Recommendation Letters

I'm trying to get faculty members to write me letters of recommendation and/or fill out reference forms for some residency programs I am applying to - all of them are time sensitive and I'm scrambling to get things pulled together as I'm graduating very soon (this month). One of the faculty members told me verbally that she would be more than happy to write me a letter; the other one I haven't heard back from. I emailed them both - the first one I emailed a few times to follow up after our conversation and then never got a response. The second one just flat out never responded to an email request.

I'm running out of people to ask for recommendations - my school isn't that big, and all of the recommendations have to be from clinical instructors (3 total). I don't know what to do outside of pestering them further. I'm going to attempt to track them down in person, but even if they agreed to do it, I would wonder if they would even bother to mail the forms in. The thing that kills me is that I know I have a very favorable impression with everyone at my school as I've been told many times (not that I'm bragging - but I don't think it's me that's the problem).

I don't know what to do - I'm getting really frustrated by people flat out ignoring me. Any suggestions/thoughts???

Knowing where you are and knowing that Children's is the only program I can think of which requires letters of reference for new grad employment, I am almost positive they recommend at least ONE letter be from a clinical instructor, the others can come from didactic and theory instructors.

Secondly, this isn't helpful but you shouldn't have waited this long to get letters. Always solicit for a letter of reference after the course is complete and the instructor still knows you. There are many reputable and secure credential filing services you can use to store letters in confidence if your department/school doesn't already do so.

Knowing where you are and knowing that Children's is the only program I can think of which requires letters of reference for new grad employment, I am almost positive they recommend at least ONE letter be from a clinical instructor, the others can come from didactic and theory instructors.

Secondly, this isn't helpful but you shouldn't have waited this long to get letters. Always solicit for a letter of reference after the course is complete and the instructor still knows you. There are many reputable and secure credential filing services you can use to store letters in confidence if your department/school doesn't already do so.

I'm actually applying to programs that are not in Chicago (as well as some in Chicago, but that is beside the point).

Secondly, the programs I'm looking at are JUST NOW opening up applications - so it's not like I've just sat around and waited to figure this out. Additionally - the one I asked in person was originally asked about 2 months ago. This whole letter-of-recommendation-thing-to-get-a-job is completely new to me - I came into nursing from a completely different field. There are a lot of things that I'm just figuring out now that I should have - like 2 years ago - largely because my school hasn't done much to help us develop professionally.

I'm actually applying to programs that are not in Chicago (as well as some in Chicago, but that is beside the point).

Secondly, the programs I'm looking at are JUST NOW opening up applications - so it's not like I've just sat around and waited to figure this out. Additionally - the one I asked in person was originally asked about 2 months ago. This whole letter-of-recommendation-thing-to-get-a-job is completely new to me - I came into nursing from a completely different field. There are a lot of things that I'm just figuring out now that I should have - like 2 years ago - largely because my school hasn't done much to help us develop professionally.

My apologies for making that assumption. You are certainly within reason of calling or trying to track down the writers. If that doesn't work, go to your Dean and ask for help intervening. You paid for this education and are entitled to get attention/help.

I can't emphasize, though, how much easier it is to have a "bank" of letters to rely on when an employer asks at the last minute. Best of luck with your search.

There are a lot of things that I'm just figuring out now that I should have - like 2 years ago - largely because my school hasn't done much to help us develop professionally.

Do you go to Rush's GEM program?

Here you go...someone just posted a thread about a situation very similar to yours.

HTH!

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/how-hard-write-461123.html