(Almost) New Grad Job Search

[oops I bradyed again]

Hi Everyone,

I will be graduating this June and am running into some situations that I'm unsure about as I start planning to apply for jobs. Firstly, I'm a CNA at the hospital that I hope to work at as a new grad. The nurse manager who hired me has since retired. She was well respected throughout the hospital and knew me much better than my current manager, whom I've only met once. Would it be inappropriate to ask the retired nurse manager to be a reference for me as I search for nursing jobs and/or write a letter of recommendation?

Secondly, I'm currently completing my integrative practicum on the unit I would like to work on as a new grad. Is it appropriate to use my preceptors and faculty (who also works on the unit) as references and/or ask them to write a letter of recommendation?

Any feedback is appreciated! In previous job searches I haven't had to deal with these dynamics and just want to make sure I am not crossing any lines or being unprofessional. Thank you!

[KrCmommy522, BSN, RN]

I don't think it would be inappropriate at all to ask the retired nurse manager to be a reference and/or write a letter of recommendation. If she was well-respected and she knew you well, she would be the perfect person to use as a reference and to write a letter of recommendation. You want someone who knows you and can attest to your work ethic and abilities.

Again, I don't think it would be inappropriate to ask your preceptors or faculty to use them as references and/or write a letter of recommendation for you. Lot's of students ask their preceptors and/or faculty to write letters of recommendations for them. They saw how they grew, saw how they worked, etc. So, they are good people to be writing letters of recommendation or speak to your work ethic and abilities.

[oops I bradyed again]

Thank you KrCmommy522! Very helpful!