Rec letter

Nursing Students SRNA

Published

So I need a letter of recommendation from my previous supervisor. I have been trying to reach her for weeks to ask her if she would do write it, and have left numerous voicemails, and haven't gotten any response from her. What do I do?! My application is due the end of Nov and everything else is set to go. I sent an email yesterday to the school I'm applying to asking what to do/who to get a letter from if I don't get in contact with her soon, I'm just waiting for their response.

Guess I just wanted to know your thoughts/who you would ask if you couldn't have your previous supervisor write a letter? I already have one from my current supervisor, 2 peers/co-workers, and nsg school dean (requested by school).

Thanks for any advice. This has been so frustrating...I mean, if she doesn't want to write the letter, that's fine, but couldn't she at least call me to tell me that? And I know she thinks highly of me because she's written letters for me in the past (when she was my supervisor), but I'm afraid not having a letter from her will reflect poorly on me.

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I almost went through a similar situation once. I was gearing up to apply to school and my current nurse manager was out of town for an extended period of time. I was worried since her recommendation was a requirement for application so I emailed one program I was interested in. Their response was "I would suggest that you have the Assistant Nurse Manager and have her explain that the current Nurse Manager if out on family medical leave. We will accept that."

I think all your have to do is have a strong excuse for why the NM could not do it, tell the program in advance, and have the next senior person on your unit explain the same and complete your reference. Just be transparent about the situation. I do think it is strange that your previous NM has not returned you calls. Good luck trying to figure this one out.

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Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it. I guess what I really need to do is just find out what the school wants me to do. There is no assistant nurse manager on that unit, so I'm not even sure who the next senior person would be...the most senior nurse on the unit is one of the people who I already have a rec letter from. I just find this very frustrating because I have a good history with that unit, I was good employee and many of the senior staff thought I would be well-suited for CRNA school. I'm afraid that it might not appear that way now...

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Your supervisor must have some office/work hours, even if it may differ from your schedule.

Write the letter for her, and present it to her personally. If she approves, then have her sign it. Use hospital letterhead when you print.

You need to be aggressive, and complete your application entirely.

Good luck.

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