Professor Recommendations

[ErinMargaret]

Hello everyone,

I'm graduating nursing school in a couple of months and I was interested in asking some of the faculty (professors/clinical preceptors) for a recommendation letter. I know it should be done in advance, but I was wondering how I ask for the recommendation letter without a specific job position/hospital to provide. I'm kind of lost on how to go about this process.

I have a pretty good rapport with my professors and am an active participant during classes; however, I'm not sure what I should be providing and what to expect in a recommendation, if they decide to write one for me. Is it just a general recommendation without a direct recipient?

If any nursing professors or someone that has experience with all of this can help me out, I'd be sooooooo unbelievably grateful! Thank you for your help in advance... All of this graduating/nursing career business has me super anxious!

[llg, PhD, RN]

You simply have to ask them. Unlike you, they are not new to this. They get requests all the time. Just set up a meeting with them and ask politely. Don't catch them on the run and expect them to remember.

I recommend asking for 2 things:

1. A general letter of recommendation that you can add to your portfolio (and use when appropriate).

2. Ask if you can list there name and contact information on applications. A lot of employers are using online reference services now and prefer to contact your references and have them fill out a specific online reference form.

If the instructor has the general letter she wrote in her files, she can use that letter to jog her memory about you when the time comes to complete that online form. She'll be glad she wrote it. Also, she can probably attach the letter to the online survey.

Finally, only ask those instructors who gave you at least a "B" -- if not better -- unless the purpose of the letter is to explain why the bad grade happened and to say that your performance was much better than the grade that shows on the transcript.

[ErinMargaret]

Thank you :)