MSN programs that only require 1 letter of recommendation

[Jordy1703]

Hi there! I am an RN with a BSN and I'm thinking about going back to school for my MSN next year. I have only been a nurse since 2008 and therefore have only had one real job as an RN. There is only one person that I feel comfortable asking to write a letter of recommendation for me and that is a college professor of mine. I have a few personal mentors, such as a friend of the family with a masters in social work, that would be willing to write one for me but as far as supervisors or fellow RNs, I don't have anyone else. I left my job to relocate but I told them I was going back to school so I don't feel comfortable now asking for references since they already think I am in school. I am wondering if there are any MSN programs that don't require letters of recommendation, or that may only require 1 or 2, or that don't specify that they must be from RNs or MSNs. Thanks!

[llg, PhD, RN]

Swallow your pride and ask someone from your previous job for a recommendation. You shouldn't have to give a big explanation, just say that your timetable changed and you are just applying to school now. Surely you must have made a positive impression on someone in your previous job who would say that you are a good nurse.

[pacuRN26]

^ She was just asking an honest question, I don't think it is about pride. If you are trying to get into a school, I think you'd want to present the best application packet possible, not just get a recommendation from someone you don't really feel comfortable asking.

I too am looking into MSN programs and am looking for programs that only require 1-2 recommendations, I know a past instructor who is masters prepared and I worked for another RN who I know would give me great recommendations. However I do not feel comfortable asking my current employer because I don't think they'd like it very much if I chose to go to school over working there, to be honest.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Check with the school and just ask them who you should have letters from. IME, they were very glad to talk to me about the best way to submit the strongest possible application.

My school did say specifically in the application guide, do not submit LOR from physicians. I interviewed at a different school and they were suprised by that: "Oh, no, a physician would be great!" Most places I looked into said they wanted evaluations from faculty and nursing supervisors.

The school I attend is considered highly competitive. When I went for the interview, she said my LOR were strong (2 nursing prof and one nurse super.) but why didn't I have any from co-workers? She told me I was a strong applicant, but it was a tight field and to improve my chances, I should get a letter from someone that had worked alongside me and could speak to my interactions with patients and impact on the profession. I did ask a co-worker, and when I met the dean, she remembered my name because of that letter. She told me that it stuck in mer mind because it was heartfelt and not akin to the typical praise they see in all the others. I would never have thought an informal testimony from another staff nurse would be important, but at the end of the day it got me in. After I was accepted at several places, the fact that this school weighed the opinion of a "mere" staff nurse made me appreciate how much they value nurses as individuals.