Which letter of recommendation?

[runRNmom]

I have a hospital new grad interview which requests 2 letters of rec. I have worked outpatient for 18 months, but am dying to get into a hospital.

I have 4 letters of rec that were written for me during my job search. In your opinion, which two would be best?

Options are:

#1 From the Nurse Practitioner I just worked with for a year (I'm 100% certain this should be one of them.)

#2 From an MD who is an ED attending, who is a good friend and who has never worked with me professionally (excellent personal recommendation referencing my skills and personality and vouching those would translate well to acute care.)

#3 From my former psych clinical instructor.

#4 From a colleague who is a Medical Social Worker; we worked in a paid capacity for a nonprofit health-related charity together several years ago, but my position was not as an RN at that time.

Thoughts? Thanks! :)

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I would go with #1 and #3. They are the ones who would be able to evaluate your nursing abilities.

#2 definitely not- this person cannot vouch for your work.

[runRNmom]

Thank you! That's good insight. I was thinking that the psych instructor couldn't really speak to my clinical skills specifically, and that my MD friend was able to identify traits that would make a successful acute care nurse. But, you're right, of the latter 3 choices only #3 has seen me in a nursing capacity.

Wish me luck! :)