When applying to nursing school, you must provide a personal statement. This then helps admission committees understand you as an individual. So, writing a nursing school personal statement gives you a chance to better elaborate on your experiences and interests that you didn’t include in your application.
As a general rule, any personal statement you write for a nursing school must be unique and improve your chances of admission. In this article, we discuss what a nursing personal statement is and how to write one for nursing school.
What is a Personal Statement for Nursing School?
A personal statement for nursing school is an essay required by nearly all nursing schools. Admissions departments typically expect nursing school candidates to submit this personal statement as part of their application.
Note: Other commonly requested documents for a nursing school application package include transcripts from previous schools, letters of recommendation and contact and demographic information.
What to Include in a Nursing School Personal Statement
The specific requirements for nursing school personal statements vary based on the particular program or university. For example, while some prompts for nursing school personal statements might ask about your interest in working with a specific nursing population, such as children or cardiology patients, others might request that you write about your professional nursing goals.
Every nursing school admission team would like to know about your personal interest in and experiences related to nursing.
Here are some topics nursing schools likely want to see you discuss in your personal statement:
Educational experiences
Discuss the aspects of your educational history most relevant to nursing. This might include biology classes in high school, anatomy classes at a community college or CPR and first aid training from a reputable organization. You might also discuss educational experiences not directly related to nursing but helpful in your decision to become a nurse. For example, if you previously earned a degree in a different field, discuss how that other educational path eventually led to your interest in nursing.
Related skills
Highlight any skills you have that could help you as a nursing professional. These could be technical skills, like the ability to give insulin shots or speak a foreign language. You can also discuss your soft skills, such as empathy or communication.
Read more: Skills in Nursing: Definitions and Examples
Volunteer positions
Many nursing school applicants gain volunteer experience related to medicine, advocacy or caring for others. Write about meaningful volunteer work at places such as:
- Healthcare advocacy organizations
- Blood or plasma donation centres
- Nursing homes
- Animal shelters
- Food kitchens or pantries
- Assisted living facilities
- Interest in the specific program
- Shelters for the homeless or victims of abuse
- Hospitals
- Schools for children with special needs
- Rehabilitation facilities
Although many nursing school candidates send applications to multiple programs, it’s important to customize your personal statement for each school you’re applying to. Talk about why you are interested in attending this particular program or university. For example, the program might specialize in the nursing field you are most interested in, or you might admire the nursing educators on staff.
Personal motivation or unique experiences
Nursing school admissions teams read many applications, so writing about your unique aspirations and experiences can help create a memorable personal statement. Talk about any interests, hobbies or life experiences that make you passionate about becoming a nurse.
For example, you may have experience providing personal care for a family member, taking care of a sick pet or interacting with inspirational nurses in your area.
How to Write a Personal Statement for Nursing School
Here are seven steps to guide you through writing a nursing school personal statement:
Decide on your schools
Writing a nursing school personal statement starts with choosing the programs you’d like to apply to. Research which nursing schools align best with your interests, skills, career goals and values. If possible, talk to an admissions counsellor or take a tour of each school.
Related: 33 Common Nursing School Interview Questions
Create a timeline
Make a timeline for yourself with tentative goals for when you hope to complete various components of both your personal statement and the other pieces of your application. Include the application deadlines for all the schools you’re interested in. Although the deadlines you create for yourself might change, knowing approximately when you’d like to complete different parts of your personal statement, such as the outline or draft, can help you stay organized and manage your time efficiently.
Plan your personal statement
Create tentative ideas for your nursing school personal statement before you write the essay. Performing some creative writing exercises may help you figure out the content of your personal statement. For example, try writing anything that comes to mind related to the personal statement prompt without stopping for a set amount of time. It may also help create a more formalized outline with notes about the beginning, middle and end of your essay.
Think about your approach
As you form your outline and begin drafting your personal statement, think about how you want the admissions committee to experience the reading of your essay. For example, you might start with an experience from your life that captures their attention. Alternatively, you may want to introduce yourself with the enthusiasm you have for their particular program. Also, consider how you can create transitions from one topic to the next.
Related: Tips for Writing a Good Personal Statement
Use specific details and examples
Incorporate specific details, anecdotes or examples into your statement. The admissions team is more likely to remember specific details from your essay than generalized statements. For example, instead of just writing that you are compassionate, describe a moment in your life when you showed compassion to a friend, family member, pet or neighbour.
Get feedback
Ask someone else to read and critique your essay. This can help you see your writing more objectively and understand how best to revise your personal statement. Consider asking one or more of the following people to give their feedback on your personal statement:
- Writing centre staff members or tutors
- Friends or family members
- Peers who are also applying to higher education programs
- Current nursing school students
Revise and proofread
Edit your essay before submitting it to admissions committees. Start by revising any content or structural parts of your essay, such as your transitions or anecdotes. Once you have finished these larger components, carefully proofread to ensure that your grammar, spelling and punctuation are accurate.
Bottom Line
Every personal statement for nursing school has different conventions other than the five-paragraph essay format and other simpler essay structures. Now, if you ever need an academic essay written by professionals, don’t hesitate to reach out to Peachy Essay Writing Services at any time. They’ve got you covered.
