[pinkisnoopi]

Hello. I'm a prospective SRNA, planning on applying this year to CRNA school (for next fall). I'd just like some advice on who to choose for recommendations. I'm going to ask my head nurse & an attending MD (both from the SICU I currently work at). Any other suggestions? Do you recommend current CRNAs and/or SRNAs? I was also thinking about past nursing professors, but I don't think they remember me AND I was in school 4 years ago. (probably not a good idea, right?) Any advice would be greatly appreciated--thanks!

[CougRN]

Well a prior professor is a good source if they remember you. I kept in touch with a couple of profs and they knew my intention of going to CRNA school. So they were great recommendations because they knew what kind of student I am. But if you didn't do this then maybe another source would be better.

Your nurse manager is normally required for most schools. If they give you a good rec then that should be someone you ask. Also, any nursing supervisor who can speak to your work and work ethic is good too. An attending is nice if they do they can offer the same kind of reference to your nursing care.

If you are familiar with a CRNA and work with them enough to ask them then I would ask them. Other options are a Clinical educator on your unit or another nurse on your unit that has good credentials and can offer information on your nursing care and desire to be a CRNA.

Best of luck.

[srnaKate]

Who you request recommendations from is largely dependent on the individual schools' requirements. One school to which I applied asked for 3 recommendations: 1 from a physician with whom I worked and could attest to my clinical abilities, 1 from an advanced-practice nurse or supervisor and 1 from a co-worker. All three had a form to complete that was included with the application materials to the school. The other school to which I applied asked for three professional references to write a recommendation addressing certain characteristics.

Two of my three recommendations (not the physician) came from people with whom I had worked only 3-6 months since I was new to the ICU environment. I received interviews to both schools.

My advice is that first you should determine what types of recommendations are necessary for each of the schools to which you wish to apply. You will probably know intuitively who will provide the most eloquent and complimentary recommendations at that time. Remember, it's clinical and sometimes character information they wish to obtain. I wish you the best of luck!

P.S. You better apply RIGHT NOW if you want to go to school ANYWHERE next year!!! I am currently interviewing for the class commencing 2006.

[catcolalex]

its always important that the person writing the recommendation write a positive one. make sure that they at least like you. ask them if they feel comfortable writing a positive letter of recommendation for you. that way they have a way out if they cant.

[pinkisnoopi]

Thank you so much everyone who gave me advice. I'm applying to 2 schools, one of which requires 2 recommendations & the other requires 3. Neither have specific guidelines regarding the type of person/professional, so I'm pretty flexible.
Unfortunately, I'm not very close to a particular CRNA who can give feedback about me. But since I'm planning on shadowing a CRNA, I was thinking about asking him/her to write one for me then. (But that person would hardly know me & my clinical abilities) Good or bad idea?

[srnaKate]

Originally Posted by pinkisnoopi

Thank you so much everyone who gave me advice. I'm applying to 2 schools, one of which requires 2 recommendations & the other requires 3. Neither have specific guidelines regarding the type of person/professional, so I'm pretty flexible.
Unfortunately, I'm not very close to a particular CRNA who can give feedback about me. But since I'm planning on shadowing a CRNA, I was thinking about asking him/her to write one for me then. (But that person would hardly know me & my clinical abilities) Good or bad idea?

I wouldn't worry about getting a CRNA to do a recommendation for you since you don't know anyone well. I would definitely shadow a CRNA for a day or 2 because this is a question that is frequently asked in the interview process.

The most important aspect to consider when choosing who to request recommendations from is who will give you the best professional recommendation for grad school? Since you can choose from anyone, choose people who are familiar with your clinical abilities. Either coworkers or charge nurses. Managers can be helpful as well. Your recommendations should reflect how competent you are in managing your SICU (?) patients, how effectively you deal with crises and how you go 'above and beyond' in your career - however that may be.

I approached each of the people I chose to write recommendations for me and asked them privately, "would you feel comfortable writing a recommendation for me for anesthesia school?" This gave them the ability to bow out gracefully if they felt they couldn't (at least I think it did since no one bowed out) and not be put 'on the spot'.

I would refrain from using undergraduate faculty since you are four years out of school. The reviewing committee for grad school will know what a great student you were from your grades. They will want to know what a great clinician you are now. Again, choose 3 who will attest to RECENT CLINICAL ABILITIES. Best of Luck!

[pinkisnoopi]

I think I'm going to stick with my head nurse, an attending MD, and a RN co-worker. My co-worker has had LOTS of SICU experience & he's actually starting CRNA school this fall, one of the schools I'm applying to. He also took a biochem class with me & knows my "study skills." Thanks so much again!!