When re-entering the nursing field, you may have gaps in your employment history or gaps in your experience in the nursing field. These gaps can be difficult to address in your resume. Most resumes simply list your dates for employment and even if you have volunteer work or education in between those dates, most hiring managers may not take the time to figure that out. Before you apply for a job in the nursing field after taking some time off, explain why you took the time off and why you're reentering the nursing field in your cover letter.

Set up your cover letter. Include your name and contact information at the top of the letter, as well as the name of recipient, his job title, the company or institution you're applying to and the address you're sending the letter to.

Start your first paragraph after a professional greeting, such as "Dear Mr. Jones." Your first paragraph should state the type of nursing position you're applying for, where you heard of the job and a few details about your experience that will make the recipient want to keep reading the letter, such as an impressive number of years in the field or a few qualifications that are required for the job you're applying for.

Address your employment gap in the next paragraph. You should address this gap early on in the paragraph. Be honest, and stay positive. Explain what you were doing while you were taking a break from the nursing field. You may have been furthering your education, recovering from an injury, raising your children or working in a different career field.

Explain why you want to reenter the nursing field. Express your passion and dedication to the job and how much you enjoy working with patients. Also, list more of your relevant skills and qualifications and give examples that demonstrate these skills.

Thank the recipient for his consideration and for taking time to review your resume. Restate your interest in the nursing position and how excited you are about the prospect of working for the company or institution. Also, state when you're available to come in for an interview.

End the letter with a professional closing, such as "Sincerely" and type your name. Leave enough space between the closing and your typed name to include your signature before sending the letter.