When and How to Send a Follow-Up Letter After a Nursing Interview

A nursing interview is a critical part of the hiring process and doing well can make or break your chances of landing the job. To put yourself a step above the competition — and to let your potential employer know how much you want the position — it’s essential to follow-up with a thank you letter in the right way.

Below you’ll find guidance on when and how to reach out after your nursing interview.

Send a thank you note right away

The art of the thank you letter has become somewhat lost, so remembering this step could impress a hiring manager. You can send a post-nursing interview thank you email or a handwritten letter.

“Very few job candidates follow-up after an interview,” one clinical nurse manager in Charleston, S.C., told us. “An email is good, but a written note is, of course, better. It tells me the candidate is sincere about wanting the position and it makes a good impression.”

Send a written letter or email the day of the interview or one day after to follow up on the interview.

Do not wait too long, because there may be a long line of other candidates, and you want your interview fresh in the employer’s mind when they receive your letter.

Here’s what to include when writing your nursing interview thank you letter:

• Address the note directly to the people who interviewed you, making sure to spell names correctly and not leave anyone out.
• Note highlights from your interview, such as any of your qualities or experiences that seemed to impress the hiring managers.
• Mention any specifics the employers brought up about the organization or position, like qualities they are looking for and how you can meet their needs.
• Emphasize your work ethic and desire for the position.
• Thank them for the time they have taken to consider you for the position.
• Remember to sign your name and include your contact information.

Sample nursing interview thank you letter

Here’s a sample thank you note to give you some inspiration:

June 28, 2019

Mary Smith, MSN, RN
Clinical Nurse Manager
Children’s Hospital
1234 Main Street
Columbia, SC 12345

Dear Ms. Smith,

I am writing to thank you, as well as Dr. Jones, Ms. Green and Ms. Williams, for taking the time to interview me yesterday. It was a pleasure meeting all of you, and I really appreciate the opportunity to be considered for the position of a full-time staff nurse in your NICU. 

As we discussed yesterday, I have seven years of NICU experience, and I can appreciate your state-of-the-art facility and the level of care you can provide for your patients. Having worked in other teaching hospitals, I understand and welcome the opportunity to work with others in training. 

I could clearly see that you all care deeply for your staff and patients. If selected, I would be especially interested in serving on one of the various committees you mentioned, such as the Recruitment and Retention Committee. I believe it is important to get involved beyond just showing up for your shift. 

I believe that I would be an excellent fit for this position as I continue my career as a NICU nurse. I am passionate, hardworking and dependable, and I would welcome the opportunity to work with you all. Again, thank you so much for your time and consideration. 

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best Regards,

Your Name, BSN, RN
yourname@email.com
(555) 555-1234

Follow-up after the thank you note

During your interview, the hiring manager may give you insight into the hiring timeline for the position. (If they don’t mention it, ask when they intend to make the decision.) If you don’t hear back within a week or two, sending a follow-up email after your nursing interview is an appropriate way to check in on their timeline. Keep the correspondence short and courteous. Even if you don’t get this position, making a good impression may keep you in the running for a future role.

Get back in the game

It can be frustrating to have a great interview, send a thoughtful thank you note, and then hear nothing. While it’s good to check in on the position with the recruiter or hiring manager periodically (every couple of weeks), applying for other jobs at different organizations can take some of the pressure off.

Not getting the interviews you want? Check our Resume Builder and Cover Letter Builder to improve your application materials for the next job. Our builders lead you through the process of writing your resume and cover letter step-by-step, with expert-written advice and pre-defined templates. Not only will they attract the interest of hiring managers, they’ll make writing a breeze.