Reference Letters

[clf1926]

I'm interested in applying to Stony Brook's accelerated BSN program. They require 4 personal reference letters and strictly asked that no friends or family write letters while mentioning letters from nurses and those in the medical field are preferred. Is there anyway around this? I have a ton of friends, family and acquaintances who are nurses and could speak to my character and it seems odd to not take advantage of these connections.

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

What about professors or employers?

[verene, MSN]

They are looking for those who know you in professional capacity to be able to speak to your professional qualities that make you a good applicant. In general: professors, managers, and co-workers, or possibly mentors.

If you've had a lot of exposure to health care through friends and family and want to show this I'm guessing there is some sort of personal statement or cover letter type portion of the application where mentioning this may be more appropriate (particularly if one or more of these individuals influenced your own decision to go into nursing).

[idkmybffjill]

I think the only way "around it" is if you worked under some of those friends or volunteered under them. I wouldn't get a family member to be my reference regardless though. The issue becomes that their references are less credible to others because there is a bias from y'all's relationship, real or perceived.