Letters of Recommendation for CRNA Applications

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hello,

I am starting to send my applications in to 4 different schools. I am working on the Recommendation letters and have a question...

Some of the schools specify who they would like letters from. Other schools do not. I have nailed down who will write my recommendations and why (some I chose because it was required by the school....others I chose because they know me well and would have something complimentary to say).

In all, I have recommendations from an ICU co-worker, a doctor (surgeon that I've worked with for 7 years), a DNP from the BSN program I attended(she's the Chair of the Nursing and Science Dept), and my ICU manager. I debated on getting a recommendation from a CRNA or Anesthesiologist...but they don't know me quite as well as the surgeon I've worked for and I was reluctant to "take a chance" on someone who didn't know my work as well.

At any rate, here's the question...

Each school has their own recommendation form. I naively thought that my references would write a real "letter" to attach to that form....you know, one that tells the admissions committe how wonderful you are!!!??

I have been disappointed that they haven't done so....and are simply filling out the school form by hand....just a few sentences that only answer the questions.

I wouldn't know all of this had these references not provided me with a copy....and each person said really wonderful things...

(so, yes, I know there's nothing really to complain about)...

but I would like to ask you fellow CRNA-wannabees....

are you specifying to your references that you'd like a "letter"...

or are you just asking that they fill out the forms and send them in???

I'm thinking the content of the letters is more important...

and it won't really matter in the end....

I'm just hoping to put my best foot forward...and I'm a little worried.

Can you all please share your experience??

Thank you

I recently applied to UAB. UAB requires all of it's applicants to submit online recomendations. I had a Anesthesiologist (that I have worked with in the past), a CRNA (that I shadowed, and also worked before he went to CRNA school), an RN ( that I have worked with in the Unit that recently was accepted and has started CRNA school), and my current ICU nurse manager. They only wanted 3 letters of rec. but I got 4.

I pray they all gave me Outstanding recommendations! I guess I will find out in a couple of weeks when UAB sends out their Interview letters.

Specializes in Hospitalist.

So if you are applying to 4 different schools this year, are you going to get each reference to fill out 4 different letters of recommendations? Say you don't get in...the next year do you ask them to do it all over again? Do you make copies the first year? Thats not very professional. I'm a little confused how that works. Please help!

Lets Chill....

If you are applying to different schools you can either ask the same people for references or different people. But each school needs their own set of references.

If you do not get in...then yes you have to resubmit your package. Which means you will need references again. So you can ask the same people again...or in the year that you have to get your next packages together you can find other people to write references for you. You cannot make copies...because most schools require the letters to be submitted directly to them and you never touch them.

Hope this helps

Specializes in Surgical ICU.

I'm not sure if things were different in 2008, but as of 2011 almost all programs specify who they would like a recommendation from and about 85% of them require a MD. I think the reasoning is that a MD might be analyzing you from a different perspective than a fellow coworker, senior nurse, crna, or nurse manager. If you really do come from a high acuity ICU then I would suspect that you would have plently opportunity to demonstrate your clinical skills to your attendings. They want to know if you are the nurse that reports something is wrong with your patient 5 minutes before they go asystole, or were you the nurse requesting boluses, suggesting dob, and abg's and chem7's for the past 5 hours. A coworker or manager might not necessarily see that.

I haven't recieved my letters as of yet but I did request a seperate letter in addition to the forms. I think it shows that these people were enthusiastic to recommend you instead of just checking off boxes.

I tried to choose people who I wouldn't asking a second time if I didn't get in this year. If they know you well enough you shouldn't be embarrassed to ask again, and if you work with them day in and day out then it shouldn't be a huge deal to write another one. I'm sure they all remember what it was like to NEED someone to write a recommendation for them.

Good luck everyone

Specializes in Burn, Trauma, Neuro.

Any insight as to which would be better, previous professor or the dean of your nursing school?

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