Summer

Spiva
205 Clydesdale Dr.
Stephens City, VA 22655
540-532-9925
sspiva13@su.edu
E-Portfolio: http://summerspiva.weebly.com

March 21, 2016

Lisa Spencer
Nurse Recruiter
Valley Health System
333 West Cork Street, Suite 140
Winchester, VA 22601
Dear Ms. Spencer:
I am enthusiastically writing in response of your advertisement for the position of Critical Care Registered Nurse at
Winchester Medical Center (WMC). My solid 3.5-year experience and proven record of excellent patient care in the intensive care
unit (ICU) as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) makes me the ideal candidate for this position. I am eager to put forward my best
efforts to contribute significantly to your establishment.
th
I graduate with Sigma Theta Tau Honors from the B.S.N. program at Shenandoah University (SU) on May 14 , 2016. I plan to
th
take and pass my NCLEX-RN by June 14 , 2016. As a nursing student, I have had the opportunity to learn and experience from my
various preceptors at WMC. My clinical experiences on cardiac telemetry, GI/Endo, Neuro/Ortho, Psychiatric Mental Health (PMH),
Mother/Baby, Nursery, Labor and Delivery, Pediatrics, Emergency Department, and the Observation Unit have given me a
comprehensive understanding of the nursing practice.
To give you a better understanding of where my passion for nursing comes from, I want to give you some background. My
interest in nursing was sparked at a very young age. My mother, who was raising my two younger sisters and me by herself, was
diagnosed with lung cancer when I was seven years old. The disease itself, the medication, and the treatments were so debilitating
that my mom could barely care for herself, let alone my two sisters. I became the caregiver to her and my sisters by default. As a
child, a teenager, and later as an adult, I nursed my mother through one metastasis after another until the cancer finally claimed her
13 years later on January 8th, 2014. As I cared for my mother during her illness, I realized that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping
the sick. As a registered nurse, I can utilize my life experience and fill a very real need to give compassion in the medical field.
While at SU I have been dedicated to my studies, maintaining a 4.0-3.78 G.P.A., while working part-time and tutoring multiple
students a semester. In addition to my G.P.A., I have also been honored with four academic scholarships while in the nursing
program, as well as induction into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
While furthering my education as a nurse, I have worked as a CNA in the ICU of WMC since August of 2012. In the almost 4
years that I have been an employee of WMC, I have been nominated by my peers to be a CNA representative on the Coordinating
Council, started the CNA morale committee, became a new hire CNA preceptor, and initiated the link between the American
Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) and the BSN students of SU. As the liaison, I attend AACN meetings and relay the
information to my classmates and encourage their participation.
With my nursing skills and CNA experience, I believe I can contribute to the leadership and strong organizational skills present
at WMC. My memberships in the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor
Society, Student Nurse Association (SNA), and the AACN have taught me to manage multiple tasks while maintaining focus and
enthusiasm for the project at hand. In addition, I established a leadership position when I initiated and became the chair of the SNA
committee to organize a sock and underwear drive at SU for the Winchester based non-profit organization, Froggys Closet.
Enclosed are my resume, references, and letters of recommendations. If there is any additional information you would like
me to provide, please feel free to contact me at the information above. Should you choose me, you can feel confident that you are
choosing an honest, dedicated nurse that will represent your organization well.

Sincerely,
Summer Spiva