References

TraumaNurse · Sep 16, 2004

IMO, residents are physicians. If you know a resident well and they are willing to give you a good reference, then I think that would be fine (Maybe not an intern! At least a senior resident).

Along that same line, I had my references from the permanent charge nurse, which is a management position, but not from the "nurse manager".

Of course, it is always school dependent and some programs may want to see the reference from an attending physician. You may want to ask the school directly. Good luck.

nilepoc · Sep 16, 2004

One of the recommendations I used was from a resident (third year ortho). I graduate from the program he wrote to this December, so I say go for it.

Craig

Pete495 · Sep 16, 2004

The worst that could happen is that he provides you with a bad reference and you have to go to someone else for a recommendation.

I had 3 recommendations, and viewed all 3 before I sent them. Most facilities give you the option of viewing your recommendations or having your references send the recomendation without your viewing. I chose to view all of mine, not because I didn't trust my references, but because I wanted to make sure that my application packets were complete when I sent the packets to the institutions I was applying too. The worst is sending an application, and then never hearing anything because your application wasn't complete because somebody didn't send your damn recommendation in.

As far as using a resident for a reference, I would say go for it.

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · Sep 16, 2004

I would choose a chief resident or fellow if you go this route.

malraymal · Sep 17, 2004

Thanks everyone, the resident is actually a senior resident, so I'll go for it.

catcolalex · Sep 18, 2004

a resident is a physician, an intern is also a physician. if the application wants a physician, make sure the physician will write a good reference letter for you and that should be the important part. how many times can i say physician in one thread?

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · Sep 19, 2004

a resident is a physician, an intern is also a physician. if the application wants a physician, make sure the physician will write a good reference letter for you and that should be the important part. how many times can i say physician in one thread?

But interns and residents don't get the respect fellows and attendings do. Yes, I agree that they fulfill the requirement stated, but better results might be obtained with a more senior staff member.

Personally, I chose a pulmonary fellow, my nurse manager, a radiation oncologist who has been my mentor for many years, and a professor, a PhD, whom I also worked with after I graduated (he picks up a few med/surg shifts, isn't that cool?). I am at the very beginning of this process though, so I can't say if my approach works.