Did your nursing program require letters of recommendation?

[Ted D]

I'm looking at some of the accelerated BSN programs and it seems a lot of them want, not only recommendations, but letters from past employers won't even work. They want you to have a special form filled out by your reference! Are most programs like this or am I just looking at the really competitive ones?

[work&play]

I was wondering the same... lets wait for replies.

[ranidays]

My BSN program required two reference letters, which was basically a sheet with a checklist on it, rating the student 1 to 5 (1 being bad, 5 being superb) on our qualities, such as compassion, humility, yada yada. They could write an actual letter, too. And the program asked that the people you had do the letter was someone of... I can't think of the word, but someone like a pastor, professor, another nurse. I had my boyfriend's mom do one (nurse) and one of my lab profs. It was relatively easy, just don't forget to give an envelope and stamp for it to be mailed!

[kfarinato]

My ADN program required 3 "letters" of recommendation. It was a form that they filled out. I had my Nurse Manager, Chief of Anesthesia, and a co-worker fill them out. I still have no idea what they wrote about me 2 years later.

[BeeJayCeeYa]

The LSU CARE (accelerated) program also required to references, one from a business contact and one from an educational contact. Like ranidays and kfarinato, it was a form with ratings but very little room for subjective comments.

[O2BNRN]

We had to have 2, but they weren't too picky about who filled them out. They were sheets that asked them to rate the applicant on certain qualities and had a few questions for them to fill out asking things like, What qualities does the applicant have that makes them a good candidate for our program? Things like that... I had my biology teacher fill one out and a nurse that I worked with fill out the other.

[SnowRain7489]

Nope I did not have to submit any letters of recommendation. I am going to a private 4-year liberal arts institution.

[AccelCNL, MSN, RN]

I am going to apply to a generic BSN program(that has a 2 yr professional phase) for the Spring 2010. In order to get into the program they GPA matters. Letters of recommendation are not required however I do plan on sending two from past professors. The need for letters of recommendation does not say whether the program is really competitive or not. However, it is always in your best interest to send them. The program I am applying to has consistently had a NCLEX rate that was among the top three in NYS among bachelor programs.

Even is they don't ask for recommendations send at least one. It cannot hurt you.

[anon695]

I applied to two schools. One required 2 letters of recommendation and the other required 3, either from an employer, a teacher, or a religious leader. Since I'm not a member of any religious organization and it had been almost a decade since I graduated from college, I had to contact former employers and was lucky enough that all 3 were willing to do letters for me. Having to find and contact old bosses who all laid me off was NOT fun, but at least I got accepted to nursing school!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'm attending an RN program at a trade school, and only 1 reference letter was required. My friend, who also happens to be my former coworker, provided the informal letter.

[Aurora77]

I had to have three references--a form that each person was to fill out.

[Ted D]

So for the most part past letters that you've collected from emplyers/professors will not work? You need special forms?