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Written by Sarah Hastings-Woodhouse

This is an example personal statement for a Masters degree application in Nursing. See our guide for advice on writing your own postgraduate personal statement .

As a qualified nurse with over three years’ professional experience, I was immediately drawn to your MSc in Advanced Nursing, as I believe it will not only enable me to enhance my own clinical practice, but also to acquire the skills necessary to improve patient care on a wider scale.

I graduated with my Bachelors in Adult Nursing in 2018, and quickly secured a role as a Practice Nurse at a GP surgery. I very much enjoyed delivering care in a community setting and developed a deep interest in the long-term management of chronic conditions.

This course’s optional module in diabetes prevention and care particularly sparked my interest – having witnessed the impact of diabetes on countless patients and their families, I would be especially eager to develop and understanding of how it can be better managed, both at level of individual practice in and in terms of wider health policy frameworks.

I believe that my willingness to meet the challenges posed by Covid-19 has demonstrated that I am well-placed to train for a more senior role in my field. Over the past two years, I have been keen to deploy my skills at the frontline of our battle against the virus. In April 2020, was among the first health professionals in my trust to staff the newly-constructed Nightingale Hospital at London’s ExCel centre, where I would later deliver vaccinations to hundreds of people in early 2021. That summer, I decided to join my local Rapid Response and Treatment Team, where I responded to urgent referrals for seriously ill care home residents and helped to create treatment plans that would prevent hospital admission.

Since 2020, then, I have demonstrated my versatility by working in primary, secondary and social care settings. I have an in-depth understanding of how various branches of the NHS interact, which I believe would be invaluable when studying Nursing at Masters level.

Working as a registered nurse throughout the coronavirus pandemic has solidified my resolve to advance in a field that showcases the best of human resilience and compassion. However, it has also made clear to me an ever-growing need for structural change within the healthcare sector. For this reason, I was particularly drawn to the opportunities within this course to develop my management and leadership skills. I believe this will equip me with the skills needed to instate positive change and improve patient care at both an organisation and regional level.

Find a Masters in Nursing

If you're interested in a studying Nursing, then why don't you check out our regularly updated catalogue of available Nursing Masters courses .

personal statement for msc nursing

View an example personal statement for a Masters degree application in Public Health.

personal statement for msc nursing

Find out what skills and jobs you could get with a Masters in Public Health, as well as average salaries.

personal statement for msc nursing

Find out what kind of skills you could gain with a Masters in Nursing, what jobs you get and industry average salaries.

personal statement for msc nursing

If you're studying a Masters in Nursing, Midwifery or an allied health profession, you may be eligible for an NHS grant worth up to £8,000 a year.

personal statement for msc nursing

There is a variety of NHS funded courses, from Social Work and graduate entry Medicine / Dentistry to Nursing and Midwifery.

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Nursing Personal Statement Examples

personal statement for msc nursing

Our nursing UCAS personal statements below, and top rated statements , should inspire you to write your own unique statement, and help you understand how students have successfully applied for a nursing degree in the past.

What else can I find on this page?

What is a nursing personal statement?

How do i become a nurse, how do i write a nursing personal statement for university, how do i structure my nursing personal statement, what should i include in my nursing personal statement.

Related resources

Nursing university interview questions.

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Writing A Nursing Personal Statement

personal statement for msc nursing

RCN Nursing Careers

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National Careers Service: Nursing

personal statement for msc nursing

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personal statement for msc nursing

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personal statement for msc nursing

Your nursing personal statement should tell the universities you are applying to all about your strengths and where you see yourself in the future as a nurse.

It should give nursing admissions tutors a good picture of who you are and why you would make a valuable candidate for their course.

If you are applying for a job as a nurse , it's possible you’ll need to provide a nursing personal statement for this, too.

To show that you’ve met the minimum requirements for promotion, you may need to write a band 6 or 7 nursing personal statement.

This piece of writing tells an employer all about your hands-on patient contact experience and why you are a good fit for the job.

Most people become a nurse by applying to study for a degree at university.

However, there are alternative routes available, such as Nursing Degree Apprenticeships , and starting out as an Associate Nurse .

You will also need to hold the correct entry requirements to secure a place on a degree course, and will also be expected to have some level of work experience.

Take a look at our blog post for more in-depth information on how to become a nurse .

If you're applying for a nursing degree to set youself on a nursing career path, we always recommend starting your personal statement by brainstorming ideas. Your notes should cover the following:

as well as anything else you can think of.

Take a look through our nursing personal statement examples above to give yourself an idea of what a successful nursing statement looks like.

Once you have put together an initial draft, it's a good idea to ask for feedback from family, friends and tutors. They will be able to look at your statement objectively and suggest ways it could be improved.

Incorporate their comments, and ask for further feedback. Don't worry if you have to do this three or four times - it's important you get your statement as perfect as possible before sending it off on your UCAS form.

Your nursing personal statement should be structured with a clear beginning, middle and end, with the opening telling an anecdote or explaining why you are passionate about nursing.

The middle should generally focus on your work experience and current/past academic studies, and how these have helped you to develop skills that are useful and relevant to a career in nursing.

For example, you might talk about how your experience working in a care home helped you build and offer empathy to elderly people.

You should then write a memorable conclusion that mentions your plans for the future, and how you hope your nursing degree will help you achieve these.

For more help and advice on what to write in your nursing personal statement, please see:

How do I write an introduction to my nursing personal statement?

Like with any type of personal statement for university, we recommend you open with a paragraph on what you enjoy most about nursing, and why you want to study it at university. Again, an anecdote that inspired you to learn more about nursing will work well here, as long as you have a relevant story to tell.

For example, this applicant chose to talk about how their mother's illness inspired them to go into nursing:

"There has been many occasions during my life that I have spent hours sitting at a hospital bedside.

My mother battled a long term illness and as I sat with her trying to keep her spirits up, the Nurses who cared for her always drew my admiration. I feel there are a handful of truly inspirational professions and Nursing is without doubt one of them.

Along with doctors and other medical staff, nurses provide an invaluable service to society and to be part of that group has long been an ambition of mine."

Another applicant chose to talk about how their experience with mental health services as a teenager made them want to help others and make a difference in the world as an adult:

"I have wanted to work in Mental Health since I was 15 years old. When in crisis, I received a level of care which changed my life and I aspire to do the same for others. I also received care that was detrimental at times so I want to be a part of making a difference. I have seen a wide range of nursing approaches and I have learnt so much from my colleagues since working within the NHS, I now know what kind of nurse I want to be when I complete my training."

However you choose to open your nursing personal statement, make sure it's engaging and explains why you want to pursue nursing at degree level. You can see more examples of introductions over at our nursing personal statements section.

How do I write a conclusion for my nursing personal statement?

Try to round off your nursing personal statement with something memorable. This often includes talking about your extracurricular activities, hobbies and/or your ambitions for the future. For example:

" I am confident in my ability to communicate with people from any cultural background and an example of this would be during my time volunteering in a dog sanctuary in Paraguay. This was difficult due to the language barrier, and a virus outbreak between the dogs. I had to organize my time efficiently, an important skill for a nurse, communicate with vets and host families, in often very distressing times.

I acted effectively, thinking on my feet, all whilst remaining calm and treating the animals with compassion. This was a very challenging time for me but it was also very rewarding. I feel a career as a nurse, whilst challenging at times would also be very rewarding, educational, and encourage personal growth."

This applicant demonstrates that as well as communicating what you do currently, or have done in the past, it's also a good idea to try to include how these experiences have helped to shape you as a person, and how they make you a better candidate for a nursing course.

For more inspiration on how to write your conclusion, please see our nursing personal statement examples section.

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My Personal Statement to Join Masters’ Degree Program in Nursing

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personal statement for msc nursing

Nursing School Personal Statement Examples: Best in

Read our top 3 sample statements.

Nursing School Personal Statement

These outstanding nursing school personal statement examples have been approved by our admission experts who have helped countless students get into their top choice nursing programs. 

Whether you are at the beginning stages of a nursing career looking to apply to nursing school or wanting to further your career by becoming a nurse practitioner or a clinical nurse specialist, you will probably have to write a nursing school personal statement to gain admission to your program of choice. Although personal essays may or may not be required, and this will ultimately depend on the program, applying to nursing school is an important endeavor, and your personal statement deserves great attention.

In this blog, we are going to guide you in the process of crafting a strong personal statement that highlights your skills as well as the characteristics you possess that make you a good fit for the program.

Note : If you want us to help you with your applications, interviews and/or standardized tests, book a free strategy call . If you are a university, business, or student organization representative and want to partner with us, visit our partnerships page .

Article Contents 23 min read

Nursing school personal statement examples.

I stood there not knowing what to do and being completely sure I had made the biggest mistake of my life. My decision to travel to a remote area of the Amazon jungle in Colombia to work as an elementary school tutor felt like the right one at first, but as soon as I got there, I regretted it. Being faced with the harsh reality of a struggling community made me feel completely out of place. It was heart breaking to witness such a palpable scarcity of resources and realize that there was not much that I could do. It took a lot of determination and adaptability to overcome the shock. Eventually, I learned to navigate this new world and embrace my role in the community. I planned lessons for the children and used all my free time to teach their parents to read and write. I developed teaching materials adapting them to my students’ context in order to make them meaningful. In the end, I realized I had become part of their lives, and I was humbled to have met such an amazing group of people. This experience taught me the true meaning of altruism and the value of hard work. This, alongside the cultural sensitivity that I developed, is what I am bringing with me to this new step in mi life.

Becoming a nurse has been my goal for a long time. As a child, due to an unfortunate kitchen accident, I burned my arms with hot water and had to stay in the hospital for serval days. I remember being very scared and in pain, but there was a lady in a white uniform who would come to visit me every afternoon. I always enjoyed seeing her because she spoke to me in a way that almost seemed like she was telling me a story, and that put me at ease. One day, I asked her why she always wore white, and she said she was a nurse. ‘A nurse’, I said to myself, thinking that was exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. She was kind and compassionate, and she knew how to explain things. Those traits that I learned from her are the same skills that I have been honing ever since, as I know they will be essential in my future profession.

I could see my breath crystalize in the air as I exhaled, dribbling and dodging the opposing players on my way to the goal. “I’m open,” shouted my teammate, poised right in front of the penalty box, waving his arms. Two more players stood between me and the goal. I hesitated, wondering if I should trust my teammate or try to score the winning point. Turning, I launched the ball into the air with a swift kick, and watched nervously as my teammate stopped it and sent it soaring above the goalie’s head. As the crowd erupted in celebratory cheers, the game time buzzer rang out across the field and I knew I had done the right thing. Every team victory that season was a personal victory, sparking a feeling of elation that I seek to replicate as a member of whichever health care team I have the privilege of joining.

My biggest soccer fan was always my grandmother, who even brought orange slices for the team to practices, claiming, “The little things are the most important!” Several winters ago, my grandmother unknowingly exposed me to nursing when was hospitalized with pneumonia so severe that we were unsure if she would survive. Though her whole care team was dedicated, her nurse Jackie always went above and beyond to make sure my grandmother was comfortable and happy. Every day, Jackie would pop her head into the room and say “How’s my girl today?” or stop what she was doing to run a cool cloth over my grandmother’s feverish forehead. Each time I had to leave the hospital was gut-wrenching, but I felt better knowing that nurse Jackie treated my grandmother with such empathy. I remember being in awe of her kindness when I found out she left my grandmother sticky notes filled with encouraging messages while she was sleeping. When my grandmother asked her why she spent so much time on such little things when she had so many patients to attend to, Jackie winked and whispered, “The little things are the most important!” While I did not know I wanted to be a nurse in that moment, observing the profound impact Jackie made on my grandmother sparked a strong desire to explore the medical field.

Inspired by Jackie’s compassion for patients like my grandmother, I aimed to make the same difference when I signed up to volunteer at Riverview Hospital. With lofty goals of becoming a physician, I threw myself into my volunteering efforts, often coming in early or staying late to help stock supplies. Whenever I had a spare moment, I would chat with a patient, rearrange their pillows, or a myriad of other small things. One of the most striking aspects of my volunteering experience was how little time Riverview doctors were able to spend with their patients due to the sheer number of people to whom they had to attend. Nurses, on the other hand, had near constant interaction with longer-term patients: assisting them to the bathroom, administering medications, or changing IV fluid bags while chatting with them about how they were feeling. I was reminded of Jackie when I watched how tenderly one of the nurses changed their wincing patient’s bandages, all while trying to distract them with friendly conversation. Even aside from the comforting gestures I witnessed so frequently, it was the little things that made such a huge difference in patients’ wellbeing. Without nurses there to help execute the game play, the team would never score! Always a team-player, I knew I wanted to be a nurse.

Though my time spent on the soccer field is less and less these days, I am thrilled about the possibility of joining a new team and working hard to bring us to victory. My introduction to nursing through nurse Jackie could not have been better. Seeing the relief she brought to my grandmother in her most vulnerable state inspired me to do the same for others. Watching the nurses at Riverview Hospital expertly fulfill their duties while treating each patient as an individual cemented my desire to become a nurse who remembers that the little things are the most important. I want to be there with the assist right before the buzzer, helping my patients win, because every victory on a care team will be personal. (Word count: 719)

“Help!” my friend Jack screamed as his faced swelled up due to an extreme allergic reaction to a candy bar he had just eaten. At the time, I did not know what to do, except to call for an ambulance. As we arrived at the hospital, I stayed by my friend’s side to offer my support. I saw the physicians and nurses swarmed around him, ready to take action. After my friend’s condition had been stabilized, he was left with the fear of another anaphylactic episode. It was his nurse that was able to calm his fears as she educated him on anaphylaxis and how to make the appropriate dietary changes. While I did not know how to respond with medical attention when my friend needed me, I gained a new purpose. I was inspired to become a nurse and to guide patients in times of uncertainty through compassion and education.  

The process of creating a strong personal statement starts even before you begin writing. There is a certain amount of preparation that should take place to identify the specific information you want to include in your essay. So, make sure you take all the necessary steps before you are faced with the daunting, but fun, task of writing your first draft. Remember to give yourself between 6 to 8 weeks to write your statement. Be prepared to write several drafts as you edit and change your essay!

The first step is what we call the brainstorming stage. You will need to do some soul searching and write many ideas as they come to you. Working on this step can take you anywhere between a couple of hours to a whole week. It really depends on you and how much you can actually remember from your personal history. There are two types of information that you will need to brainstorm at this stage: 

The first one is going to come from you, from your memories, and from your background, while the second one is going to come from the programs you are interested in. Here, we discuss each one in detail:

1. Personal information : The goal behind this step is to start gathering information about your personal story and about any experiences that you have had from which you learned something valuable. The idea is to consider all those events in your life that may have contributed to your decision to apply to nursing school. In order to do this, think about your life as a child, the characteristics of the place where you were born and raised, any meaningful experiences that may have sparked your interest in the nursing field, any contact that you had with the healthcare world, or any healthcare workers in your family that had some influence on you. Then consider your high school and teenage years and any events that may have increased your interest in becoming a nurse. How did you finalize your decision to apply to nursing school? Did you have an ‘a-ha’ moment, or was it a more gradual process? Whatever the answers to these questions may be, be sure to identify these key moments because they will be useful for addressing the thesis of your essay, which is why you decided to devote your life to a career in nursing.

Tip : Look at these examples of meaningful experiences that can potentially spark, or validate, an individual’s interest to become a nurse: being raised in a rural area with limited access to health care and wanting to do something about it in the future, growing up in an urban setting where great social disparity is evident and identifying opportunities to contribute to levelling up these differences, going through a personal injury or diagnosis that created opportunities to interact with nurses in a clinical setting, going through the illness of a loved one and seeing the impact that nurses have on a patient’s journey, volunteering at something related to the health sciences or an unrelated field with plenty of opportunities for helping others and interacting with them, conducting research in something related to the field, being involved in extracurricular activities that can lead to reaching a high level of compassion or maturity, and so on.

As previously mentioned, the main goal of the brainstorming stage is to identify your reason for wanting to become a nurse as well as the relevant personal experiences that you can reference to support this decision. We suggest you make a list of five to seven experiences that you could potentially include in your essay. This list is going to be significantly reduced later one, but it is good to have a good amount to start with. As soon as you identify these meaningful experiences, be sure to also identify what you learned from them; that is, the skills you developed, the characteristics you refined, or any learning that resulted from going through these events in your life. Think about this carefully and select those skills that align with the ones your program of choice values. The information collected here is going to be essential later on when you start writing your essay.

Tip : Look at these skills that are essential in the nursing field, and which you have probably developed throughout your life, and see which ones you can directly connect to your personal experiences🡪 Resilience, dedication, passion, emotional connection, motivation and drive, collaboration, teamwork, perseverance, sense of social responsibility, empathy, time management, organizational skills, value of emotional well-being, etc.

Like any other type of personal statement, your nursing school statement is an academic paper and, as such, it should follow the same guidelines as any academic essay. Here are some aspects to be considered:

1. Spelling and grammar : It might feel like we are stating the obvious, but your essay should be impeccably well-written. This does not mean using elaborate and sophisticated language but ensuring that there are no typos, grammatical errors, or spelling issues of any kind. These errors take away from the quality and professionalism that you want to convey, so be sure to pay attention to potential issues. In order to minimize them, you will need to read and proofread your essay several times. Of course, the more you read it the more sense it is going to make to you, but this does not necessarily mean that everything is in order. It just means that, after you have worked on it for several hours, you will have to let it rest for a couple of days before reading it again. Another good strategy is reading it out loud or reading it to someone else. This will help you identify errors, incoherencies, or elements that detract from your narrative.

2. Length : It is up to each program to determine the word limit they require from applicants. This information is available on the programs’ websites and will probably be given to you as part of your application package. 

Tip : As each school’s requirements and application process varies, it is advisable to look for more information regarding the profession and latest topics and trends on the Canadian Nurses Association, the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, or The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) (in the US).

In terms of length, it is very important that you stay within the limit because this shows, not only that you can be concise, but also that you can follow directions. If, after completing your first draft, you realize that you are over the limit, you will need to address this issue before moving on to drafting the second version. In order to do so, you can see what information is not serving a purpose and could be deleted without affecting the narrative that you have created. As writers, we tend to believe that everything on our essays is absolutely essential but, when faced with word limit issues, we soon discover that there is, in fact, some information that can be left out after all. That being said, it is important to be mindful of the limit since the moment you start writing. This is because you want to avoid having to reduce your essay excessively at later stages, as deleting too much information here and there will negatively impact the cohesiveness of your text.

3. Content : Besides all the information that you brainstormed from your own personal history and from the programs’ websites regarding the areas that interest you, there is something else that should be part of the content of your essay, and that is, the prompt. You need to be aware of the prompt of the essay provided to you by the program, and you always want to address it. Some programs will ask for a general essay describing your motivations to become a nurse, in which case the information you gathered during the brainstorming stage will suffice, while others will give you a specific question to answer, in which case one paragraph of your essay should be devoted to answering said question. 

Tip : To get an idea of the kinds of questions programs may ask you to answer in your personal essay, check some examples of nursing school interview questions:

4. The structure : Like any other academic essay, your nursing school personal statement should follow an academic structure and be organized in three major sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. See below for information on what each of these sections should include:

a. Introduction: This is your opening paragraph and, as such, it is the first impression you are going to cause on your readers; that is, the members of the admission committee. Important to remember here is the fact that an introduction can make or break your essay, so you need to come up with a very good one. The purpose of an introduction is to act as a road map that allows the reader to understand where your story is going. That being said, the most important part of your introduction is the opening sentence. This is the one that will draw the reader in and make them want to keep reading. Your opening sentence can be a quote, an anecdote, an event, or any idea that is captivating and enticing. See these examples: ‘It was three in the morning, and I was sitting in an empty room trying to think how my life had come to this’ or ‘He did not need to say anything; I knew something was wrong just by looking at him’. Sentences such as these ones will leave the reader wanting to know more. There is a reason opening sentences are also called ‘hook’ sentences. Can you think of a good hook sentence to open your essay with? 

b. Body: The body of your essay is where you elaborate on the introduction by providing personal examples. Remember all the brainstorming we asked you to do? This is where that information comes in handy. Your body paragraphs should include information about those meaningful experiences that you have gone through that have sparked and solidified you interest in pursuing a career in nursing. Depending on the word limit required by your program, you will decide how many of these experiences to include. We asked you to come up with five to seven during the brainstorming stage of the writing process. Now, since our recommendation is quality over quantity, you should plan to include maximum two or three experiences and present one experience in each paragraph. Of course, one experience per paragraph is not all it takes. Besides presenting the experience, you need to include what skills or characteristics you developed because of this event and how you will be able to apply these skills moving forward in your nursing profession. In case the program provided a specific question or prompt to be addressed, add a fourth paragraph where you answer this question. It is important to tell the program what they want to know, so do not forget to include this information as part of your body paragraphs.

Tip : Mention how your skills can be drawn upon in the future in order to give the admissions committee a glimpse of the type of nurse and professional you are going to be. Remember some of the essential skills in the nursing profession that we mentioned above and see how they connect to your past experiences. 

c. Conclusion: The same way we place great importance on the introduction of a personal essay, we also want to emphasize the big role that your concluding paragraph has on your text as a whole. The most important thing we can tell you is that a conclusion should not be a summary. It should, instead, be a place to emphasize some of the major ideas you previously discussed and, when possible, it should circle back to the introduction. Conclusions have to be insightful and captivating. They should convey a sense of closure and an invitation to keep reflecting on the ideas that were presented in the essay. Think that this is the very last thing that the admissions committee will read from you. What is the last impression that you want to leave on these people? Be creative! 

There is an unquestionable reality that we need to accept. No matter how much effort and time you put in writing your personal statement, there is a high probability that the committee members will not spend too much time reading it. Do not take this personally. They go through many application documents from many applicants like you and do not want to waste too much time reading one single essay, especially if it is not interesting enough. They want, instead, to be able to identify in a few minutes whether you are the person they are looking for. This, of course, creates the need for applicants to write essays that have great content, great structure, and that have that ‘it’ factor that will make them stand out from the crowd. Your essay should be easy to read and have a great narrative. It should not read like a CV or list every single experience you have had in chronological order. As we mentioned before, quality is better than quantity, and your nursing school personal essay should have precisely that: quality.

In terms of the order in which you should write your essay, we suggest you work on your body paragraphs first and then move on to working on the introduction and conclusion. As we mentioned above, your body paragraphs should include meaningful experiences from your life as well as any major takeaways from them and how you see yourself applying this learning in your future career as a nurse. Additionally, there should be a section of your essay where you answer any specific question provided by the program. In general, you want to make your body paragraphs memorable. Address one experience in each paragraph and be sure to create proper transitions in order to bring cohesion to your whole personal statement. If you do not know what transitions to use, you can always look for lists of connectors online to help you. 

What experiences should end up in your body paragraphs? That is up to you. What we can suggest is that you diversify the content by highlighting experiences from different dimensions of your life. Having one of the paragraphs address a personal experience, the second address a research or academic experience, and the third address a volunteering or extracurricular activity is much better than including three experiences related to only research, for instance. Be strategic in how you showcase your skills!

Follow these steps to start drafting you essay: 

Ok, so you finished writing your first draft. Good job! However, this is only the beginning. Once you are happy with your first draft, you will need to receive expert feedback on it. Having a professional look at your essay and suggest changes to enhance what you have written is vital to create a strong product. You will see that, more often than not, these experts will be able to identify weak areas and ineffective ideas that you will not perceive. Once someone else looks at your essay, be sure to incorporate their suggestions, work on editing and polishing up your document, and do another revision. Crafting the perfect essay that will grant you admission to your dream program is a process that should be done carefully and conscientiously. That means multiple revisions and edits are essential. In general, writing a strong competitive essay does not happen overnight. The whole process can take several weeks. So, be prepared to put in the effort and remember to do some happy writing!

When applying to nursing school, sometimes you will need to write a personal essay. This academic essay should highlight some of your most meaningful personal experiences and the skills you gained through them. It should provide a good narrative that will help the admissions committee know more about you as a person and about your chance to be successful in their program. By showing that you possess certain skills that are important in the nursing profession, the committee members will see that you are a good fit. Writing your personal essay is not an easy task and should not be taken lightly, but when you finally finish writing and look at the amazing essay you have created, you will feel satisfied with the job you did and will be able to show your program of choice why they need to have you.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Essays may or may not be required, depending on the program. You can check this portal and this portal to learn more.

No. There are a few steps that you wan to follow before you actually start writing. One of those is the brainstorming stage, and it will help you come up with all the ideas and information that you will need to write a good essay.

Personal information and information about the program or the areas that interest you.

Personal experiences that have been meaningful enough and that have allowed you to develop different skills that are important in the nursing field.

You need to identify the two or three areas of the program that attract you the most and see how those relate to your own experiences.

To identify the reasons that have led you to pursue a career in nursing.

It should have an academic structure and include an introduction, three or four body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Yes, it is! You need to stay within the limit in order to show that you can be concise and also follow instructions.

Then you make sure you address it. Do not leave this information out, as it is essential to provide the program with the information they want to know.

Because it is the first impression that you are going to have on your readers.

It should begin with a captivating opening sentence in the introduction. A statement, quote, or anecdote that is creative and that sparks curiosity on the reader.

You want to describe one meaningful experience per paragraph (i.e., personal example), include the main takeaways from this experience, and how this learning can be applied in the future.

You need to have an expert give you feedback on it. You may think it is already perfect, but personal essays usually require lots of revisions before they can be at the competitive stage.

It depends on the writer, but it is usually something that does not happen overnight. It usually takes several weeks. It depends on how much access you have to professionals who can provide good feedback and how much time you devote to incorporating their suggestions.

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Tips for Writing a Great Nursing Personal Statement

When preparing to apply to a graduate nursing program, there are many requirements and submission guidelines to remember. The component that allows you to tell your unique story — your personal statement — is one of the most important.

Writing a compelling personal statement for an MSN program, like the [email protected] online  Family Nurse Practitioner  (FNP)  or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs, takes time and can be challenging for some applicants. Just as a poorly written essay can hinder your chances of acceptance, a great one can set you apart from other applicants. Below are three steps to writing a personal statement that will make a positive impression on any admissions committee.

personal statement for msc nursing

1. Plan Your Story

Very few people can sit down at a keyboard and craft the perfect personal statement without preparation. It may take several weeks of thinking about how to communicate your story, so give yourself plenty of time to plan, jot down thoughts, and make an outline as ideas come to you. Use the following tips to gather the information you’ll need to create an excellent statement.

personal statement for msc nursing

2. Create Your Draft

“I perform well under pressure.”

“Although my patient arrived for a different ailment, I suspected that her symptoms were consistent with a serious infection. As a result, I was able to advocate for a care plan that prevented further damage.”

personal statement for msc nursing

3. Edit and Perfect

Even the best writers have to edit and polish their work. Reviewing and revising your personal statement ensures that the piece is clear, organized, and free of errors.

Your nursing personal statement should be a window into your life. Use it to share specific experiences that have influenced your decision to advance your nursing education. Adhering to professional standards and presenting yourself in a positive, open, and honest way will help the admissions committee determine your fit and future in an FNP or PMHNP program.

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Samples of my work on behalf of applicants to masters degree programs in nursing.

FNP, Applicant with Psychology and Neuroscience Background

personal statement for msc nursing

I currently hold 3 professional positions, as Project Coordinator for the Center for Advancement of Youth, Department of Pediatrics, at the University of XXXX Medical Center in XXXX; Clinical Research Coordinator at the Children’s Cancer Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, also at the University of XXXX Medical Center in XXXX; and I also serve as an Associate Literary Researcher for Medtox Consulting Services in XXXX, MS. Becoming an FNP at XXXX will enable and inspire to continue to do what I do now, only to do it better, gradually assuming greater levels of professional responsibility and putting my leadership skills to good use. First and foremost, I am dedicated to a professional lifetime devoted to clinical research. I spend a lot of time thinking, reflecting, and studying the literature that already exists on the intersection of disability and gender; and the special challenges faced by girls in particular, as children and as adolescents. I have myself spent considerable amounts of time in a wheelchair and have become a master of the apparatus and how to make it work best for the individualized needs of girls in particular, and the strategies that work best for overcoming the limitations of the wheelchair.

A million lights lit up my heart and soul during my medical mentorship at XXXX Children’s Hospital, Mississippi’s only pediatric palliative care program, where I gained significant experience with research, learning how to accurately analyze and synthesize practical concepts for the creation of new ideas with the potential to enhance the freedom - spiritual, psychological, and physical - of children that are wheelchair bound. Throughout my mentorship, I learned firsthand how difficult, frustrating and expensive the nursing process can be, yet also incredibly fascinating, beautiful, vital, and central to what it is that most makes us human. The scariest period in my life was in elementary school, as I struggled to figure out what it meant that I “had a rare genetic disorder” and struggling thereafter to deal with the consequences, mitigate the damage, channeling my limited energy and resources in productive ways. My sister had the same disorder, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. But, while she was quiet and reserved, I was loud and outgoing. I couldn’t understand how two people who were so different could have the same disorder. As I began researching the disorder in high school, I grew increasingly intrigued on an intellectual as well as personal level. There seemed to be so much new and exciting research going on, but there were so many questions left unanswered. Throughout college, I wrote papers on genetic disorders for several undergraduate classes and since that time I have never failed to stay abreast of much of the literature on genetic disorders resulting in disabilities of one form or another, especially as they impact adolescent girls. Fully immersed in my studies, learning the basic science that I needed to understand what had happened to me from a scientific perspective, I did not set my sights on a career in nursing until I was mid-way through my graduate studies at Harvard in Psychology, as a result of my realization that I wanted very much to focus the balance of my professional life on nursing. I see my training in psychology as excellent preparation for a distinguished career in Nursing.

I look forward to many decades to come working with and studying those who experience chronic pain or transition from acute to chronic pain as a result of a disability and/or genetic disorder. Pain is known to be correlated with mental health disorders, so teaching an adolescent to manage that pain through positive coping strategies is essential. I will bring critically important life experience to the program and to the patients that I will be treating. My central, long-term research area is focused on those adolescent females who experience chronic pain as a result of a disability and/or genetic disorder. I want to be able to intervene before negative coping strategies result in mental health concerns such as anxiety or depression. I would be especially honored to work with any of the faculty involved with the XXXX Center for Orphan Disease Research. Ultimately, I hope to continue my studies as an FNP and eventually earn a doctoral degree.

After graduation from college, I began working as a research assistant with the Department of Psychology at the Children’s Cancer Clinic at the University of XXXX Medical Center. Our work on the cognitive perception of acute versus chronic pain has vastly increased my interest in pediatric pain, especially in disadvantaged populations. I also gained clinical experience in my time since graduation. Through my current role as a project coordinator, I developed a deep interest and empathy for individuals with ADHD, Autism, and other, often quite severe, presentations of developmental disorders. In the future, I hope to conduct clinical research that leads to a better understanding and treatment of pain psychopathologies, especially rare, genetic disorders. I’m especially interested in less viable symptoms (e.g., pain perception deficits and emotion dysregulation) and their presentation in under-researched populations including girls, young adults and high-IQ individuals. I look forward to a full immersion experience in the exploration of the efficacy and application of multimodal treatment methods, especially those incorporating mindfulness, exercise and behavioral psychology. Working simultaneously in research and clinical settings has helped me to appreciate the value of bench-to-bedside perspectives, and I hope to incorporate both research and clinical practice into my nursing career.

I thank you for considering my application to Nursing at XXXX.

 

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Sample 1st Paragraph for the MSN Degree, Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Nurse Practitioner

personal statement for msc nursing

Statements of Excellence for Admission to Masters Degree Programs in Nursing

personal statement for msc nursing

Florence Nightingale: "The Lady with the Lamp."

Florence Nightingale: Changing the Field of Nursing - Fast Facts. Florence Nightingale was so respected in the field of nursing that she was tapped to consult with the British Army.

Florence Nightingale - How Has Nursing Evolved.

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Sample 1st Paragraph Master’s Degree Nursing, African-American Health Care Issues

personal statement for msc nursing

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Heroines of nursing.

Florence Nightingale, the quintessential heroine of nursing lived an extraordinary life and had an extraordinary character. It’s a pleasure to read about her, and a pleasure to honor her. We think the most amazing thing about her is how she used her education to change so many people’s lives.

Florence Nightingale was born in May, 1820, in Florence, Italy. She was the younger of two siblings.

Nightingale's affluent British family belonged to elite social circles: her mother, Frances Nightingale, was born into a family of merchants and took pride in socializing with people of prominent social standing.

Despite her mother's interest in social climbing, Florence herself was reportedly awkward in social situations and preferred to avoid being the center of attention whenever possible.

Strong-willed, Florence often butted heads with her mother, whom she viewed as overly controlling, but—like many daughters—she was eager to please her mother. "I think I have something more good-natured and complying," Florence wrote in her own defense, concerning the mother-daughter relationship.

Florence's father was called William Shore Nightingale. He was a wealthy landowner who inherited two estates—one at Lea Hurst, Derbyshire, and the other in Hampshire, Embley Park—when Florence was 5 years old. Florence was raised on the family estate at Lea Hurst, where her father provided her with a classical education, including studies in German, French and Italian—which she became fluent in—and classical Greek and Latin.

From a very young age, Florence was active in philanthropy, ministering to the ill and poor people in the village neighboring her family’s estate, and by the time she was 16 years old, it was clear to her that nursing was her calling. She believed it was her divine purpose.

When Florence approached her parents and told them about her ambitions to become a nurse, they were not pleased at all. Her parents forbade her to pursue nursing. During the Victorian Era, a young lady of Nightingale's social stature was expected to marry a man of means, not take up a job that was viewed as lowly menial labor by the upper social classes. When Nightingale was 17, she refused a marriage proposal from a "suitable" gentleman, Richard Monckton Milnes.

Florence said that while he stimulated her intellectually and romantically, her "moral…active nature…requires satisfaction, and that would not find it in this life."

Determined to pursue her true calling despite the objections, Florence enrolled as a nursing student at the Lutheran Hospital of Pastor Fliedner in Kaiserswerth, Germany in 1844.

In the War Effort

In the early 1850s, Florence returned to London, where she took a nursing job at a Middlesex hospital for ailing governesses. Her performance there impressed her employer, and she was promoted to superintendent within just a year of being hired.

The position proved challenging as Florence struggled against a cholera outbreak and unsanitary conditions conducive to the rapid spread of the disease. She made it her mission to improve hygiene practices, lowering the death rate at the hospital. The hard work took a toll on her health. In fact, Florence actually did most of her good work while ill and housebound. She had just barely recovered when the biggest challenge of her nursing career came about.

In late 1853, the Crimean War broke out—the British Empire was at war with the Russian Empire for control of the Ottoman Empire. Thousands of British soldiers were sent to the Black Sea, where supplies rapidly dwindled. By the year 1854, 18,000 soldiers had been admitted into military hospitals.

At that time, there were actually zero female nurses stationed at hospitals in the Crimea. The poor reputation of past female nurses meant the war office avoided hiring more. However, after the Battle of Alma, England was in an uproar about the neglect of their ill and injured soldiers, who lacked sufficient medical attention due to hospitals being horribly understaffed, but also languished in appallingly unsanitary and inhumane conditions.

Awesomely, in late 1854, Nightingale received a letter from Secretary of War Sidney Herbert, asking her to organize a corps of nurses to tend to the sick and fallen soldiers in the Crimea. Nightingale immediately responded, and quickly assembled a team of 34 nurses from a variety of religious orders, and sailed with them to the Crimea just a couple of days later.

Though they had been warned of the horrid conditions there, nothing would have prepared Nightingale and her nurses for what they saw when they arrived at Scutari, the British base hospital in Constantinople.

The hospital sat on top of a large cesspool, which contaminated the water and the hospital building. Patients lay on in their own excrement on stretchers strewn throughout the hallways, as rodents and bugs scurried past.

The most basic supplies, like bandages and soap, grew increasingly scarce as the number of ill and wounded steadily increased. Even water was rationed. More soldiers were dying from infectious diseases like typhoid and cholera than from the injuries they had incurred during battle.

No-nonsense Nightingale (that should have been her nickname!) quickly got to work. She obtained hundreds of scrubbing brushes, and asked the least infirm patients to scrub the inside of the hospital from floor to ceiling.

She then spent every waking minute caring for the soldiers personally. In the evenings, she moved through the dark hallways carrying a lamp while making her rounds, ministering to patient after patient. What a lady!

The soldiers, who were both moved and comforted by her seemingly endless supply of compassion, took to calling her "the Lady with the Lamp." Others called her "the Angel of the Crimea." Her work reduced the hospital’s death rate by two-thirds in a short time.

In additional to vastly improving the sanitary conditions of the hospital, Florence created a number of patient services that contributed to improving the quality of their hospital stay: she instituted the creation of an "invalid's kitchen," where appealing food for patients with special dietary requirements was cooked.

She also established a laundry so that patients would have clean linens. She also instituted a classroom and a library for the patients' intellectual stimulation and entertainment.

Based on her observations in the Crimea, Florence wrote an 830-page report analyzing her experience and proposing reforms for other hospitals operating under poor conditions, called:  Notes on Matters Affecting the Health, Efficiency and Hospital Administration of the British Army .

This book sparked the complete restructuring of the War Office's administrative department. They established a Royal Commission for the Health of the Army in 1857 based on her work.

Nightingale remained at Scutari for a year and a half, while the Crimean war was still going on. She left in mid-1856, when the war ended, and returned to her childhood home at Lea Hurst.

To her surprise, Florence was met with a hero's welcome. The humble nurse did her best to avoid, but The Queen of England rewarded Nightingale's work by presenting her with an engraved brooch that came to be known as the "Nightingale Jewel." She was granted a prize of $250,000 from the British government.

Florence decided to use the money to further her cause, and in 1860, she funded the St. Thomas' Hospital. The Nightingale Training School for Nurses was established within it.

Florence became a figure of public admiration. The people loved her, as did the press. Poems, songs and plays were written and dedicated in the heroine's honor; young women aspired to be like her.

Eager to follow her example, women from the wealthy upper classes started enrolling at the training school. Thanks to Florence, nursing was no longer frowned upon by the upper classes; it had, in fact, come to be viewed as an honorable vocation.

While at Scutari, Florence contracted "Crimean fever". She actually never recovered. By the time she was 38 years old, she was homebound and bedridden, and stayed that way. But she remained dedicated as ever to improving health care and alleviating patients’ suffering, and continued her work from her bed.

Residing in Mayfair, she remained an authority and advocate of health care reform. The interviewed politicians and welcomed distinguished visitors from her bed. She published  Notes on Hospitals , which focused on how to properly run civilian hospitals in 1859.

Throughout the U.S. Civil War, she was frequently consulted about how to best manage field hospitals, and she served as an authority on public sanitation issues in India for both the military and civilians (though she had never been to India herself).

At the age of 88, she was conferred the merit of honor by King Edward. Around two years later, she received a congratulatory message from King George on her 90th birthday.

In August 1910, Florence sadly fell ill, but seemed to recover and was reportedly in good spirits. A week later, on August 12, 1910, she developed an array of troubling symptoms, and died unexpectedly at 2 pm the following day, at her home in London.

Characteristically, she had expressed the desire that her funeral be a quiet and modest affair. Respecting her last wishes, her family turned down a national funeral. The "Lady with the Lamp" was laid to rest at St. Margaret's Church, East Wellow, in Hampshire, England.

The Florence Nightingale Museum, located on the site of the original Nightingale Training School for Nurses, houses more than 2,000 artifacts commemorating the life and career of the "Angel of the Crimea."

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How to write a great application for a masters in nursing

By the university of cumbria nursing team.

How to write a great application for a masters in nursing

Applying to study for a master's in nursing at university is a wise career choice for individuals at any stage in their lives. One of the most important selling points in your application will be the personal statement made in support of your application. Writing a nursing personal statement can be challenging, so the tips below could prove extremely useful for a variety of top-rated nursing degree courses.

GETTING STARTED

Before sitting down to draft your personal statement for a master's in nursing it's a good idea to create a bulleted list of all areas you plan to include. Ordering your list in terms of importance can help ensure the main thrust of your personal statement is in the first couple of sections.

Your masters in nursing personal statement is an individual piece of work that can really make a difference to course leaders and influence the decision-making process. So, it is important you take care when writing the statement and give yourself plenty of time to create a personal statement that makes an impact on readers. You should aim to provide a concise statement that gives a real insight into your values and the reasons behind your choice of a nursing career (adult or mental health). The factors influencing your specialism choice will also be important to course leaders and you should highlight the particular qualities that make you an ideal candidate for the area of nursing you have chosen. You may not have direct nursing expertise, however, it's highly likely that some of your past experiences will be highly relevant to your future nursing roles, such as leadership and teamworking experiences. Ensuring all this detail is included in your personal statement is also recommended.

HOW TO DEMONSTRATE A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE YOU WANT

One of the main areas in which applicant statements tend to fall down is not fully understanding the role of the nurse. You need to demonstrate that you have reached a real appreciation of what an Adult Nurse or a Mental Health Nurse does, where they might work, typical responsibilities, and role progression. Additionally, most nursing roles involve 24-hour care or on-call duties and will entail shifts of some kind. You should discuss your own care experience and the roles you have undertaken thus far and how these might underpin a career in nursing.

HOW TO INCLUDE SPECIFICS FOR THE DIFFERENT FIELDS

Your personal statement for a master's in nursing should be a demonstration of individual passion and drive, showing the ways in which, you can make a difference and contribute in meaningful ways when you're in post.

When it comes to personal statement specifics for different fields of nursing, it's advisable to explain the inspiration behind your choice, and the sort of qualities you have that suit this course, and you should also show a very real understanding of the way the course is structured and the differences between practical and theoretical instruction.

The following tips may also prove useful.

ADULT NURSING SPECIFICS

If you're applying for adult nursing you need to be able to demonstrate your ability to interact on a professional basis with adults from diverse backgrounds and ethnic groups, from young adults through to the older person and the acutely ill in hospital care, community care and end of life. You need to demonstrate your knowledge of nursing in the adult field. You should be able to evidence a wide range of personal and social interactions that support your application and highlight your particular qualities and strengths to the full.

Be clear and concise in your writing and show how your previous experiences demonstrate your suitability for the role of the adult nurse by using real examples. Do not worry if your experiences are not all health-related as many skills are transferable to the nursing role. Be specific as to how your experiences have affected your decision to apply for adult nursing and give examples of the qualities you say you have.

MENTAL HEALTH NURSING  SPECIFICS

Mental health nursing is a totally different challenge and nurses will work with patients/clients across the lifespan, across all ethnicities, and from all sectors of society. Mental health nurses might work with clients with drug or alcohol abuse issues, eating disorders, dementia, or a whole range of other types of mental illness. You must address your experience to date of working with individuals with mental health issues in your personal statement and why these experiences make you suitable for the course. Mental health nursing is a growing field in the UK and offers a range of opportunities, including crisis care and follow-up community psychiatric nursing opportunities. Make sure you research this area well before writing your individual statement in full.

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How to Write a Personal Statement for Nursing School

personal statement for msc nursing

Reviewed by:

Jonathan Preminger

Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine

Reviewed: 5/23/22

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

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What Is a Nursing 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.

The Parts of a Personal Statement for Nursing School

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.

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:

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?”

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 the necessary skills for nursing school. Include things like:

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.

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

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 nursing personal statement 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 clear 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 it 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 examples of successfully written nursing school personal statements. We’ve also included 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. The candidate also 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. They also 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:

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.

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. 

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Nursing Personal Statement Advice

Your personal statement is the final piece of the puzzle for students about to submit their UCAS application. This gives universities a chance to learn more about you and see what kind of addition you will be to a university you would be. Your Nursing personal statement is your chance to show your university your passion for the subject and why you would be an asset to their student body. Universities are looking for passion above all else and if you are passionate about Nursing, then make sure your Nursing personal statement is dripping with it! If you find yourself struggling to write your own Nursing personal statement, then we recommend trying to touch on these three key elements: Talk about your love and passion for Nursing. Any relevant work experience in the world of Nursing. Any achievements, academic or otherwise. Before you start writing your Nursing personal statement, then we recommend looking at some previous Nursing personal statement examples from other students beforehand. This gives you the chance to learn more about what to include, the structure your personal statement should take and what tone to use as well as the kind of things you should include in your Nursing personal statement. Your statement doesn’t need to be War and Peace, but it should be clear and concise and make sure that you're hitting the 4,000 character limit where possible.

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