journey, challenges and triumphs, empathy, and passion for nursing.

Nursing Essay Outline

Online nursing case study writing services are important in boosting your assignment. A winning nursing school personal statement has three main parts : an attention-grabbing introduction, a comprehensive body, and a powerful conclusion. The introduction should hook the reader and make them want to learn more about your journey. The body should support your thesis with compelling arguments, while the conclusion should wrap up your thoughts and leave a lasting impression.

Here’s a closer look at how each section might unfold:

Introduction

The introduction is your first impression – you engage your reader and set the stage for your story. It should ideally be interesting, compelling, and thought-provoking, enough to pique the reader’s curiosity and make them want to continue reading.

A well-crafted introduction could begin with a captivating personal anecdote related to nursing, a compelling statement about the profession, or a thought-provoking question. This part should also include a clear and concise thesis statement that communicates the primary focus of your essay.

The essay’s body is where you unfold your story and delve into your experiences, motivations, aspirations, and unique attributes that make you an ideal candidate for nursing school. It should provide evidence to support your thesis statement.

The body comprises several paragraphs, each dedicated to a single main idea. You might include personal experiences that inspired your journey toward nursing, your understanding and appreciation of the profession, your future goals in the field, and your relevant skills or attributes.

Remember to maintain a logical flow between paragraphs, using transitional phrases to ensure a smooth read. Also, ensure that every assertion is backed by evidence, whether a personal experience or a relevant example.

The conclusion serves as a wrap-up, where you summarize your main points and reaffirm your passion and readiness for nursing school. This section closes your essay, making a lasting impression on the reader.

In your conclusion, reiterate your commitment to nursing, express enthusiasm for joining the nursing school, and outline how the program aligns with your career aspirations. You might also consider linking to your introduction or thesis statement to bring the essay full circle.

How to Start a Nursing School Essay: Essential Steps to Begin With

Here are some steps to follow when writing a nursing application essay:

Comprehend the Task

Fully understanding what the nursing essay prompt asks you is crucial. Misinterpreting or overlooking the prompt’s demands is a pitfall that can divert your essay off course, thereby diminishing its effectiveness.

You should take the time to analyze it deeply, ensuring you grasp its subtleties and nuances. Identify the key themes it points to and the specific aspects it asks you to focus on. Is it asking for your personal experiences that led you to nursing? Or does it want you to reflect on your understanding of the profession? Maybe it’s interested in your future goals as a nurse? Or perhaps it’s all of the above?

You should also be aware of any specific qualities, skills, or experiences the prompt wants you to highlight. For instance, if the prompt asks about your leadership experiences, be ready to discuss instances where you demonstrated leadership in a healthcare setting or elsewhere.

Understanding the task also entails knowing the word limit, formatting guidelines, and other instructions. Adhering to these can be as crucial as the content of the essay itself.

Navigate the Topic Selection Process

Sometimes, the nursing essay prompt might grant you the liberty to choose your topic. This flexibility is both a boon and a challenge. On the one hand, it offers you the chance to speak on a subject you’re passionate about, adding a personal touch to your essay. On the other hand, choosing the right topic from an array of possibilities can be daunting.

Selecting the right topic is paramount for creating a compelling and authentic narrative. Therefore, it’s essential to approach this step with diligence and care. Here are some aspects to consider:

• Reflect Your Genuine Interest: Your topic should reflect something you are genuinely interested in and passionate about. Authenticity resonates with readers, making your essay more engaging and convincing.
• Align with Your Experiences and Aspirations: The chosen topic for your nursing personal statement should ideally align with your experiences, future aspirations, and the narrative you want to present to the admissions committee.
• Demonstrate Your Understanding of Nursing: The topic should enable you to showcase your understanding and appreciation of the nursing career. It should allow you to reflect on the characteristics of the profession, its challenges and rewards, and why you are a great fit for it.

Harness the Power of Outlining

An outline is the backbone of your essay, giving structure to your thoughts and ensuring your narrative flows logically and seamlessly. Here’s why outlining is an essential step you should not skip:

• Ensures Logical Flow: An outline ensures your essay maintains a logical flow from the introduction, through the body, to the conclusion. It helps you organize your thoughts and ideas effectively, guaranteeing that each paragraph transitions smoothly into the next.
• Keeps You on Track: It’s easy to veer off-topic or get lost in unnecessary details when immersed in writing. An outline acts as your roadmap, keeping you on course. It keeps you focused on the main points you want to communicate and prevents you from straying.
• Makes Writing More Efficient: A clear outline will make writing more efficient and less daunting. It eliminates the fear of the blank page, as you already have a structure to follow and points to expand on.
• Facilitates Review and Revision: An outline makes reviewing and revising your essay easier. It allows you to spot gaps, inconsistencies, or redundancies in your argument or narrative, enabling you to address them early in the writing process.

Creating an outline for your nurse essay involves breaking down your narrative into its primary components: the introduction, body, and conclusion. For each section, note the main points you wish to address. You can also add sub-points or notes to detail your ideas further.

Rely on Reliable Sources

While the nursing school essay is largely a personal narrative, there will be instances where you may need to support your claims or provide a deeper context to your experiences or perspectives. This could involve referencing nursing theories, citing relevant statistics, or drawing from published research or literature. In such instances, relying on reliable and up-to-date sources is imperative.

Using reliable sources lends credibility to your narrative and demonstrates your ability to incorporate scholarly research into your perspective, a skill essential in the nursing field. Here’s why reliable sources matter:

• Lend Credibility: Citing reliable sources bolsters the credibility of your essay. It shows the admissions committee that your claims or perspectives are grounded in evidence, not just personal beliefs.
• Demonstrate Scholarly Engagement: You demonstrate your engagement with the broader nursing literature by referencing credible sources. This reflects your commitment to staying informed and up-to-date, a trait essential for success in the nursing profession.
• Provide a Deeper Context: Sometimes, personal experiences or observations may need a broader context to understand their significance fully. Relevant literature or research can provide this context, making your narrative more comprehensive and insightful.

When selecting sources, it’s important to ensure they are credible, relevant, and current. Here are some types of sources you might consider:

• Academic Journals
• Government and Professional Organization Websites
• Research Studies

While personal anecdotes form the heart of your nursing essay, remember to substantiate your statements or provide context where necessary using reliable sources. This enhances your essay’s credibility and reflects your scholarly engagement, an essential trait for aspiring nurse practitioners.

How to Write a Nursing School Essay: A Detailed Breakdown

Here are the different components of your nursing school essay:

Craft an Engaging Introduction for Your Nursing Student Essay

The introduction of your nursing essay sets the stage for the rest of the piece, providing a snapshot of what to expect.

Start with a ‘hook’ to engage your reader from the get-go. This could be a personal anecdote, a surprising fact, a challenging question, or a compelling statement related to nursing. The key is to make it relevant and interesting enough to prompt the reader to continue reading.

Briefly introduce your topic after the hook. This may involve presenting your essay’s key theme or focus, such as a particular experience, challenge, or aspiration related to nursing.

Then, present Your Thesis Statement. It outlines your essay’s main idea or argument in one or two sentences. Make sure it communicates your perspective or goal and hints at the supporting points you’ll discuss in the body of your essay.

Lastly, glimpse what your essay will discuss. You don’t need to go into details here – just a broad overview to guide your reader through the essay.

Structure Body Paragraphs in Your Nursing Essay

The body of your essay is where you develop your arguments, provide evidence, and share your experiences and insights.

Each paragraph in the body of your essay should start with a topic sentence. The topic sentence sets the theme for the rest of the paragraph, indicating what the paragraph will discuss. It should be clear, concise, and directly related to your thesis statement.

After your topic sentence, the rest of the paragraph should provide details that support or explain the idea presented in the topic sentence. These might include personal anecdotes, reflections, or facts and statistics if relevant.

Conclude each paragraph with a sentence that ties the paragraph’s main idea back to your overall thesis. This helps to ensure your essay remains focused and reinforces your central argument.

To ensure a smooth flow between paragraphs, use transitional phrases or words. These act like bridges, connecting your ideas and helping your reader follow your narrative. Transitions can indicate a contrast (however, on the other hand), add information (furthermore, in addition) , show cause and effect (therefore, as a result), or signal an example (for instance, such as) .

Finalize Your Nursing Essay

The conclusion of your nursing school essay should leave your reader with a clear understanding of your motivation for entering the nursing profession and your preparedness for it.

Begin your conclusion by briefly summarizing the main points or arguments you made in your essay. This doesn’t mean repeating everything word for word; instead, it’s an opportunity to restate your points in a new light based on the discussion in your essay.

Next, reiterate your passion and commitment to nursing. This is the place to underscore why you’re interested in and excited about nursing. Reflect on your journey so far and your future aspirations in nursing. This could include your goals as a nurse or how you hope to contribute to the field.

Finally, end your essay on a strong and memorable note. This could be a powerful statement about your dedication to nursing or a hopeful comment about the impact you wish to make in your nursing career.

Refine Your Final Draft

This is crucial to ensure your essay is clear, polished, and error-free. It involves checking your grammar, punctuation, and spelling, as well as the flow and structure of your essay.

Start by reading through your essay multiple times. On the first read, focus on the overall structure and flow. Do your ideas connect and make sense? Does your essay follow a logical progression? If you notice unclear or poorly organized parts, make the necessary adjustments.

On subsequent reads, pay attention to the details. Check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. In addition to manual checks, you might use digital tools like Grammarly , Hemingway Editor , or Microsoft Word’s built-in grammar checker to identify errors you might have missed.

Ensure that your sentences are clear and concise. Avoid overly complex sentences that might confuse your readers. Each sentence should contribute to the main idea of your paragraph.

Once you’re satisfied with your essay, get an external perspective. Ask a mentor, teacher, or peer to review your essay. They can provide feedback on areas that are unclear or need more detail. Be open to their suggestions; remember, the goal is to make your essay as strong as possible.

After incorporating the feedback, do a final review. Read your essay aloud; this can help you spot awkward phrasings or inconsistencies in your essay. Pay attention to the overall tone of your essay; it should reflect your enthusiasm for nursing and your readiness for the program.

Selecting a Topic for Your Nursing Essay

The topic serves as the backbone of your essay, shaping its content and tone. It should resonate with your experiences, aspirations, and understanding of nursing.

Before brainstorming topics , thoroughly understand the essay prompt. What is it asking for? Are there specific qualities or experiences you need to highlight? Understanding the prompt will help guide your topic selection and ensure your essay meets the admissions committee’s expectations.

Reflect on your experiences related to nursing. It could be a volunteering experience at a local hospital, a personal experience with a nurse, or even the moment you realized you wanted to pursue nursing. These experiences can serve as a rich foundation for your essay, allowing you to showcase your understanding of nursing.

Think about your future aspirations in nursing. What areas are you interested in? What goals do you have? Your aspirations can provide insights into your understanding of the nursing field and your readiness for it.

Choose a topic that you’re truly passionate about. This will make the writing process more enjoyable and allow your enthusiasm to shine through in your essay. Remember, your essay is a platform to share your unique story, so choose a topic that enables you to do that.

While your nursing school essay is a personal narrative, remember to maintain a professional tone. Your selected topic should allow you to showcase your understanding of nursing as a profession, your commitment to it, and your preparedness for nursing schools.

Nursing Essay Examples

Perusing successful nursing essay samples can yield significant insights into writing your own. Such examples can provide structure, content, style, and tone ideas. Let’s examine two personal statement examples and identify the elements that make them effective.

Example 1: The Transformational Experience

This essay might begin with a personal anecdote about a transformative experience that inspired the writer’s interest in nursing. It could describe how the writer witnessed a nurse’s compassion and dedication during a family member’s illness. The essay would then delve into the lessons learned from this experience and how they shaped the writer’s understanding of nursing, ultimately leading to a decision to pursue a nursing career.

The strength of this essay lies in its ability to connect a personal experience with a broader understanding of the nursing profession. It humanizes the writer while demonstrating a deep appreciation for nursing.

I was taught the importance of compassion and kindness from a young age. My mother, a pillar of empathy, embodied these virtues through her actions and words. But it was not until I witnessed their application in a life-altering situation that I understood the transformative power of compassion. Several years ago, my grandfather fell seriously ill. He was hospitalized and needed round-the-clock care. I spent countless hours at the hospital, observing the hustle and bustle, the harmonized chaos, the blend of despair and hope. Amidst it all, one figure stood out – a nurse named Emma. Emma was the epitome of compassion and dedication. Despite the stress and demands of her job, she never failed to offer a comforting word or a reassuring smile. Her eyes sparkled with an innate kindness that could light up even the gloomiest room. It was through her actions that I witnessed the tangible impact of compassion. Her soothing words eased my grandfather’s pain, her cheerful demeanor lifted his spirits, and her relentless optimism ignited a glimmer of hope in our despairing hearts. This transformative experience opened my eyes to the profound impact of nursing. I saw beyond the clinical aspect of the profession and delved into its humane side. I realized that nursing is more than administering medication or performing procedures; it’s about providing emotional support, offering comfort during the hardest times, and healing the body and soul. Inspired by Emma, I began volunteering at a local clinic. I was eager to emulate the empathy and care I had admired in her. As I interacted with patients, listened to their stories, and provided comfort in any way I could, I felt a sense of fulfillment and purpose that I had never experienced before. This reaffirmed my decision to pursue nursing – I yearned to provide the compassionate care I had seen in Emma. The lessons I gleaned from this experience are invaluable. I learned that a nurse’s compassion can be as healing as the medicine they administer. I learned that kindness can illuminate the darkest moments. Most importantly, I learned that nursing is not just a profession; it’s a calling to serve, comfort, and heal. My journey, although challenging, has equipped me with the skills, experiences, and understanding necessary for a nursing career. With each step, my resolve to become a nurse has only grown stronger. I am eager to continue this journey, to learn, grow, and serve as a nurse. I am ready to embrace the challenges and rewards of nursing, confident in the knowledge that I am pursuing a path that is not just a career but a lifelong commitment to compassion and service. This is not just my aspiration; it’s my calling. As I begin this journey, I carry the lessons from my past, the ambition for my future, and the belief that I can and will contribute positively to the nursing profession.

Example 2: The Aspiration-Driven Journey

Another essay might focus on the writer’s long-standing aspiration to become a nurse. The writer might describe their experiences volunteering in a healthcare setting and how these experiences solidified their desire to become a nurse. They might discuss their understanding of the challenges and rewards of nursing and their commitment to the profession.

This essay’s power lies in demonstrating the writer’s dedication to and understanding nursing. By showcasing relevant experiences and a clear vision for the future, the writer effectively communicates their readiness for a nursing program.

For as long as I can remember, my dreams have been painted with hues of scrubs, stethoscopes, and care-giving. Nursing, for me, was never a sudden revelation but a lifelong aspiration that grew stronger each day. Through diverse experiences and a deep-seated commitment, I have nurtured this aspiration, transforming it from a childhood dream into a steadfast resolve. Growing up, my most cherished toy was a first aid kit. I would spend hours bandaging my dolls, imitating the nurses I admired on television. Although juvenile, these experiences were my initial steps toward understanding the role of a nurse. However, my volunteering stint at a local health clinic inspired my aspiration. At the clinic, I experienced the realities of nursing – the intense pace, the multifaceted roles, and the emotional strain. But more than that, I experienced the rewards – the gratified smiles of patients, the relief in their eyes, and the sense of fulfillment in making a tangible difference. One experience at the clinic stands out vividly. I remember meeting an elderly woman named Mrs. Henderson. She was a regular patient suffering from a chronic condition. Over time, we developed a bond. We would chat about her favorite books, her grandchildren, and even her favorite recipe. One day, Mrs. Henderson said these visits were the highlight of her week. At that moment, I truly understood the impact of the nursing profession. Beyond the technicalities, it offered a chance to provide emotional comfort and make a significant difference in people’s lives. Fueled by these experiences, I immersed myself in academics, striving to understand the scientific aspects of healthcare. I pursued courses in biology, anatomy, and physiology, eagerly delving into the world of healthcare. Each class and each lecture brought me closer to my goal, further solidifying my aspiration. Understanding the challenges and demands of the nursing profession, I prioritized building a strong skill set. I honed my leadership abilities through club activities and improved my communication skills through public speaking events. I focused on developing empathy, patience, and resilience – integral to nursing. My journey toward nursing is a tapestry of experiences, learning, and growth. It is a testament to my understanding of the profession and my readiness to face its challenges. I am ready to embark on the rigorous path of nursing education. I am prepared for the sleepless nights, the challenging courses, and the intense clinical experiences. But more importantly, I am eager for the rewards – the chance to make a difference, to provide care, and to fulfill my lifelong aspiration. Becoming a nurse is not easy, but I am not looking for easy. I am looking for something that gives me purpose, allows me to make a difference, and aligns with my aspirations. And I believe, with unwavering certainty, that nursing is that ‘something.’

These examples have a unique focus and narrative, but they all effectively demonstrate the writer’s understanding, commitment, and readiness for nursing. When crafting your nursing school essay, take inspiration from these examples, but remember to maintain your unique voice and tell your own story. This unique narrative will help you stand out in the admissions process.

Wrapping up on Nursing School Essays

Crafting an impressive nursing essay can be challenging, but you can compose an excellent essay with adequate preparation, a clear outline, and thoughtful editing. Remember, your essay reflects your passion for nursing, commitment, and unique journey. All this should be incorporated into answering college nursing applicants’ essay questions . Make it count!

As you navigate the process of writing your admission essay, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of experienced nursing essay writers , who will provide personalized guidance tailored to your unique circumstances and goals.

Nursing School Essay FAQs

What should i write about in my nursing school essay.

Write about your experiences, values, and why you’re interested in nursing. Reflect on your journey, the lessons you’ve learned, and your future aspirations in the nursing field. Your essay should highlight your understanding of nursing and your readiness for it.

How long should a nursing school essay be?

The length of a nursing school essay can vary based on the specific program’s requirements. Generally, a nursing school essay is about 500 to 2000 words  long. Staying within the specified word limit is important while ensuring your essay is comprehensive and engaging.

Can I reuse my essay for multiple applications?

While using the same essay for multiple applications might be tempting, tailoring your essay to each specific program is essential. Each nursing program may have different expectations and focus areas. Customizing your essay shows your genuine interest in the program and that you’ve taken the time to understand its values and expectations.

What if I have never worked or volunteered in a healthcare setting?

Suppose you have not been able to work or have volunteer opportunities as a prenursing student in a healthcare setting; you can focus on other experiences highlighting your transferable skills, such as leadership, communication, problem-solving, and empathy. You can also discuss academic projects or personal experiences that have shaped your interest in nursing.

How can I make my nursing school essay stand out?

To make your essay stand out, maintain authenticity and focus on your unique journey. Highlight experiences that shaped your perspective of nursing. Demonstrate your understanding of the profession and its challenges. Show your commitment to learning and growing in the field of nursing.

Is it okay to share personal stories in my nursing school essay?

Sharing personal stories can make your personal statement more engaging and relatable. Your experiences can provide valuable insights into your values, resilience, and approach to challenges. They can showcase your personal growth and your readiness for the nursing profession.

Get a high-quality paper in under 3 hours!

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, how to write a winning nursing admission essay.

Hey guys, I'm preparing to apply for nursing programs and I was wondering if any of you have any tips or suggestions on writing a strong nursing admission essay? What topics should I cover and what kind of tone should I strike? Thanks in advance!

Hi there! Writing a strong nursing admission essay is an essential part of the application process. Here are some tips to help you craft a winning essay:

1. Choose a focused topic: Pick something unique that will showcase your interest and experiences related to nursing. It could be a personal experience, like caring for a family member, or a moment when you realized nursing was your calling.

2. Show, don't tell: Use specific examples and anecdotes to demonstrate your passion for nursing, rather than just stating it. This will give your essay depth and make it more engaging.

3. Highlight your strengths: Discuss your commitment to healthcare, your compassion, and your strong work ethic as they relate to your nursing career goals.

4. Be concise and well-organized: Clearly articulate your main points and avoid using unnecessary words or phrases. A clear and well-structured essay will be more powerful and easy to follow.

5. Maintain a professional, yet sincere tone: Be honest about your experiences and emotions but keep the language and tone appropriate for an academic setting.

Best of luck with your essay and your nursing applications!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Writing an Outstanding Application Nursing Essay

Embarking on the path to a nursing career involves navigating through various challenges and significant moments, with the nursing application essay standing out as a key component. This essential part of your application transcends mere formality; it presents a special chance for you to highlight your character, commitment, and aptitude for the nursing profession. In this detailed guide, we aim to explore the intricacies of creating a standout nursing application essay. Whether you’re just starting to explore the nursing field or are ready to submit your application, this article is your roadmap to success.

Understanding the Purpose of the Essay

What do nursing schools seek in your essay.

Nursing schools are looking for candidates with the academic qualifications and personal qualities essential for nursing. Your essay should reflect your compassion, empathy, commitment to the profession, and understanding of the nursing role.

The Essay’s Role in Your Application

Your application essay is your voice in the admission process. It’s where you can speak directly to the admissions committee, tell your story, and explain why you are drawn to the nursing field. This essay can be the deciding factor in your application, setting you apart from other candidates.

Preparing to Write

• Research: Aligning with the School’s Values

Prior to beginning your essay, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the fundamental ideals and beliefs of the nursing school you’re applying to. Spend time browsing their website, absorbing their mission statement, and comprehending their perspective on nursing education. This crucial insight will help you tailor your essay to resonate with the school’s philosophy. This research will help you tailor your essay to resonate with their ethos.

• Self-reflection: Your Nursing Journey

Reflect on your experiences and why you chose nursing. Think about moments in your life that led you to pursue this career. These reflections will help you create an authentic and personal narrative.

• Brainstorming: Crafting Your Story

Take time to brainstorm ideas for your essay. Think about your strengths, experiences, and what aspects of nursing excite you. Make sure to note down these key points; they will be the essential framework for your essay.

Structuring Your Essay

• Introduction: Making a Strong First Impression

The introduction of your essay is your first chance to capture the reader’s attention. Begin with an engaging story, a meaningful personal experience, or a statement that makes the reader think. This approach will offer a window into your personality and highlight your enthusiasm for nursing.

• Body: Building Your Narrative

Organize the body of your essay around a few key experiences or ideas. Each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of your journey or a particular quality you possess. Use examples from your life to demonstrate your commitment, compassion, and ability to overcome challenges.

• Conclusion: Leaving a Lasting Impression

Your conclusion should wrap up your essay by summarizing the key points and reaffirming your interest and readiness for a nursing career. This is your final chance to remind the admissions committee why you are a suitable candidate.

Writing Tips and Best Practices

• Clarity and Conciseness

Keep your writing clear and concise. Avoid unnecessary jargon and be direct in your storytelling. Remember, the admissions committee reads many essays, so getting your point across quickly is crucial.

• Authenticity: Be Yourself

Your essay should reflect your true self. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Honesty and sincerity will resonate more than trying to fit a certain mold you think the school wants.

• Using Specific Examples

Provide specific life examples rather than general statements about your passion for nursing. This might include volunteering, personal experiences with healthcare, or moments of inspiration from other nurses.

• Attention to Technical Details

Proofread your essay multiple times for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Also, adhere to the nursing school’s formatting guidelines, such as word count and font size.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Steering Clear of Clichés and Generalities

Clichés and overused phrases can make your essay sound generic. Instead, focus on providing unique insights and personal experiences that highlight individuality.

• Directly Answering the Essay Prompt

It’s crucial to stay on topic and answer the essay prompt directly. Deviating from the prompt can lead the admissions committee to question your attention to detail and ability to follow instructions.

• Avoiding Excessive Jargon

Revising and Refining Your Essay

• The Importance of Drafts and Revisions

Your first draft is just the beginning. Be prepared to revise and refine your essay several times. This process helps fine-tune your message and improve the overall flow and clarity.

• Seeking Feedback

Get feedback on your essay from mentors, teachers, or peers. They can provide valuable insights and suggest improvements you might not have considered.

• Final Proofreading

Before submitting your essay, do a thorough proofreading. Check for grammatical errors or typos, and ensure your essay adheres to the specified word limit and formatting requirements.

Crafting your nursing application essay is an opportunity for self-reflection and a chance to convey your zeal for nursing. It’s important to remain authentic, be truthful in your narrative, and allow your sincere passion for nursing to be evident. With careful preparation, thoughtful structure, and attention to detail, your essay can prove your readiness for a nursing career.

Table of content

Crafted with Care:

Nursing Essays!

Precision, Passion, & Professionalism in Every Page.

Registered Nurse RN

Registered Nurse, Free Care Plans, Free NCLEX Review, Nurse Salary, and much more. Join the nursing revolution.

Tips on Writing a Nursing School Admission Essay

When it comes to getting into nursing school, a good admission essay is at the center of the decision. An admission essay can help or hurt students who wish to get into nursing school. The essay is not only about the content but about other important components that let the admission board know that students are serious about entering their programs and that they will be valuable assets as well. It is important for potential nursing students to know that there are important elements needed to write the perfect admission essay to get into nursing school.

How to Write a Nursing School Application Essay

The application essay is a requirement that applicants must complete as a part of the admission packet. Some call this essay the personal essay, letter of intent, or statements of purpose. In essence, the application essay is the applicant’s chance to plea with the admission board for admission into their nursing program. Applicants explain their reasons for becoming nurses and explain why this program can help them achieve their dreams.

It is important to know what elements are needed to write a successful application essay. One of the most important things that applicants need to remember is to plan the essay carefully. Making an outline of important items to include is very important to the success of the essay. It is important to adhere to the length of the essay so that the board does not throw it out. If the application says 500 to 1000 words, it means just that and nothing more or less. The applicant should include information about accomplishments in the applicant’s life and the hopeful accomplishments for the future.

Applicants should only include a short personal statement about them and reserve the majority of the essay for information about experiences that have shaped them. They should use other parts of the application to cover information that does not make the applicant stand out from other applicants. Remember, admission officers read numerous essays so it is important to stand out from other applicants.

Provide a structurally sound application. Make sure that the application essay has the proper spelling, format, and grammatical structure before turning in the finished product. An essay with errors will make the officers believe that the applicant may not be a desirable nurse. Keep the paragraphs short so that they are easy to read for the officers.

What to Include in a Nursing School Essay

A nursing school applicant should include the following in the nursing school essay:

• Things that interest the applicant about the nursing industry
• Reasons for choosing the specific nursing program
• A clear view of the future vision of the applicant
• Previous preparation to become a successful nurse
• Superior personal accomplishments and standouts (test scores, transcripts, etc.)
• Experience with medical training and patient care (volunteer opportunities, internships, etc.)
• Academic interests
• Character traits that focus on desires and strengths to become a nurse
• Reasons the officers should accept the application

Tips on How to Write a Nursing School Application Essay

The purpose of the admissions essay is to prove that the application is a worthy selection for the nursing program. Applicants are only allowed a few words to tell their personal stories, but their rejection or acceptance depends on it. The following tips will help applicants write a successful nursing school application essay:

• Choose information wisely. Make sure that the information included paints a vivid picture of past and future accomplishments so that the admissions officers are impressed.
• Select a strong essay topic. Applicants want to be remembered for their essay well after the officers have read it. Make sure to stay on the topic and provide strong supporting information within the paragraphs.
• Provide a glimpse of the applicant’s life. The admissions officers do not want to be bored with the mundane details but rather the important things that make the applicant unique.
• Intrigue the reading in the first few lines. Capture the essay reader within the first few lines so that they want to continue reading.
• Make sure the essay has structure. The essay should include an introduction, body, and conclusion that is easy to read and understand. Make sure to add a memorable statement to the conclusion so that the essay readers do not forget the essay.

The application essay is a very important aspect of the nursing school application process. It can make or break the chance that an applicant gets into nursing school. The applicant should plan accordingly before writing the essay and make sure that it is rich with intriguing information. It is important to make sure that the essay is error free. This is the only chance that an applicant has to impress the admission board.

Thinking about going to Nursing School?

Are you contemplating going to nursing school, or are you actually in nursing school right now? Nursing school can be challenging, especially if you do not know what to expect. Here is a great guide by S. L. Page BSN, RN called “ How to Pass Nursing School “. This book gives you detailed information about how to pass nursing school from beginning to end. S.L. Page, the creator of this website, complied all the information students what to know about nursing school into one easy to read guide. She gives in depth information on how to succeed in nursing school.

S.L. Page graduated from nursing school with honors and passed the NCLEX-RN on her first try. In this ebook, she reveals the strategies she used to help her succeed.

Here is what the book looks like:

Please Share:

• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)

Disclosure and Privacy Policy

Important links, follow us on social media.

• Facebook Nursing
• Instagram Nursing
• TikTok Nurse
• Twitter Nursing
• YouTube Nursing

Copyright Notice

Online Nursing Essays

Top Quality Nursing Papers

Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay

Applying for nursing school is an exciting step towards a rewarding career helping others. The nursing school essay, also known as a personal statement, is a critical part of the application. This is your chance to showcase your passion for the nursing profession and explain why you want to become a nurse.

This guide will show you exactly what admission committees are looking for in a strong nursing school application essay. Let’s walk through how to plan, write, and polish your “why I want to be a nurse” personal statement so it stands out from the competition.

What To Include In Your Nursing Essay

Writing a compelling nursing school essay requires advanced planning and preparation. Follow these tips to create an effective personal statement:

Plan Your Nurse Essay

The first step is to carefully conceptualize your nursing school admissions essay. Jot down some notes answering these key questions:

• Why do you want to go into nursing?
• What personal experiences or traits draw you to the field of nursing?
• How have you demonstrated commitment to caring for others?
• What are your academic and professional qualifications for nursing?

From here, you can start mapping out a logical flow of key points to cover in your nursing school application essay.

Show an Emotional Connection to the Profession

Admission committees want to see that you have genuine passion and empathy for the nursing career choice. Dedicate part of your personal statement to describing your intrinsic motivations and positive impacts for desiring to become a nurse.

Avoid cliché reasons like “I want to help people.” Instead, get specific by sharing a personal anecdote that emotionally moved you towards nursing.

Here’s an example of how you could open your nursing school entrance essay by highlighting a meaningful patient-care interaction:

“Holding Mrs. Wilson’s trembling hand, I watched her fearful eyes relax as I reassured her that the medical team would take excellent care of her. At that moment, providing empathetic comfort to calm her nerves despite the clinical chaos around us, I knew deep down that nursing was my calling.”

This introduction immediately establishes an emotional pull towards the human side of healthcare. From here, explain how this or similar experiences instilled a drive in you to become a nurse.

Show That You Care

Much of nursing is providing compassionate, person-centered care. Therefore, your “why I want to be a nurse” essay should emphasize your ability to be caring, empathetic, patient, and comforting to others.

Share examples that showcase your natural inclination for caregiving:

“Volunteering at the Red Cross shelter after the wildfires by comforting displaced families demonstrated my patience and attentiveness to those suffering. Even as some evacuees grew frustrated by the chaos, I calmly reassured them that we would do everything possible to assist with their recoveries and ensure they felt cared for.”

This example highlights key soft skills needed in nursing as a career, like compassion, active listening, the desire to help, and providing a calming presence under pressure.

Share Your Aspirations

A strong application essay will also articulate your goals and vision for contributing to the nursing field. What are you hoping to achieve through a career in nursing?

Here is an example of discussing aspirations in a nursing school personal statement:

“My long-term aspiration is to become a nurse leader by earning an advanced degree and management experience. I aim to leverage my organizational, communication and critical thinking skills to mentor junior staff, improve operational workflows, and advocate for policies that enhance quality of care. In nursing, I’ve found my true calling – to provide critical care, and help others by being a source of compassion and driving excellence in healthcare delivery.”

This type of self-motivated, forward-looking vision demonstrates maturity, strong goals, and natural leadership qualities.

Describe Your Nursing Skills and Qualifications

Finally, your nursing school entrance essay should summarize the skills; profession offers, and experience that makes you an excellent candidate for the nursing program. Highlight relevant strengths like:

• Academic achievements (science/healthcare courses, GPA, etc.)
• Extracurricular activities (volunteering, internships, etc.)
• Relevant work experience (patient care roles like CNA, medical assistant, etc.)
• Other transferable skills (communication, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, etc.)

For example:

“My passion for science, healthcare experience as a CNA, and volunteering at a community health fair have prepared me to thrive in the intellectually stimulating and collaborative nursing curriculum. I bring dedication, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic as demonstrated by my 3.8 GPA studying Biology at the University of Michigan.”

With application essays, it’s all about showcasing why you would make an outstanding addition to the nursing program, making a difference through your qualifications and intangible traits.

How Do You Write an Introduction to a Nurse Essay?

Now that you’ve brainstormed content ideas, it’s time to turn them into a polished personal statement. Here are some tips for crafting an attention-grabbing introduction to your nursing school essay:

Hook the Reader with a Personal Story

One of the most engaging ways to start writing your essay is by recounting a brief personal story that illuminates your drive to become a nurse. This can immediately immerse the reader in your intrinsic motivations.

For example , you could open with an anecdote describing a meaningful instance of care and comfort you provided to someone in need:

“Tears streamed down Mrs. Hernandez’s face as she told me about losing her husband to cancer last year. As a hospice volunteer, I held her hand, listening intently to her painful story of grief and loss…”

This type of vivid introduction pulls the reader into the narrative straight away. From here, you can continue sharing details about the scenario and its influence on your desire to pursue nursing.

Illustrate the Human Impact of Nursing

Another compelling way to begin your nursing personal statement is by painting a picture of nursing’s profound impact on patients and their families. This highlights your understanding of the profession’s vital role.

For instance:

“Looking a trembling new mother in the eyes as she first held her newborn, relieved knowing both were safe and healthy after a complicated delivery – that is the human difference nurses make each and every day.”

This type of introduction emphasizes nursing’s profound emotional impact on patients during vulnerable yet joyful moments. It activates the reader’s empathy by bringing them into the vivid scene while showing your own insight into the medical field.

Articulate Passion for Helping Others

Finally, you can start your nursing application essay by asserting your resounding passion for caring for others. This clear expression allows you to succinctly introduce central values like empathy and compassion.

“Ever since I was a young volunteer candy striper in my local hospital, I’ve held an unwavering passion for helping those suffering through the profound act of nursing. I was born to care for others.”

This authoritative opening clearly states your emotional connection to nursing in a compelling yet concise way. You can then build on this assertion of passion through personal examples and further explanation.

No matter how you start your nursing school essay, the introduction should vividly showcase your motivation and why you chose nursing. Set the tone early with your authorship and emotion.

Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay Examples 

Now let’s analyze some complete sample nursing personal statements for inspiration on crafting your own:

Why I Want to Be a Nurse at a Hospital: Essay

Essay on why i want to be a nurse assistant, 1000-word essay on why i want to be a nurse, essay on why i want to be a nurse, why i want to be a nurse: argumentative essay, mental health nursing personal statement, why i want to be a pediatrics nurse, why i want to be a nurse practitioner essay, writing a why i want to become a nurse essay.

To craft a standout nursing school application essay, prospective students should engage the reader with an emotional opening that illuminates their calling to the profession, whether through a compelling personal anecdote or vivid imagery expressing the profound impact of nursing. 

The conclusion should be resolved by painting an inspiring vision of how the writer’s skills, values, and determination will be channeled into excellence as a nursing student and future registered nurse, making an empathetic difference in patients’ lives.

With focused, mature writing that radiates passion and preparedness, a “why I want to become a registered nurse” personal statement can stand out amidst the competition as a window into a promising applicant’s commitment to this vital healthcare profession.

Don’t wait until the last minute

Fill in your requirements and let our experts deliver your work asap.

• Oak Brook: (630) 705-9999
• Chicago: (312) 920-8822
• Email: [email protected]
• Make a Payment

• Mission & Vision
• Approvals & Accreditation
• Recognition
• Maps & Directions
• Equal Opportunity
• Consumer Information
• Hours of Operation
• NCLEX PN Passing Rate
• Practical Nursing Program
• Online Hybrid Practical Nursing (PN) Program
• Anatomy and Physiology Course Prep at Verve College
• Apply Online
• Practical Nursing Admission Requirement
• Online Hybrid Admission Requirement
• Transfer Policy
• Entrance Exam Review
• PN Entrance Exam
• Foreign Credits
• Tuition and Fees
• Information Sessions
• Physical Examination Form
• Book a Tour
• ATI Entrance Exam Resources
• New E-Digital Library
• Refer a Friend
• School Newsletter
• Job-Network
• Alpha Beta Kappa Candidates
• Verve College Library
• Graduation and Pinning Ceremony Photo Galleries
• Textbook Information
• Career Services
• School Catalog
• Constitution Day Program
• Verve College Plans
• HEERF Reporting
• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Apply For Financial Aid
• Net Price Calculator
• Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4)
• Financial Aid Office Code of Conduct
• Verification Policy
• Vaccination Policy
• Student Right-to-Know Act
• Misrepresentation
• Information Security Program
• Academic Award Year
• Availability of Employee
• Cost of Attendance
• Health & Safety Exemption Requirement
• Students Rights and Responsibilities
• Leave of Absence
• Pell Formula
• Military Students
• Grants/ Scholarship Policy
• Get Started
• Ask a Question
• Suggestion Box
• Transcript Request
• Oak Brook Student Portal
• Chicago Student Portal
• Testimonials

Is a Nursing Career Right For You?

Top 5 Tips for Writing a Standout Nursing School Essay

A private piece of writing or personal statement is typically required as part of the first-year application process at most institutions and schools. Alongside your grades in high school and test scores, admission officials also consider letters of recommendation and personal nursing school essay as ways to gain insight into who you are as an individual and where your rewarding career in nursing goals lie.

Writing powerful college essays may seem daunting initially in the nursing profession. Still, they will give your application process a competitive edge and showcase who you are as an applicant.

Below are five strategies for writing persuasive application essays that set yourself apart:

Select an essay prompt that resonates with you, share your story and plans, get someone else to read your essay and ensure its flow, use internet sources as references if necessary, and get someone else’s input.

Assure Yourself of Deadlines and Admissions Requirements

1. select an essay prompt that works for you.

Do you need help deciding the right topic for your nursing school essay? The common application and certain private nursing schools provide clinical practice & a list of prompts as a starting point that may inspire writing your narrative. These prompts vary each year – some examples could include:

Imagine a time in your life when an idea or belief was challenged or scrutinized; what was its cause, what were your reactions, what came of it all, and how did it help propel personal & professional development and provide you with new perspectives about yourself or others in the nursing field?

Consider what someone has done for you that has brought joy or made you feel thankful uniquely, and consider how that personal experience has influenced or inspired your gratitude journey.

Lessons we glean from challenges can be invaluable to future success. Consider an instance when you had to overcome a hurdle, setback, or failure. How did this clinical experience affect you personally, and what did you learn from it?

Write an essay about any topic you choose – something familiar, an answer to an inquiry, or one you have designed yourself.

2. Tell Your Story and Outline Your Plans

Your college application essay should reflect who you are as an individual. Before beginning to write a nursing school essay, admissions professionals suggest engaging in an exercise of reflection with yourself. Ask questions such as, “What can I give the world? What are the quirks that set me apart? Who am I at my core, and what am I hoping to gain from attending this institution?”

3. Key Aspects to Keep in Mind Include

Refrain from repeating yourself: Your essay should not merely repeat details from your resume. Instead, it should emphasize your strengths as a candidate beyond grades, extracurricular activities, or test or licensing exam scores in healthcare facilities.

Stay on topic. Your life story or lessons learned may not fit within 650 words of a paper, so try to avoid going off-track by writing too much about every aspect. Instead, focus your essay around a particular theme related to one area in life or an aspect that has inspired reflection on these topics.

Related:-  What Can I Expect From LPN Schools?

4. Establish Your Brandidentite

A good nursing school essay must showcase your characteristics and convince readers that you would make an excellent addition to their online nursing program. One effective way of doing this is through storytelling, for instance, by detailing a hands-on experience that motivated or inspired your desire to attend the best nursing schools in Illinois .

Essays should be used to clearly articulate why you should attend their school rather than listing all the reasons why in healthcare settings. Use specific examples that make your essay more believable and exciting; include specific motivations behind attending and write about why these events motivate you in long-term care facilities and the field of nursing.

5. Demonstrate Concern for Others

As a clinical nurse, your role will involve providing patient care to individuals in an approachable and friendly manner while fulfilling their health requirements in a clinical setting. Being a successful professional nurse requires certain qualities; therefore, as part of this qualification process, you must demonstrate that you possess such empathy.

Submit examples of when you went the extra mile to give patient-centered care at clinical sites for someone close to you or strangers alike. Show the committee your commitment to helping other people. Physician empathy is an admirable quality.

Want to Make a Career in Nursing? Get More Information About Our Courses!

Are You Ready for Nursing School at Verve College?

By following these practical nursing school guidelines for enrolling in night and weekend nursing programs with nursing courses for prospective students and making your application stand out, your chances of acceptance into Verve could increase significantly.

Are you considering pursuing nursing education at Verve College in either Chicago or Oak Brook? Submit an online application now to introduce yourself and begin this exciting journey towards an exciting nursing career! Now is the perfect time!

Most Popular Blogs Posts

How to Know if You Passed…

Performance Management in Healthcare: Why Does…

Overcoming Barriers to Healthcare Innovation

Occupational Therapy for Elderly at Home:-…

Preventive Health Care: Meaning & Disadvantages

Writing Tips for Nursing School Students

• Nursing School Writing Types
• Writing a Nursing Essay
• Citations Guide
• Common Writing Mistakes
• Writing Resources

Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?

Writing is an essential skill nurses should achieve proficiency in early in their career. It is a crucial part of the profession, as nurses need to be able to effectively communicate with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals.

While verbal communication also plays a vital role in nursing, being able to write well builds the nurse’s ability to provide better care.

Being able to accurately detail a patient’s personal history, symptoms, and diagnosis allows for the execution of a precise treatment plan that is clearly communicated to all parties involved, both professional and personal.

From registered nurses to clinical nurses and beyond, being able to communicate effectively and efficiently is a critical soft skill that will help nurses in any role increase their ability to treat their patients.

This guide provides an overview of the types of writing nurses will experience throughout their educational training. Utilize the following tips and tricks to help strengthen your writing skills, which will ultimately help in the development of transferable career skills .

Types of Writing Nurses Will Do in School

Personal statements for nursing school.

Nursing schools want candidates who meet academic and professional requirements. They also want a candidate who demonstrates a sincere passion for patient care and individual connections. You should always craft a personal statement, even when the application doesn’t explicitly require one. Personal statements allow you to describe your goals, characteristics, credentials, volunteer work, and meaningful life experiences. A well-crafted essay can help you stand out among other qualified applicants. And, as with any piece of writing, you must take the time to revise.

In your personal statement, you should portray yourself as determined and empathetic, with characteristics, goals, work ethic, and healthcare philosophy that align with a program’s values. Some nursing schools ask for a general personal statement, while others require a specific prompt. Colleges commonly ask students to describe a hardship they overcame, a difficult task they accomplished, or a professional goal they hope to achieve through the program. Many schools also ask students to detail previous experiences in healthcare. You may decide to write about how you connect with patients or how you provide practical and emotional support to loved ones.

You will also encounter writing prompts during examinations, including standardized tests like the GRE or MCAT, nursing school entrance exams , and course-specific evaluations. You may also take exams to get state licensure or professional certification. In most of these instances, you will need to write one or several long-form essays. Proper planning is key. Though you won’t know what specific prompt the test will require, you can expect certain common topics. You can search online or use study guides to determine which prompts usually appear on each test.

On test day, you should begin by creating an outline that lists three main points in response to the prompt. Using these points, work backwards to write a central thesis to guide the essay’s structure. Review what you’ve written to ensure that the essay actually responds to the prompt at hand. Be sure to leave time to correct spelling, grammar, and stylistic errors.

Research Papers

Like essays, research papers follow a long-form structure. Unlike an essay, which heavily relies on the writer’s point of view, a research paper presents an in-depth investigation of a topic using data, expert opinions, and insights. While an essay evaluates general critical thinking and writing skills, a research paper tests your knowledge, research skills, and original contributions. Research papers also allow you to prove you understand what has been argued and discovered about a topic. Research papers, especially at the graduate and doctoral levels, require independent research and analyses. These papers sometimes take months or years to complete.

To write a successful research paper, you should pick a topic relevant to your interests and the nursing field. Possibilities include elderly care challenges, patient safety and ethics, mental health treatment and regulations in the U.S., and nursing shortages and possible solutions. Whatever your choice, you must plan accordingly. Advanced papers such as dissertations may require funding or help from professors. Research papers often consist of the following sections: abstract, introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussion, conclusion, and references. You should keep this general structure in mind as you prepare notes and outlines.

How Do You Write a Nursing Essay?

In nursing school, essay writing includes academic papers, personal narratives, and professional compositions. You should become familiar with each of the five major forms below. There are many similarities between these essay types, such as an overarching thesis and a supportive, logical structure. You should support claims with factual, statistical, anecdotal, and rhetorical evidence. However, each form requires distinct skills to achieve specific results.

Comparative

Cause and effect, citations guide for nursing students.

Citations allow readers to know where information came from. By citing sources, you avoid plagiarizing or stealing another person’s ideas, research, language, and analyses. Whether intentional or unintentional, plagiarism is one of the most egregious errors one can make. Consequences for plagiarism include automatic course failure, disciplinary actions from the university, and even legal repercussions. You should take special care to ensure you properly cite sources.

Which Style Should Nursing Students Use?

Because nurses rely on scientific terms and information, professionals in the field usually use APA style. Regardless of the purpose and specific genre of your text, you should always strive for concise, objective, and evidenced-based writing. You can expect to learn APA style as soon as you enroll in a major course. However, you should also prepare to learn other styles as part of your academic training. For example, freshman composition classes tend to focus on MLA guidelines.

Common Writing Mistakes Students Make

Active vs. passive voice.

Active and passive voice represent two different ways to present the same piece of information. Active voice focuses on the subject performing an action. For example, the dog bites the boy. This format creates clear, concise, and engaging writing. Using active voice, nurses might write, I administered patient care at 11:00. Passive voice, on the other hand, focuses on the object of the sentence or the action being performed. For example, the boy was bitten by the dog. A passive sentence is usually one that contains the verb “to be.” Using passive voice, you might write, patient care was administered at 11:00.

Professionals in the sciences often use passive voice in their writing to create an objective tone and authorial distance. Passive voice can prioritize specific terms, actions, evidence, or research over the writer’s presence. Additionally, nurses use passive voice because it is usually clear that the reported thoughts, actions, and opinions come from them. However, you must also learn how to use active voice.

Punctuation

There are 14 punctuation marks in the English language, each with multiple and sometimes overlapping uses. Additionally, certain punctuation marks only make sense in highly specific and nuanced grammatical instances. To master punctuation, you must learn through practice, particularly by revising your own writing.

For example, colons and semicolons are often used interchangeably, when they actually serve distinct purposes. Generally used before itemized lists, colons stand in for the phrases “here is what I mean” or “that is to say.” For example, I am bringing three things to the picnic: applesauce, napkins, and lemonade. Semicolons separate two independent clauses connected through topic or meaning. For example, It was below zero; Ricardo wondered if he would freeze to death. Comma splices, which create run on sentences, are another common mistake. You can identify a comma splice by learning the differences between an independent and dependent clause.

Grammar refers to the rules of a particular language system. Grammar determines how users can structure words and form sentences with coherent meaning. Aspects include syntax (the arrangement of words to convey their mutual relations in a sentence) and semantics (how individual words and word groups are understood). Unless you major in writing, literature, etymology, or another related field, you generally won’t examine English grammar deeply. Through years of cognitive development and practice, native users implicitly understand how to effectively employ the language.

Distinct grammatical systems exist for each language and, sometimes, even within a single language. For example, African American Vernacular English uses different syntactic rules than General American English. You should learn grammatical terms and definitions. Common errors include subject/verb agreement, sentence fragments, dangling modifiers, and vague or incorrect pronoun usage. Hasty writers can also misuse phonetically similar words (your/you’re, its/it’s, and there/their/they’re).

Writing Resources for Nursing Students

Apa style central, reviewed by:.

Shrilekha Deshaies, MSN, RN

Shri Deshaies is a nurse educator with over 20 years of experience teaching in hospital, nursing school, and community settings. Deshaies’ clinical area of expertise is critical care nursing and she is a certified critical care nurse. She has worked in various surgical ICUs throughout her career, including cardiovascular, trauma, and neurosurgery.

Shri Deshaies is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. Learn more about our review partners here .

Page last reviewed November 30, 2021

Whether you’re looking to get your pre-licensure degree or taking the next step in your career, the education you need could be more affordable than you think. Find the right nursing program for you.

You might be interested in

HESI vs. TEAS Exam: The Differences Explained

Nursing schools use entrance exams to make admissions decisions. Learn about the differences between the HESI vs. TEAS exams.

10 Nursing Schools That Don’t Require TEAS or HESI Exam

For Chiefs’ RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Nursing Runs in the Family

• Practice Test
• Fundamentals of Nursing
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Medical and Surgical Nursing
• Perioperative Nursing
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
• Maternal & Child Nursing
• Community Health Nursing
• Pathophysiology
• Nursing Research
• Study Guide and Strategies
• Nursing Videos
• Work for Us!
• Privacy Policy

• Journals and Essays

120+ Fresh Nursing Essay Topics (With FAQs and Essay Writing Tips)

Be it writing a nursing assignment or preparing an essay to get admission to a nursing school, choosing the right nursing essay topic is of utmost importance.

An essay can make or break your chance of getting into that school or your chances of scoring the highest in the assignment.

Considering the importance of nursing essays, we have got you some handpicked nursing essay topics that will help you ace the exams.

The article is divided into 3 sections according to the difficulty level. You can opt for them according to your convenience.

You’ll also find an interesting list of topics in the miscellaneous section. So make sure to check that as well.

The following part of the article includes some tips on framing a well-structured essay.

 Basic Level Nursing Essay Topics

• Describe the role of nurses in society.
• What are nursing ethics?
• According to you, what are the challenges associated with nursing?
• Discuss nursing ethics.
• Importance of nursing care for infants.
• What are the possible reasons behind a fewer number of male nurses?
• Throw some light on nurses’ practice act.
• Why is there a need for significant leadership in nursing?
• What are the steps you need to take to cure minor wounds?
• What are the steps you need to take to cure severe wounds?
• Discuss the steps that nurses should take to deal with hyperactive patients and their relatives?
• Are there any differences faced by nurses as compared to doctors when it comes to respect and value?
• What measures can nurses take to cure serious wounds when not having any instruments?
• What steps can nurses take to deal with patients in backward regions, where there is a lack of medical infrastructure?
• Analyze the problems with medical infrastructure.
• How to strengthen medical infrastructure?
• How to perform home nursing?
• Steps to improve mental health.
• Discuss the pitfalls of dieting.
• Importance of technology in nursing.

Moderate Level Nursing Essay Topics

• Throw some light on holistic nursing.
• Should we allow nurses to prescribe medication or antibiotics?
• Discuss the risks associated with nurses prescribing medication?
• Discuss the problems associated with the compensation of nursing jobs.
• How should nurses deal with abusive or rude patients?
• How can civilians be helpful to nurses in treating their patients?
• Infant mortality and its possible causes.
• How to prepare a nursing resume to apply for a job?
• Mental impact on nurses.
• Basic theories to apply in nursing.
• Nursing in India: from struggle to victory.
• Soft skills required in nursing.
• Reasons to choose nursing as a profession.
• How to teach nursing?
• How to deal with depression being a nurse.
• How to deal with patients with dementia initially?
• What efforts should be made to make patients’ stay in neonatal units more pleasant?
• Legalizing euthanasia.
• Importance of midwifery. Is it underestimated?
• How can we help pharmacies strike a balance between helping the patients and earning a profit?

Advanced Level Nursing Essay Topics

• Significance of psychological training to ensure efficient medical working.
• Has covid-19 impacted the chances of nursing being a chosen profession?
• How to avoid hospitalization in covid-19?
• Measure to enhance the efficiency of nurses as assistants of doctors.
• What can nurses do to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease?
• Express your views on applying Henderson’s principles in the nursing area.
• How to convince people to donate organs?
• Chronic diseases and covid-19 pandemic.
• Discuss pediatric ethics.
• Explain acute coronary syndrome.
• Explain the cause behind anxiety disorders.
• Write on obesity and weight management programs.
• What precautions should be taken in the postnatal period?
• Dealing with gestational weight gain challenges.
• Precautions to be taken pre and post-delivery.
• Joint disorders study in elderly people.
• What are geriatrics ethics?
• Menarche and menopause challenges and symptoms.
• Explain reproductive endocrinology.
• Therapeutic injections: pros and cons.

List of Nursing Argumentative Essay Topics

• Are nurses more vulnerable to health risks than doctors?
• How does the increased number of working hours impact the working of nurses?
• Is nursing a female-centric profession?
• How important is the role of a nurse when compared with that of a doctor?
• Difference in the salary paid to day shift nurses vs. night shift nurses
• What should be the adequate amount of nursing staff to have in a hospital?
• Should more emphasis be laid on home nursing?
• How is racial discrimination a problem in nursing?
• Are nurses more empathetic than doctors?
• How important is it for a nurse to work on her emotions?

Miscellaneous Topics for Students Nursing Research

• Nursing Theory: 
• Nursing theory history and significance
• Strategies for theory construction in nursing
• Nursing theory vs. nursing practice
• Person-centered nursing: theory and practice
• Areas of agreement in nursing theory development
• Nursing Education:
• Critical thinking in nursing education : Literature review
• Future challenges for nursing education
• Curriculum development in nursing education
• New nursing education structure in US/UK/Asia
• Creating innovative models of clinical nursing education
• Nursing Care: 
• Transcultural concepts in nursing care
• Basic principles of nursing care
• Factors influencing why nursing care is missed
• Measuring patients’ satisfaction with nursing care
• Spiritual nursing care: state of the art
• Pharmacology for nursing care
• Nursing Interventions:
• The systematic development of nursing interventions
• The impact of nursing interventions
• Nursing interventions for smoking cessation
• Nursing interventions for patients with chronic conditions
• Nursing interventions for premature infants
• Nursing interventions to promote functional feeding
• Nursing Homes:
• Nursing homes in developed and developing nations: a comparison
• Characteristics of nursing homes that affect resident outcomes
• Infections among patients in nursing homes
• Nursing homes and COVID‐19: What has changed?
• Abuse of patients in nursing homes
• Family involvement in nursing homes
• Nursing Leadership 
• Factors contributing to nursing leadership
• Nursing leadership and patient outcomes
• Leadership and management in nursing
• Transformational leadership in nursing
• ethical leadership in nursing
• Nursing Diagnosis:
• Nursing diagnosis process and it’s relation with critical thinking skills
• Application of nursing process and nursing diagnosis
• Do staff nurses use nursing diagnosis effectively?
• Methods to validate nursing diagnoses
• Accuracy of nursing diagnoses: How effective are they?
• Nurse Burnout:
• Nurse burnout and quality of care
• Nurse burnout: personal and environmental factors
• Impact of nurse burnout on organization
• Predictors of burnout among nurses in US, UK, India
• Pediatric nurse burnout
• Nurse Staffing: 
• Nurse staffing and inpatient hospital mortality
• Hospital nurse staffing and quality of care
• Nurse Patient Ratios
• The effects of nurse staffing on medical costs
• Nurse staffing in critical care and how it affects patient outcome
• Nurse Practitioner Role
• Barriers to developing nurse practitioner role
• Analyze nurse practitioner role in acute care settings
• How case-study research can better implement nurse practitioner role
• Practice and clinical leadership: The core role of the nurse practitioner
• Neonatal nurse practitioner role
• 200+ Great Ideas of Nursing Research Topics to Get Started

Frequently Asked Questions

1. how do you start writing a nursing essay.

The following section includes some tips on how to write a well-curated nursing essay.

• Plan your essay- you need to have a well-planned outline of the essay to write an outstanding one.

Spend a good amount of time in research and shortlist the things that you would want to include, things that you would want to highlight or your personal story if any.

• Start writing- Start your essay with a statement that is catchy and strong. Include an adequate amount of research and evidence to support your point in the body. End it with a conclusion stating a summary of the essay.
• Revision- go through the content and look for grammatical or spelling errors, if any. Focus on the structure of the essay.

2. List tips on how to write a nursing school application essay.

• Focus on being informative- while framing the essay, be mindful of the information you include. Make sure it is backed by some evidence.
• Select the best essay topic- go for such a topic that makes the officers remember you after they have read the essay. At the same time, make sure you are comfortable writing on it.
• Check the structure- the essay should be divided into 3 parts- introduction, body and conclusion. Make it readable and easy to understand.

To sum it up, when you kick-start writing a research paper, make sure you move ahead step-by-step.

Since research is the first step in writing the essay, you first have to gather all the essential list of information that is relevant to your nursing essay topic.

Next, handpick the information and come up with an essay that is well-curated and backed by evidence.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Autism: a comprehensive guide to raising and supporting a child with autism, the most common types of eating disorder, thinking like a nurse: the critical thinking skills in the nursing practice, nursing personal statement: your voice in writing, the nursing essay: learning how to write, covid-19: the nursing case management approach, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sign up to our Newsletter

How to write a personal statement for nursing school.

Reviewed by:

Jonathan Preminger

Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine

Reviewed: 6/19/23

Writing a personal statement for nursing school can be a daunting task, but we’re here to help! Here’s everything you need to know about writing a personal statement for nursing school.

Writing your personal statement is a nerve-wracking experience, no matter what program you’re applying for . You may be wondering: “what are nursing schools looking for in a personal statement?” or, “how can I make my personal statement for nursing school stand out?” Lucky for you, we’ve got some answers. 

Here we’ll cover everything you need to know about writing a personal statement for nursing school. We’ve included a breakdown of the components to include, examples of nursing school personal statements, and tips to improve your own. 

Let’s get started!

Get The Ultimate Guide on Writing an Unforgettable Personal Statement

What Is a Nursing School Personal Statement?

When applying to nursing schools , you’ll most likely notice that most applications require a personal statement. A personal statement is a short essay, typically no longer than two pages, that tells your target schools a little bit about who you are. 

Each school has different expectations for the length and contents of your personal statement, so make sure to check the specific requirements of your target schools. Some common topics include your personal goals for nursing school and why you want to become a nurse.

Nursing School Personal Statement Format

Before writing your personal statement for nursing school, you should plan out what you want to include. If your school does not ask you to answer a specific question with your essay, here is a list of what you should include in your nursing school personal statement.

An Introduction

The introductory paragraph should focus on what brought you to this point. Your school primarily wants to get to know you as a candidate through your personal statement. Your intro should include things like:

• How you first became interested in nursing
• What inspires you about becoming a nurse
• What you intend to achieve through a nursing degree

In this paragraph, your main goal is to introduce yourself and give the admissions committee a bit of background on your passion for nursing. Perhaps you have a family member who inspired you to pursue nursing, you grew up near a hospital, or you’ve struggled with health issues yourself - these are all great examples of an origin story. 

Think to yourself: “If my journey into nursing school was a movie, how would it begin?”

Body Paragraph(s)

In the body paragraph(s) of your nursing school personal statement, you can include a bit about your achievements. However, this isn’t the place to simply list your achievements. 

Think about how your experiences helped you to develop skills for nursing school . Include things like:

• How you’ve furthered your interest in nursing through experience (both in and out of school)
• How your achievements make you a good fit for the program
• Specific things about the program that interests you

The body portion of your essay should contain the majority of the information you want to include. Make sure to only include accomplishments if they help to explain how you’ll contribute to the program. Your CV will list any other achievements that don’t come into play here.

A Strong Conclusion

Your personal statement should end on a positive note. Think about summarizing your statement by looking toward the future. Include things like:

• Your future ambitions following nursing school
• What you’ll be able to contribute to the program 

The end of your body paragraph(s) should mention what you hope to achieve in the future with your nursing degree and lead into your conclusion. The final sentences of your personal statement should further state your passion for your program and how you’ll be a great fit at your target school. 

What Not to Write in a Personal Statement for Nursing School

Before getting into our tips and examples, let’s go over what not to include in your personal statement for nursing school. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when crafting your personal statement. 

Keep it Simple

Your personal statement should be authentic and genuine, but make sure to keep the brief in mind while you’re writing. As mentioned above, a personal statement is typically no longer than two pages in length. 

You should absolutely include some personal anecdotes; in fact, we encourage it! Just make sure to stick to the relevant parts of your story and not to elaborate too much on areas that are not relevant to your application. 

Do Not Reiterate Your CV

Your personal statement is an essay, not a resume. Keep in mind that your application already contains all of your achievements on your CV, transcripts, and other application materials. 

Your personal statement is about understanding your passion and motivations. You can use examples from your CV to further assert your interest in the program, but only if you can elaborate on how they’ve specifically helped you on your journey to nursing school. 

Tips for Writing a Stellar Nursing Personal Statement

Let’s go over a few tips on how you can improve your personal statement. Using these tips can help to make your personal statement and essays for your nursing school application stand out while remaining authentic and genuine. 

Create A Timeline

When writing your personal statement, your focus should be on telling your story. Creating a clear timeline of events can help to effectively tell the story of how you decided to apply for nursing. 

Start with how you became interested in nursing, develop your story with experiences that have cultivated your knowledge, and conclude by talking about your program and your future goals. A timeline will make your essay easy to read and give the admissions committee a good idea of your journey so far.

Stick To the Brief

If your target school(s) give you a specific prompt for your personal statement, make sure to refer back to the prompt while writing your essay to ensure you’re staying on track. 

For example, if your prompt asks you a question, be sure to answer the question at the beginning, the end, and throughout your essay. Your personal statement shouldn’t be vague or veer too far off course. 

Speak From the Heart

It is crucial in your nursing personal statement to share what makes you unique . This is your chance to show the admissions committee why you’d be a perfect fit in their program and demonstrate what you bring to the table. 

Include genuine experiences that have pushed you toward nursing throughout your life. Conveying your passions and motivations is critical in your personal statement for nursing school.

Do Your Research 

One great way to make your nursing personal statement stand out is to do thorough research on your program and include it in your piece. Showing your passion for the specific program. you’re applying to can give you an edge over others and impress the admissions committee. 

When you include your research, be sure to add it organically into your writing. Use your research as a way to connect your personal experiences to the program rather than simply listing information.

Nursing School Personal Statement Examples

Here are two nursing personal statement examples that were written successfully. We’ve also included explanations of how they are good examples to help you improve your own personal statement. 

*Important note: Do not use our samples in your nursing school application. These examples are meant to serve as a guide when crafting your own original personal statement for nursing school. 

Example #1: Indeed ’s Nursing School Personal Statement Sample

“I walked backward down the hill, my arms supporting the weight of the wheelchair as its wheels rolled slowly in reverse. Sunlight danced through the trees around us and shone in my grandmother's hair as she sat inside the wheelchair. I couldn't see my grandmother's face from that angle, but I could hear her laughing with joy as she enjoyed the outdoors for the first time in weeks. My grandmother came to live with my family two years ago after breaking her hip. Although she completed much of her recovery at our home, Nurse George came by every day to perform my grandmother's personal care tasks, monitor her vital signs and assist with her physical therapy exercises. George also taught me some basic patient care practices, such as how to support a wheelchair correctly while going downhill. I had never considered a career in nursing before, but George helped me see the rewards of helping people with their medical conditions and injuries. I am excited by this opportunity to apply to Fern Hill's College of Nursing because I appreciate your program's specialization in rehabilitation nursing. Being a part of my grandmother's recovery team has inspired me to pursue a nursing career that helps patients recover from injuries or medical conditions. I believe that your school's emphasis on assisting patients in regaining their independent skills can help me achieve these professional aspirations. Since realizing that I want to become a nurse, I have become a regular volunteer at Jefferson Rehabilitation Center. I mentor young people struggling with drug addictions and provide childcare for the children of rehabilitation patients. There is no feeling comparable to when a mentee or outgoing patient offers you a sincere "thank you." I can no longer imagine pursuing a career where I do not get to help people overcome their challenges and navigate their way to recovery. My experiences helping my grandmother and patients at Jefferson have taught me the value of empathy and communication. Frequently, my mentees simply want someone to listen to them. I do my best to give them a judgment-free space in which to share their stories. Whether the medical issue is emotional or physical, patients appreciate working with flexible and considerate people. I believe I embody these qualities by actively listening and letting patients talk at their own pace. I am ready to pursue a nursing career and learn about helping patients in a more professional and technical capacity. Fern Hill's College of Nursing is the ideal place to prepare for my future nursing career.”

Why this is a good example: In this example, the writer has done an excellent job of telling the story of how they became interested in nursing. They also develop a clear timeline of events from when they first thought about nursing to how they began developing their skills through volunteering. 

Most importantly, the candidate mentions specific reasons why they’re interested in the program and how they feel they can contribute to the school and field. 

Example #2: Johns Hopkins University Nursing Personal Statement Sample

“I grew up close to a hospital, where I watched patients go through the double doors for a variety of ailments. From a young age, this drove me to develop a strong interest in the field of medicine. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the future that would allow me to take care of those in need. Through my courses in the natural sciences as well as social studies, I have continued to develop my knowledge in the field in order to be ready to continue my education. Now, I am ready to take the next step in my education by applying for the Nursing program at Johns Hopkins University.  Three years ago I completed a nursing shadowing internship that opened my eyes to many of the daily struggles of being a nurse. During my time in the clinic and on the wards, I had the opportunity to work In the critical care and trauma ward as well as In obstetrics and geriatrics. These various experiences showed me the diverse role that nurses play in a healthcare setting, and emphasized the importance of empathy and dedication to patient care.  Johns Hopkins University Is known worldwide for its focus on patient wellness and medical research. As a nursing student at Hopkins, I hope to not only further the institution's goal of providing exceptional patient care, but also to assist with the many clinical trials ongoing at the hospital that pave the way for new treatments. Through hands-on training with knowledgeable staff, I know that I will be able to make the most of my nursing training at Johns Hopkins and become a nursing professional that is capable of enhancing patient wellness in a healthcare setting.”

Why this is a good example: In this example, the writer develops a clear timeline and clearly defines their relevant information. The writer covers when they first became interested in nursing, courses they’ve taken, and what experiences have made them get serious about the profession. 

Finally, they include why they are specifically interested in the program at Johns Hopkins and conclude by adding what they will add to the program as a student.

FAQs: How to Write a Personal Statement for Nursing School

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about nursing school personal statements. 

1. Do All Nursing Schools Require A Personal Statement?

Almost all nursing schools require a personal statement, which can typically be described as a short essay (2 pages or less) that explains who you are and why you want to attend the school’s nursing program.

2. Is a Personal Statement for Nursing School an Essay?

Yes, a personal statement is a short essay that briefly describes your past, present, and future experiences in relation to nursing.

3. How Long Should A Nursing Personal Statement Be?

Each nursing school has different length requirements, which can typically be found in the prompt. If no length is specified, two pages or less is recommended. 

4. What Should I Include In My Nursing School Personal Statement?

Your nursing personal statement should include:

• Why you want to become a nurse
• What inspires you about nursing
• Elaborate on the experiences you’ve had that have taught you about nursing
• Program-specific reasons for your interest in the school
• How you intend to contribute to the program and the field of nursing

If your school’s personal statement asks a specific question, that question should be answered throughout your essay. 

5. Does Nursing Require Essays?

Yes, most nursing program applications require personal statement essays, and some require secondary (or supplemental) essays as well.

6. When Should I Write My Personal Statement for Nursing School?

You should begin writing your personal statement(s) for nursing school as soon as you receive the prompt. Make sure to give yourself an adequate amount of time to complete all sections of your application before the deadline.

7. How do you Start a Personal Statement for Nursing School?

To start a compelling nursing personal statement, there are a few different writing techniques you can use. You can start by introducing yourself, start by talking about how you became interested in nursing, or you can start “in the action” by cutting right into your story. 

Final Thoughts

Your personal statement for nursing school should be genuine, heartfelt, and express how you will make an excellent addition to your target school’s nursing program through a series of examples. 

Each personal statement you write should be adjusted to suit the individual program you are applying for. Sending a general personal statement with every application you submit is impersonal and not recommended. Make sure to follow your brief closely and map out your essay before writing it to ensure you include all of the relevant information. 

Schedule A Free Consultation

You may also like.

BSN Degree: What You Need to Know

Medical Schools in Nevada: Complete List + How to Get In

Writing for Nurses: Improve Your Skills from Classroom to Clinic

Writing is an important part of any nursing student’s education, and this guide will help you learn about how to be the best writer you can be so you get top grades and succeed in your future as a practicing nurse.

• Why it Matters
• Types of Writing
• Common Mistakes

As a nursing student, honing your writing skills can inspire success both in the classroom and at the bedside — and in fact, can even save a life. As Purdue Global shares, “Good writing can help allow for better patient care and safety.” Effective written communication is essential for documenting treatment plans, sharing research findings, and conveying critical information to patients and colleagues on your team.

So how can you improve this essential skill? Throughout this guide, we’ll explore the different types of writing you’ll encounter as a nursing student, ranging from academic essays to reflective journals. We’ll spotlight some practical tips that can help you enhance your writing. In addition to highlighting what you should do when writing as a nurse or nursing student, we’ll also underscore some common mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

Nursing is a diverse field, and learning about the range of writing you’ll encounter as a student will empower you with both knowledge and skills. Keep reading to elevate your writing and see how the written word can enhance your nursing practice — from the classroom to the clinic and beyond.

The Importance of Writing Well as a Nurse

In the world of nursing, effective communication is the heartbeat of the profession. As a nurse or nursing student, the power of writing well is paramount. Effective, clear, and concise documentation and communication ensure accurate patient records, seamless care transitions, and effective collaboration within healthcare teams. Additionally, writing with empathy, inclusiveness, and precision can foster trust and understanding with both patients and their families, especially when navigating stressful healthcare situations. Continue reading as we highlight the goals of strong written communication in the nursing field.

When nurses write well, they can become fierce advocates for their patients. Effective documentation enables healthcare professionals to clearly convey patient needs, concerns, and preferences to an entire healthcare team. Well-written reports can highlight essential details, share critical information, and ensure that patients receive the best possible care. By embracing clear and compassionate writing, nurses can amplify patient stories while fostering a healthcare environment where every patient is heard and valued.

Clear Communication

Clear communication is vital to competent and compassionate nursing, and writing well is often a significant component. When nurses write concisely and with clarity, they ensure that important information is conveyed accurately and efficiently. Well-written documentation promotes seamless communication among healthcare professionals, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and enhancing patient safety. The nurse who practices clear communication can help inspire a positive healthcare experience while ensuring that the needs of patients are met with sensitivity and professionalism.

Writing precisely is a key skill that empowers nurses to deliver the highest quality of care. When writing with precision, nurses supply accurate details, specific instructions, and concise summaries. This precision allows communication with minimal room for misinterpretation or confusion, ensuring seamless healthcare coordination based on meticulous documentation of patient symptoms, responses to medication, patient progress and more — all while minimizing errors. By writing with precision, nurses can enhance patient outcomes, encourage efficient workflows, and foster a healthcare space where accuracy and excellence thrive.

Record Keeping

While record keeping can seem like a mere administrative box to tick, effective documentation plays a crucial role in the legal and safety aspects of the healthcare profession. Nurses who hone the craft of clear and comprehensive documentation create a thorough record of patient care. This allows for reliable tracking of medical histories, treatment plans, and outcomes. Well-written records also ensure continuity of care, facilitate collaboration among healthcare teams, and provide a reliable resource that professionals can rely on in the future. In short, nurses who maintain meticulous records contribute to informed, safe, and patient-centered healthcare experiences.

Reflective Practice

Writing well enhances a nurse’s ability to engage in reflective practices. By clearly articulating thoughts, experiences, and emotions in writing, nurses grow professionally through an understanding of their actions and decisions. Additionally, making a habit out of reflective practices can enable healthcare workers to critically evaluate their practice, pinpoint areas for improvement, and highlight successes. As mental health is also a priority for nurses, reflective writing practice can help healthcare professionals work through the stress and trauma that often accompanies the field.

Five Common Types of Writing in Nursing School

As a nursing student, you’ll likely encounter various writing assignments with topics that challenge your critical thinking skills. It’s important to keep in mind that learning effective writing techniques as a nursing student is more than just an academic requirement that translates to a credit; instead, the writing you’ll tackle as a nursing student has direct and practical ties to effective healthcare delivery. From case studies that test your problem-solving skills to reflective journals that encourage introspection, continue reading to see the types of writing you’ll encounter in nursing school.

Academic Essays

As a nursing student, you’ll be assigned academic essays that not only test your understanding of nursing theories and concepts, but also require you to integrate healthcare research and practical knowledge. Effective essays in nursing demand thorough research, critical analysis, and evidence-based writing. When honing essay-writing skills, you’ll adhere to academic writing guidelines and style guides, learning to structure essays methodically with clear introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions.

Common essay topics for nursing students cover essential areas such as patient care, healthcare ethics, evidence-based practice, healthcare policies, community health, and nursing leadership. By mastering practical writing skills, you’ll develop the ability to communicate your ideas effectively both as a student and a practicing nurse.

Case Studies

While on your nursing school journey, case studies will offer another opportunity to practice effective research and writing. A case study is an in-depth analysis of a real or hypothetical patient, highlighting their medical history, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. What sets nursing case studies apart from other disciplines is their focus on patient-centered care and the application of nursing interventions.

When approaching case studies, you collect comprehensive patient information, critically analyze data, and propose evidence-based solutions. Topics covered in nursing case studies include complex medical conditions, patient management in various healthcare settings, ethical dilemmas, cultural considerations, and collaboration with various healthcare professionals. Nursing case studies offer valuable opportunities to develop clinical reasoning, decision-making, and critical thinking skills.

Reflective Journals

Nursing is often a stressful and emotionally challenging profession. As a result, writing reflective journals offers a unique approach to introspection and professional growth. Reflective journals provide a safe space to express thoughts, emotions, and experiences encountered during clinical practice. Additionally, reflective journals encourage self-analysis, critical thinking, and the application of theory with practice.

To make the most out of reflective journal writing, nurses should engage in honest self-assessment, explore personal values, identify growth areas, and connect experiences to nursing theories and ethical considerations. Reflective journals also promote lifelong learning and enhance empathy while improving patient care. Typical topics covered in reflective journals often involve clinical encounters, communication challenges, cultural sensitivity, interdisciplinary teamwork, and personal reflections on professional development.

Research Papers

Research papers in nursing emphasize evidence-based practice and can contribute to the advancement of healthcare knowledge and philosophy. During the research process, you’ll often encounter literature reviews and data collection, analysis, and interpretation. When choosing research topics, it’s often essential to select current and relevant topics; popular research areas include healthcare disparities, patient outcomes, nursing interventions, healthcare technology, and healthcare policy.

To craft a solid research paper, you’ll likely include a clear research question, rigorous methodology, critical analysis of data, and careful citation of sources. Additionally, integrating clinical concerns and discussing the potential impact on patient care can enhance the strength of your research paper.

How to Avoid Common Writing Mistakes

Communication is one of the most powerful tools employed by nurses, so it stands to reason that misusing it by making common mistakes can undermine a message and even affect health outcomes. In nursing, clear and accurate communication is vital for providing safe and effective patient care. Simple mistakes involving anything from medication to a patient’s medical history can have severe consequences on your ability to deliver effective care while jeopardizing a patient’s well-being. By learning to identify and rectify common writing mistakes, you can enhance communication skills and ensure that messages are clear, concise, and error-free.

Whether you’re a nursing student or a practicing nurse, grammar can play a crucial role in writing and communication. Grammar refers to the set of rules governing the structure and composition of language. Knowing how to use grammar properly is essential, because grammar mistakes can lead to misinterpretations or confusion. They can compromise patient safety, hinder effective teamwork, and potentially impact quality of care. As a result, mastering grammar helps ensure accurate, effective, and professional communication. Here are three common grammar considerations for nurses:

• Homophones – Homophones are words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. Common mistakes include their/there/they’re, your/you’re, and to/too/two. In the medical field, “dysphasia” and “dysphagia” sound alike, but are entirely different impairments.
• Singular vs. Plural – Something singular represents one thing, whereas a plural is more than one. Common mistakes include using “child” instead of “children” or using the verb “is” instead of “are.” Medical terms are often derived from Greek and Latin words, meaning they don’t always follow common rule of adding an “s” for pluralization. An example is “vertebra,” which is singular, vs. “vertebrae,” which is a plural noun.
• Tense Usage – The tense of a verb tells you when something took place in time. Common mistakes include using past tense instead of the present tense in reporting patient symptoms or events. “The patient felt acute stomach pain” indicates a different timeframe than “The patient feels acute stomach pain.”

Punctuation

Punctuation is the use of symbols and marks in writing to clarify meaning and sentence structure. In nursing writing and communication, punctuation can play a significant role. Mistakes in punctuation, such as misplaced commas or lack of proper sentence endings, can lead to misinterpretations. While it can feel innocuous, something as simple as a misplaced comma can influence patient care. Accurate punctuation is another communication guardrail that can ensure clear documentation and precise instructions.

• Over- and Underuse of Commas – In nursing communication, the over/underuse of commas refers to the excessive or insufficient use of comma placement. Common mistakes include unnecessary commas in patient records or missing commas when separating items in a list.
• Misuse of Apostrophes – The misuse of apostrophes in writing refers to incorrect placement or omission of apostrophes. Common mistakes include using “it’s” instead of “its” or confusing “patients” with “patient’s” or “patients’.”

Evidence-based research is a significant asset in the healthcare field, so it’s important to learn about common mistakes to avoid when undertaking this type of writing. Research errors can lead to ineffective treatment plans, inaccurate diagnoses and a host of other issues that affect patients and practitioners alike. Continue reading as we spotlight some of the common writing mistakes in healthcare research.

• Citations – Citation mistakes in nursing research refer to errors in properly crediting and referencing sources. Standard mistakes include missing citations, incorrect formatting, or inadequate acknowledgment of borrowed ideas or data.
• Credible Sources – Utilizing reliable and trustworthy references is vital to evidence-based practice. Common mistakes include using biased websites or outdated research studies as sources.
• Fact vs. Opinion – Distinguishing fact from opinion in your writing is essential. Common mistakes in healthcare practice include presenting personal beliefs as facts or failing to differentiate subjective statements from evidence-based information.
• Plagiarism – Plagiarism in nursing writing is the act of using someone else’s work or ideas without proper citation. Common mistakes include not citing sources or copying text without quotation marks.

Developing a professional voice in your writing often communicates credibility, competence, and expertise. Whether dealing with the tone or perspective of nursing writing, presenting information in a professional manner promotes effective messaging while promoting trust among both patients and colleagues. Below are a few voice considerations that can inspire confusion or miscommunication in professional healthcare writing.

• Formal vs. Informal Tone – The tone of your writing can significantly impact how your prose is perceived. Common mistakes include using slang or colloquial expressions in professional documents or research papers.
• Perspective – Perspective in healthcare writing refers to the viewpoint or position of information that’s being presented. Standard mistakes include biased reporting or not acknowledging different perspectives and viewpoints.

15 Writing Resources You Can Start Using Today

Now that you understand the impact of effective writing in the nursing field, it’s time to bookmark a few resources that will make you a better writer and researcher. We’ve compiled a list of 15 links that can enhance your research and writing as a nurse or nursing student. From academic writing guidelines to research paper assistance and writing tips, these resources will support your journey toward becoming an effective and confident writer in the nursing field.

• AllNurses.com – This website allows you to ask questions of other nursing students or see a list of frequently asked student questions . Many topics are geared toward essays and academic writing.
• American Nurses Association’s Principles of Nursing Documentation – The ANA is the largest professional organization for nurses in the United States, and this guide addresses the importance of clear, accurate, and accessible documentation in the field.
• APA Style Blog – The American Psychological Association’s style guide is the standard most often used by nursing students for formatting academic papers, and this blog includes countless useful posts.
• APA Style Central – This practical page offers a quick and user-friendly introduction to the APA’s citation methods. You’ll have access to tutorials, interactive lessons, and quizzes to help you master APA style.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – If you’re conducting research in the healthcare field, the CDC offers up-to-date data on medical topics and an extensive “Publications by topic” subsection with further evidence-based resources.
• EasyBib – EasyBib is a popular tool for students that offers everything you need to know when citing sources for research papers. Along with APA grammar guides, this site also hosts a user-friendly citation generator.
• Grammarly – Grammarly utilizes AI technology to help you enhance your writing. From spelling and grammar to voice and tone, Grammarly is a quick, easy, and free way to edit your papers.
• INANE Editor’s Handbook – The International Academy of Nursing Editors offers guidance for editorial practices for everything from nursing journals to web-based literature.
• National Institute of Nursing Research – Run by the NIH, the National Institute of Nursing Research compiles research and publications focusing on advancements in nursing.
• Plagiarism.org – This page offers exhaustive information about plagiarism, what it is, and how you can avoid it.
• ProWriting Aid – Used by over 2 million people, this writing tool offers everything from tone suggestions to grammar assistance. Additionally, you can create custom style guides that mirror your academic or professional needs.
• PubMed – This database offers an extensive catalog of journal articles covering medical and life sciences topics. PubMed is run by the National Institutes of Health.
• Purdue Online Writing Lab – Purdue University’s online writing lab offers an APA formatting and style guide, basic rules, and an APA source citing engine.
• YouTube: RegisteredNurseRN – This collection of videos covers valuable information for nursing students, including tips to enhance your writing as a nursing student. One such example: a tutorial about how to write a nursing care plan in nursing school.

Nursing Essay Topics

Top Nursing Essay Topics for Your Next Assignment

14 min read

Published on: May 6, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

Share this article

Are you struggling to come up with nursing essay topics that are both interesting and relevant to your studies? 

As a nursing student, you're faced with the challenge of balancing your coursework with clinical experiences and practical training. But don’t worry, we're here to help!

In this blog, we've compiled a range of nursing paper topics that cover various aspects of nursing practice and theory. By exploring these prompts you'll be able to craft a compelling essay that showcases your potential as a future healthcare professional.

So, let's begin with the first list of topics!

On This Page On This Page -->

Nursing School Essay Topics

• The importance of effective communication in nursing practice
• Addressing health disparities in underserved communities: a nursing perspective
• Nursing leadership and management: strategies for successful team building
• Ethical dilemmas in nursing: balancing patient autonomy and professional obligations
• Enhancing patient safety through evidence-based nursing practice
• The role of nursing in chronic disease management and prevention
• Nursing education and career development: challenges and opportunities
• Nursing informatics: leveraging technology to improve patient outcomes
• Promoting cultural competence in nursing practice: strategies for success
• The impact of COVID-19 on nursing practice and the healthcare system

Nursing Admission Essay Topics

• How my life experiences have prepared me for a career in nursing
• Overcoming challenges to pursue a career in nursing
• My passion for nursing and how it began
• The importance of empathy and communication skills in nursing
• Diversity and cultural competence in nursing
• How nursing aligns with my personal and professional goals
• The role of technology in modern nursing practice
• Nursing ethics and the importance of patient-centered care
• Reflection on a meaningful patient interaction and its impact on my nursing career
• The challenges and rewards of being a nurse leader.

Professional Nursing Essay Ideas

• The evolution of nursing: From Florence Nightingale to modern practice
• Addressing burnout and compassion fatigue in nursing: Strategies for self-care
• The importance of advocacy in nursing: Ensuring patient rights and social justice
• The role of interdisciplinary collaboration in achieving positive patient outcomes
• The future of nursing education: Adapting to changing healthcare needs
• Nursing and healthcare policy: Understanding the political landscape
• Nursing research: Utilizing evidence-based practice to improve patient care
• Promoting health equity in nursing practice: Recognizing and addressing health disparities
• The intersection of technology and nursing: Opportunities and challenges
• Global health and nursing: Addressing healthcare disparities in low- and middle-income countries.

Persuasive Nursing Essay Topics

• Should hospitals and healthcare organizations be required to implement nurse-to-patient staffing ratios to improve patient outcomes?
• Should nurses be allowed to prescribe certain medications and treatments to improve patient access to care?
• Should more resources be dedicated to nursing research to inform evidence-based practice and improve patient outcomes?
• Should nursing education place greater emphasis on pain management to better serve patients with chronic pain?
• Should healthcare organizations invest in more technology to improve patient monitoring and reduce errors?
• Should nurses be given more autonomy in decision-making to improve patient outcomes?
• Should healthcare organizations prioritize patient-centered care over cost-cutting measures?
• Should healthcare organizations offer more support and resources for nurses to prevent burnout and improve job satisfaction?
• Should more attention be given to patient education to improve patient self-management and outcomes?
• Should organizations invest in more cultural competency training for nurses to better serve diverse patient populations?

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Nursing Argumentative Essay Topics 

• Should nurses be allowed to prescribe medication independently?
• Is it ethical for healthcare facilities to mandate flu vaccination for nurses and other healthcare workers?
• Should nursing students be required to pass a standardized competency exam before being licensed as a registered nurse?
• Is mandatory overtime for nurses an effective strategy for addressing staffing shortages?
• Should advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) be granted full practice authority?
• Should nurses be required to report colleagues who exhibit unsafe or unprofessional behavior?
• Should nursing homes be required to maintain minimum staffing ratios for nurses and certified nursing assistants?
• Should nurses be allowed to assist terminally ill patients with voluntary euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide?
• Should healthcare facilities be held responsible for workplace violence against nurses and other healthcare workers?
• Should nurses be allowed to unionize and engage in collective bargaining?

Reflective Essay Topics Nursing

• Lessons learned from a challenging patient interaction
• A personal experience that highlighted the importance of communication in nursing
• How a nursing mentor or preceptor helped shape your professional development
• The impact of cultural competency on your nursing practice
• A case where you advocated for a patient's rights and how it influenced your nursing practice
• A situation where you made a mistake and the lessons learned from it
• A difficult ethical dilemma you faced in your nursing practice and how you navigated it
• A memorable patient case that challenged your clinical skills and knowledge
• How nursing education has influenced your nursing practice and professional development
• Reflections on the importance of self-care for nurses and how you prioritize it in your own practice.

Compare and Contrast Nursing Essay Topics

• Compare and contrast the healthcare outcomes of patients suffering from chronic illnesses who have access to regular nursing care versus those who do not.
• Compare and contrast the incidence of racial discrimination in nursing care between urban and rural areas.
• Compare and contrast the health risks associated with nursing care in acute care settings versus primary care settings.
• Compare and contrast the effectiveness of medication-based treatments versus non-pharmacological interventions for managing pain in patients suffering from chronic illnesses.
• Compare and contrast the communication styles and techniques used by nurses in caring for patients from different cultural backgrounds.
• Compare and contrast the approaches to patient education used by nurses in acute care settings versus those in community health settings.
• Compare and contrast the nursing interventions used for preventing and treating pressure ulcers in patients who are bedridden versus those who are mobile.
• Compare and contrast the use of traditional nursing care models versus patient-centered care models in addressing the needs of patients suffering from mental health disorders.
• Compare and contrast the ethical considerations involved in providing nursing care to patients who are terminally ill versus those who are not.
• Compare and contrast the nursing interventions used to prevent and treat complications associated with diabetes in pediatric versus adult patients.

Nursing Informatics Essay Topics

• The role of nursing informatics in improving patient safety
• The benefits and challenges of implementing electronic health records in nursing practice
• Using data analytics to identify trends and improve patient outcomes
• The impact of nursing informatics on clinical decision-making
• The importance of user-centered design in nursing informatics
• The ethical implications of using patient data in nursing informatics
• The role of telehealth in nursing informatics and improving access to care
• The future of nursing informatics and emerging technologies in healthcare
• The impact of nursing informatics on interdisciplinary collaboration and communication
• Using nursing informatics to promote population health and improve public health outcomes.

Evidence-Based Practice Nursing Essay Topics

• The importance of evidence-based practice in nursing and its impact on patient outcomes
• A case study of the successful implementation of evidence-based practice in nursing
• Strategies for overcoming barriers to evidence-based practice in nursing
• The role of nursing research in supporting evidence-based practice
• The challenges of translating research into practice in nursing
• The importance of collaboration between nurses and other healthcare professionals in promoting evidence-based practice
• A comparison of different evidence-based practice models in nursing
• The role of technology in promoting evidence-based practice in nursing
• The impact of evidence-based practice on healthcare disparities and equity
• The future of evidence-based practice in nursing and emerging trends in the field.

Good Nursing Essay Topics

• The impact of caring on nursing practice and patient outcomes
• Strategies for preventing and managing nursing burnout
• The importance of cultural competency in nursing practice and improving patient care
• The role of nursing in promoting health equity and addressing healthcare disparities
• A personal experience that influenced your decision to become a nurse
• The impact of technology on nursing practice and patient care
• The importance of interprofessional collaboration in nursing practice
• The role of nursing leadership in shaping healthcare policy and practice
• Ethical issues in nursing practice and their impact on patient care
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing practice and healthcare delivery.

Interesting Nursing Essay Topics Ideas

• The benefits and challenges of working in rural nursing
• The role of simulation in nursing education and its impact on clinical preparedness
• A personal experience that highlighted the importance of compassion in nursing practice
• The impact of social determinants of health on nursing practice and patient outcomes
• The role of nurses in promoting mental health and wellbeing
• A comparison of different nursing specialties and their unique challenges and rewards
• The importance of patient-centered care in nursing practice and its impact on patient outcomes
• The role of nurses in addressing the opioid epidemic and promoting safe pain management practices
• The impact of environmental factors on nursing practice and patient outcomes
• The benefits and challenges of international nursing and working in global health.

Nursing Essay Questions

• How has your understanding of nursing changed since starting your education and clinical practice?
• What is the most significant challenge you have faced as a nursing student or professional, and how did you overcome it?
• How has the nursing profession evolved over time, and what do you see as its future direction?
• In your opinion, what are the most important qualities for a nurse to possess, and why?
• How can nursing education and practice be improved to better meet the needs of diverse patient populations?
• How can nurses effectively communicate and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure optimal patient care?
• What role does evidence-based practice play in nursing, and how can it be effectively integrated into clinical practice?
• What ethical dilemmas do nurses face in their daily practice, and how can they be addressed?
• How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted nursing practice and healthcare delivery, and what lessons can be learned from this experience?
• How can nurses play a greater role in promoting public health and preventing disease in their communities?

Mental Health Nursing Essay Topics

• The impact of stigma on mental health care and nursing practice
• A comparison of different mental health nursing interventions and their effectiveness
• The importance of trauma-informed care in mental health nursing practice
• The role of nursing in promoting recovery-oriented care in mental health settings
• The benefits and challenges of telepsychiatry and its impact on mental health nursing practice
• The impact of cultural factors on mental health nursing practice and patient outcomes
• The importance of self-care for mental health nurses and strategies for preventing burnout
• The role of nursing in addressing the mental health needs of diverse populations, including LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities
• A personal experience that highlighted the importance of compassion in mental health nursing practice
• The role of mental health nurses in the prevention of suicide amongst adolescents.

Breastfeeding Essay Topics for Nursing Students

• The benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby and the role of nursing in promoting and supporting breastfeeding
• A comparison of different breastfeeding positions and techniques and their effectiveness
• The impact of cultural factors on breastfeeding practices and nursing interventions
• The importance of evidence-based practice in promoting breastfeeding and improving outcomes for mothers and babies
• Strategies for addressing common breastfeeding challenges and promoting successful breastfeeding outcomes
• The impact of workplace policies on breastfeeding practices and the role of nursing in advocating for supportive policies
• The role of nursing in addressing disparities in breastfeeding rates among different populations, including low-income and minority communities
• The benefits and challenges of breastfeeding for preterm and medically fragile infants and the role of nursing in providing specialized care
• The impact of breastfeeding on maternal mental health and the role of nursing in addressing postpartum depression and anxiety
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breastfeeding practices and nursing interventions.

Public Health Nursing Topics

• The role of public health nursing in addressing health disparities and promoting health equity
• The impact of social determinants of health on public health nursing practice and patient outcomes
• Strategies for addressing common public health challenges, including infectious disease outbreaks and environmental hazards
• The importance of community engagement and advocacy in public health nursing practice
• The impact of cultural factors on public health nursing practice and patient outcomes
• The role of nursing in addressing global health challenges, including maternal and child health, infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases
• The benefits and challenges of interprofessional collaboration in public health nursing practice
• The importance of evidence-based practice in public health nursing and its impact on patient outcomes
• The impact of technology on public health nursing practice, including data analytics and telehealth
• The role of public health nursing in promoting health education and disease prevention, including the importance of health screenings and immunizations.

Infection Control/Prevention Nursing Topics

• The importance of hand hygiene in preventing healthcare-associated infections
• The role of the infection preventionist in promoting a culture of safety and reducing the risk of infections
• Strategies for preventing the spread of antibiotic-resistant organisms in healthcare settings
• The impact of environmental cleaning and disinfection on infection control
• The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in preventing the spread of infections in healthcare settings
• The role of vaccination in infection prevention, including vaccine hesitancy and strategies to improve vaccination rates
• The impact of COVID-19 on infection control and prevention practices in healthcare settings
• The impact of nursing leadership and education on infection control practices
• The role of surveillance in detecting and preventing infections in healthcare settings
• The challenges of infection control and prevention in long-term care facilities and strategies for improving outcomes.

Midwife, Neonatal, and Pediatric Nursing Essay Topics

• The importance of antenatal care and screening for maternal and fetal health
• The role of the midwife in providing support and care during labor and delivery
• Strategies for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity rates in low-resource settings
• The impact of perinatal mental health on maternal and neonatal outcomes
• The role of the neonatal nurse in caring for premature and critically ill infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
• The impact of developmental care on the health and well-being of premature infants
• The importance of family-centered care in neonatal and pediatric nursing practice
• The role of the pediatric nurse in caring for children with chronic illnesses and disabilities
• The impact of trauma-informed care on the health outcomes of pediatric patients
• The importance of nursing leadership and education in improving neonatal and pediatric healthcare outcomes.

Trauma and Acute Care Nursing Topics

• The role of the trauma nurse in managing critically injured patients in the emergency department
• The impact of trauma-informed care on patient outcomes in the acute care setting
• Strategies for reducing preventable adverse events in the acute care setting
• The role of the nurse in managing acute pain in critically ill patients
• The impact of delirium on patient outcomes in the acute care setting
• The importance of early mobilization in the management of critically ill patients
• The role of the nurse in caring for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• The impact of sepsis on patient outcomes in the acute care setting
• Strategies for reducing hospital readmissions in patients with complex medical conditions
• The role of the nurse in caring for patients with acute neurological emergencies.

How To Choose a Topic for a Nursing Essay?

When it comes to choosing a topic for a nursing essay, there are several factors you should consider. Here are some steps to help you choose a nursing essay prompt:

• Identify your interests: Start by thinking about topics that interest you or that you are passionate about. This can help you stay engaged and motivated throughout the essay-writing process.
• Consider your audience : Think about who your audience will be, and choose a topic that will be relevant and interesting to them. For example, if you are writing for a nursing journal, you may want to choose a topic related to current nursing practices or research.
• Focus on a specific aspect of nursing: Nursing is a broad field, so it's important to narrow down your focus to a specific area of nursing. For example, you could write about a specific disease or condition, or a specific nursing intervention.
• Research the topic: Before finalizing your topic, do some preliminary research to make sure there is enough information available on the topic. Look for scholarly articles, books, and other reliable sources to ensure that your topic is well-supported.
• Consult with your instructor: Be sure to consult with your instructor to ensure that your topic meets the assignment requirements.

In summary,

We hope these nursing essay prompts have inspired you to write an outstanding essay that showcases your unique qualities.

In need of a reliable custom essay writing service , especially for nursing essays? Look no further!

Our specialized nursing essay writing service is here to provide you with expertly crafted papers tailored to your requirements.

Plus, for a seamless and efficient writing experience, don't forget to explore our essay writer AI tool.

Cathy A. (Literature)

For more than five years now, Cathy has been one of our most hardworking authors on the platform. With a Masters degree in mass communication, she knows the ins and outs of professional writing. Clients often leave her glowing reviews for being an amazing writer who takes her work very seriously.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Legal & Policies

• Privacy Policy
• Cookies Policy
• Terms of Use
• Refunds & Cancellations
• Our Writers
• Success Stories
• Our Guarantees
• Affiliate Program
• Referral Program
• AI Essay Writer

Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.

The Study Blog

Term Paper Writing Help

If you aren't sure whether you are good at expressing yourself through writing, then if you find it difficult to do so (e.g., when trying to write an english essay), we can help you overcome those obstacles by assisting you in improving your communication through writing. We help students compose essays or other types of papers for their courses. Now is the time to come visit us!

How to Overcome the Complexity of a Nursing Essay

There aren't many alternatives for professional translations. Before writing a good summary of something, you need to know your subject well enough to be able to write an accurate one. A research paper requires mastery of research language, a deep understanding of their subjects to be able to write about them clearly, and a careful consideration of possible problems before proposing solutions. Students often have trouble understanding medical terminology when they first encounter it, because they have never heard of these words before. When writing a cohesive psychology essay, students must be familiar with some psychological concepts. We have a wealth of experience under our belt, so we know where they need help. Although you may be able to find better deals elsewhere, there is no way to tell if these sites offer superior customer service and top-quality results. Read customer reviews before making any online purchases. If you don't think there's a market for them, it's perhaps best to skip them.

Professional Help from Copywriters

If you would like us to write anything from an essay in history to a term paper for you, we’d be happy to oblige. When writing something, there's a precise formula for choosing the best word. You can rest assured that you'll receive an expertly written paper from those who know exactly what they're doing. No need to write anything down today; there are no reasons why you shouldn't let others edit your document for you. Don't waste your time trying to convince them to do it for you, instead, invest it in something more productive! Order term papers online and go there! Founded in a simple belief that we are capable of delivering top-quality content to you, we offer a range of guarantees. Test it out yourself! The results must be presented after all the research has been completed.

Cheap Business Essay Writing Services

Before being accepted into our company, we underwent extensive background checks. Check their credentials to confirm that they have been writing professionally for some time. If they are members of professional associations, check, for instance.

Fun Tips to Spend Orthodox Easter Away from Home

In "Student Life"

Welcome to the New Bloggers

In "Degree Essentials"

Mastering Warwick as a Postgraduate

In "Looking After You"

Comments are closed.

Copyright, 2023