Nathan Kania

639 East Cork Street * Winchester * Virginia * 22601 * (703) 895-2466 * nkania10@su.edu

Dear Nurse Residency Selection Board,

I am writing to apply for a position in the Graduate Nurse Residency Program at
the University of Virginia Medical Center. I am currently a student at Shenandoah
Universitys Eleanor Custer Wade School of Nursing in Winchester, Virginia and I will be
earning my Bachelor of Science in Nursing in December 2015. I am interested in this
position because I believe that this institutions Graduate Nurse Residency Program holds
the key to unlocking my potential as a nurse.
I have had supervised clinical experience in various inpatient settings including
Cardiac Medical-Surgical, Pulmonary/Renal Medical-Surgical, Mother & Baby, Pediatrics,
Orthopedic Surgical, Neuro Medical-Surgical, Neuro ICU, and Trauma ICU. In all of these
settings I worked in tandem with a licensed nurse to refine my skills and assessments
while also being challenged to think critically about the care I delivered. My ICU
experience comes from a ten-week immersive Nurse Externship program and my Senior
Preceptorship. In these two experiences specifically, I was allowed to chart under the
auspices of my assigned nurse, complete a full assessment, give and receive report,
assist with patient admission, and communicate directly with the entire interdisciplinary
team and patient family. As a Nurse Extern, I was also granted the opportunity to
perform CPR in two separate instances.
I believe that this Graduate Nurse Residency Program is the perfect fit. The
University of Virginia Medical Centers designation as a Magnet facility makes it an
incredibly desirable institution to begin my career. In addition to this, the University of
Virginia Medical Center is a nationally renowned teaching hospital, making it one of the
best places to begin a nursing career. A hospital that champions education, professional
development, and in-depth training is a hospital where I belong. The Residency Program
underscores things that I personally value and find to be central to my practice:
developing critical thinking skills, emphasizing research-based practices, and fostering
the development of a nurse leader. I feel that my energy, passion for learning, and
commitment to success will find great fruition within the walls of the University of
Virginia Medical Center.
I greatly appreciate all who have taken the time to consider my application and
supplemental materials. I truly believe that the University of Virginia Medical Center is
the perfect place for me to begin my journey into nursing. I can be contacted at
nkania10@su.edu and by phone at (703)-895-2466. Please do not hesitate to call or
email me with further questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Nathan Kania