When to use letters of recommendation/reference letters?

[heartnursing]

Hello

I have a quick question.

During clinicals our profs always suggested that we get letters or recommendation/reference letters from our clinical instructors as we move through the nursing program (when clinical instructors stop teaching it sometimes becomes hard to get back in contact with them in the future).

I have managed to collect 3 so far, however when would I used them?

I am graduating Dec 2012 and I was under the impression that I would add them into a portfolio and then they can be presented to the prospective employer during an interview or when asked for letter of reference..... Or will they expect new/current reference letters? Would I have to go back to each clinical instructor and get new letters?

Im just a little confused..

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I put mine in my portfolio and bring them to interviews for the interviewer to look over.

I don't think they're going to stress so much over the letters' age as long as they're not more than several years old.

However, letters of recommendation are not going to replace the references that you put down on the employment application. These are the more important because they are the people that the NM or HR will call and talk to. And if you need to, you can put down someone as a reference who also wrote you a recommendation letter.

[caliotter3]

I had an instructor one time who offered to redo letter with new date as time progressed as long as I let her know I needed a new reference. Didn't need it after first few uses of the letter though.

[heartnursing]

Thank you so much!