How to Write A Winning “Why I Want to Be a Nurse” Essay (Top 8 Strategies)

A well-crafted nursing school essay that impactfully answers why you want to be a nurse can make the difference between acceptance or rejection. It’s your one shot to convince an admission committee who you are, what fuels you, and why you’re meant to be a nurse. Because an admissions committee can read thousands of these essays, making yours stand out in clear, authentic and compelling ways is essential. 

A winning essay showcases your passion for nursing as your why, highlights your unique experiences, and nails why you’re the right fit for their program. To help you write just such an essay, we’ve put together 8 essential strategies (plus a bonus!) to guide you through how to write a winning “why I want to be a nurse” essay. 

Follow these practical strategies and you’ll sharpen your advantage – it may even make the difference in getting accepted at your reach school. So let’s take a deep breath, embrace your journey and, with our guide, write with nursing confidence!  

1. Understand and Follow the Guidelines

The first step to a successful essay is reading the essay prompt carefully and ensuring you answer it according to the specific guidelines provided by the nursing school. Be mindful of the word count limit, formatting requirements, and any main themes that they request you to address. This will keep you from going off-topic or rambling, which could hurt your admission chances. 

Admissions committees look for well-structured, thoughtful responses so do give yourself the opportunity to fully explore why you want to be a nurse and what makes you a great fit for the program. If the essay prompt asks you to discuss your motivations, experiences and future goals, ensure you address all three. This shows you can follow instructions, a critical skill for future nurses.  

2. Start with a Personal Story or Hook

Having the ability to share your nursing “why” in a unique and powerful way is crucial to a winning essay submission. From the first lines of your essay, draw the reader in with a hook or personal story that is attention-grabbing and invites the committee to want to read more about you. Begin with a powerful personal story, an unforgettable anecdote that inspired your journey, or a compelling statement about why you want to be a nurse. 

Whatever your why, make it personal, impactful and authentic. Avoid statements like “I’ve always wanted to help people,” but make sure you show in clear and convincing ways that they can’t do without you as a nurse. Keep your introduction concise but meaningful so you set the stage for your broader essay. By voicing your truth from the get-go, you’ll go a long way in making an unforgettable first impression.   

3. Clearly Express Your Passion for Nursing

Your passion for nursing is the beating heart of your admission essay. The committee wants to hear from you in a convincing manner what motivates you to become a nurse. Leave the practical reasons like job stability or a good salary by the wayside and zero in on why you want to commit your life to this calling. What about nursing drives you? Is it the opportunity to advocate for patients in their time of need? Is it the ability to make a profound impact as a caregiver every day? 

Dive deep and you’ll discover that this is not just a job but a life calling that beckons. Showcase your wholehearted empathy, dedication and commitment to quality patient care and you’ll catch the admissions committee’s eye. And make sure you hone in on why nursing is your career vocation specifically, and not just general healthcare. 

Remember to use personal experiences to vividly illustrate your passions about how nursing is the natural choice given your life happenings and choices. A solid, strong and heartfelt expression of your why will leave a lasting impression on the committee and go a long way in advocating for your admission.  

4. Highlight Relevant Skills and Experiences

Your essay should go beyond sharing your story of what drives you to nursing as a passion. It should clearly and convincingly explain all reasons why you have the skills and experience to confidently answer the call. In doing so, consider moments in your life where you acted with qualities becoming a nurse. These could include empathy, resilience, teamwork and problem-solving. 

If you’ve ever cared for a sick loved one, volunteered in a hospital or worked in a healthcare setting, these can all showcase your readiness for a nursing career. Even if you haven’t strictly worked in healthcare, your customer service experience or tutoring job can highlight transferable skills like patience, communication and critical thinking, all valuable to nursing. 

Did a particular interaction reinforce your ability to stay calm under fire? Did an experience transform your heart for empathy? Remembering those small and big moments will help the admission committee make a more informed call for whether you would be a good fit for their nursing program.      

5. Research and Personalize for Each School

In order to best determine if you’re the right fit for their school, the committee needs to hear from you why you’re interested in them specifically. Take the time needed to fully research what appeals to you in their program and explain it clearly and convincingly. What unique aspects of the curriculum, their values, clinical training or faculty members make this school the right one for you? 

In doing this, you can give them the confidence you have that you definitely belong there. Whether it’s an emphasis on hands-on learning or leadership opportunities, cherry-pick what especially aligns and resonates about their program for you and why. Remember to go the distance with making a genuine connection with the school and avoid vague flattery. Give them as many reasons to choose you as you did them! 

6. End With Confidence and Vision

Your conclusion is your last bite at the apple – so make it delicious! Leaving a lasting, confident impression rather than simply summarizing all the reasons you’ve stated can go a long way to doing just that. Show your intention for how you want to make a strong impact in patient healthcare. What kind of nurse do you hope to be? How do you see yourself making an impact on patients’ lives in 5 or 10 years? 

Whether you want to work in pediatrics or take a leadership role, express your long-term vision with clarity and purpose. Make your closing statement as compelling as your hook so you can savor a drop-the-mic moment when all is said and done! 

7. Edit and Proofread for Clarity and Impact

Congratulations – you’ve done it! You’ve written your passions, your experiences and your truth about what makes you the best pick for the admission committee to select. Take a few days away from the essay grind to refresh your perspective on the process. Read your essay aloud to ensure smooth flow and logic. 

Check for clarity – are your themes easy to follow? Is there a logical progression of thought as an essay throughline? Keep an eye out for grammar mistakes, syntax and awkward phrasing. Taking the time to refine your essay can make the difference for a standout submission.

8. Get Feedback from a Trusted Reader

Ask a trusted friend, mentor or teacher to provide honest and critical feedback about where you’ve come with your “why I want to be a nurse” essay. A fresh pair of eyes can catch missed opportunities to strengthen the piece and ways you might say your points more impactfully. 

Ask your reviewer to focus on both what you say and how you say it – on both the content and clarity of your writing. Does your essay authentically, vividly and impactfully reflect your lived life experiences? Are your arguments well-structured and compelling? Be open to candid and constructive feedback and be ready to make improvements based on that. 

9. Bonus Strategy: Show, Don’t Just Tell!

Admission committees are looking out for how you already have the skills, qualities and life experiences of becoming a good nurse. So the best way to say this is to show it rather than saying you’re compassionate, responsible and eager. Prove it in your essay through real-life examples that put these qualities on full display. 

How has helping a sick loved one heal make you a better caregiver? Did you remain calm and resourceful during such challenging times? How so? What skills, resources and characteristics did you summon to get you and others through adverse times? Admission committees find that when you show your promise for nursing in these ways, your candidacy becomes that much more credible. Believe in yourself and your nursing dreams and others are sure to follow suit!

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