Registered Nurse (RN) Letter of Recommendation Samples

A registered nurse (RN) letter of recommendation is a letter written to potential employers outlining the work ethic, professional ability and skills, and experience of a nurse applying for a nursing position.

A registered nurse (RN) letter of recommendation is written so as to strengthen the nursing applicant’s application and boost their chances of securing the position. Sometimes it can be a requirement of the recruiting process, where else in other cases, it can be optional. A registered nurse (RN) letter of recommendation gives the employer or recruiting committee a chance to assess the nurse’s suitability from a third-party perspective. Also, it shows that the applicant did well at their previous job or in nursing school and provides reasons to support how the nurse is suitable for the job by providing examples and consequently the reason why the employer should hire them.

Registered nurse (RN) letters of recommendation are often written by professors, supervisors, administrators, or head nurses who interact with nurses or nursing students on a personal level. 

Tip: The longer the relationship between the recommender and the applicant, the more valuable a nursing reference letter will be as it implies the recommender has had enough time to evaluate the nurse and give an informed opinion on his or her qualification to the potential employer.

attaining a perfect nursing job is an enormous achievement in a nurse’s career; one should not compromise their chances of securing the job by writing a poor recommendation letter. Politely declining to write the recommendation if one is not well familiar with the nurse being recommended or believes they are not in a position to recommend the nurse is better than writing a sub-standard registered nurse (RN) letter of recommendation.

When is a registered nurse recommendation letter used?

An RN recommendation can be used under different circumstances. The main areas when it is used include;

• Seeking a new job – Employers or management will often hold a recommendation with high regard when recruiting new nurses in a medical facility such as a hospital, clinic, and others.

• Applying for a scholarship – Nurses will often try to further their knowledge to progress in their careers, earn more, or get promoted. Nurses who apply for scholarships for this purpose will often require a registered nurse (RN) letter of recommendation to strengthen their application.

• Protesting de-registration – Nurses are given the opportunity to defend themselves before being de-registered. A well-crafted registered nurse (RN) letter of recommendation can rescue him or her career.

• Anticipating a Promotion – A nurse who anticipates a promotion will also rely extensively on this letter. The purpose of the letter is to explain to the employer how suited or deserving she might be for the promotion. This letter also unravels the past experiences of the nurse in question.

• Government Agencies: It is the task of the government agencies to register, appraise, and de-register nurses. They may need such a letter before taking an appropriate course of action. For instance, they might seek a recommendation to show cause why a nurse ought not to be de-registered.

The recommendation letter strengthens the position of a nurse. It does so mainly by demonstrating how the nurse in question deserves to be considered for the position applied for, the scholar being sought, and so on. It mainly reveals the experience of the nurse as well as her suitability for the same.

Writing an exemplary registered nurse (RN) letter of recommendation gives the recommended nurse a chance to stand out from the numerous applications sent to employers in the nursing sector. Where the contents of a nursing reference letter are always unique and specific to the applicant, they should be categorized into several sections that make up a nursing reference letter.

The basic components of a registered nurse (RN) letter of recommendation include an introduction, specific qualifications and skills, non-clinical skills, examples, and conclusion. These are explained as follows:

Step 1: Craft a strong introduction

First and foremost, the recommender should introduce themselves, the nurse being recommended, and state the nature of their relationship. An introduction basically states how and where the recommender interacted with the nurse and for how long. The introduction should be brief and to the point, about 2-3 sentences.

For example;

I am the Head Nurse at St. John’s Medical Hospital, and I write this letter in favor of Peggie Williams. I am very honored to have worked with Ms. Williams from 2015-2019 (four years) at St. John’s, where she worked as my deputy.

With great joy and admiration, I am writing this recommendation letter on behalf of Henry Sanders for the nursing position at your organization. Mr. Sanders has been under my guidance for three years (2018-2020) at Hope Memorial Nursing School.

Tip: Recommenders should be anyone professionally related to the applicant, such as co-workers, patients, etc. However, physicians and nursing practitioners are regarded as better referees. Other options include hospital managers, previous inspectors, and human resource executives.

Step 2: Mention skills and qualifications

In the next paragraph, the registered nurse (RN) letter of recommendation should outline the nurse’s skills and qualifications/abilities in their professional and non-professional capacity. Information that can be provided in this section should be qualitative and quantitative; this includes positions the nurse has previously held, tenure of employment, and academic qualifications if necessary. Try to relate the skills and qualifications to the application requirements.

For example;

She is very quick to respond to emergency cases when called upon. She is known to implement treatment instructions issued by doctors precisely. She administers IV fluids in the proper concentrations and takes detailed medical histories of her patients.

Harry is competent in assisting with surgical procedures, pediatric surgeries being his most preferred. He is familiar with emergency ER protocols and very competent when it comes to checking and monitoring a patient’s vital signs. Doctors in your institution will undoubtedly appreciate the helping hand he brings to the table.

Where there is no specific example to share, one should discuss non-technical skills the nurse possesses.

Henry has been an observant student who is quick to learn. He demonstrates a high level of professionalism when carrying out his duties. He is a team player and has excellent written and verbal communication skills, which are very imperative in nursing.

Throughout her tenure at Brownsville Memorial Hospital, Mrs. Howard has been an excellent timekeeper and organized staff member. She never loses patient records and has been a preferred assistant to many doctors within the institution. Her compassion has seen her interact with patients regularly and uplifting their spirits. She was Brownsville Memorial Nurse of the Year award recipient for the year 2019.

As his supervisor, I have known Danny as diligent, competent, and passionate at his job. He is well organized and ethical. He always ensures things are where they need to be and observes high hygiene standards during his shifts.

Tip: Other non-technical skills to consider are teamwork, dependability, confidentiality, verbal and written communication skills, and problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Step 3: Provide examples related to skills 

Subsequently, the recommender should give examples of how the nurse demonstrated the outlined skills and cases where he or she demonstrated exceptional skills. This should be done in a narrative way. The recommender should write this section from their point of view, that is, what the story illustrated to him or her.

For example;

In 2018, Mrs. Smith was among ten staff members of Oak Creek General that volunteered as a response team for the unfortunate fire outbreak in Long Beach Estate. The team spent 16 hours attending to victims on the scene, which saw a significant reduction in the mortality rate.

Adam is a counselor at the hospital. He holds a 30-minute counseling session every Friday to coach patients on life, spirituality, and self-esteem. His lessons have been reported to be helpful in mental health patient recoveries.

Step 4: Conclude properly

Finally, the recommender should provide a concise conclusion that reaffirms why it would be in the employer’s best interest to select the recommended applicant for the position. A conclusion of 2-3 sentences will normally be sufficient. A formal complimentary close such as “sincerely” or “warm regards” should follow then the signature.

Peggy will be a valuable addition to your team as she has been with us. I highly recommend her for the Head Nurse position. Do not hesitate to reach me at [email protected] if you have additional questions.

Yours sincerely.
Karl Sheraton,
Head Nurse Maykins Hospital

With great honor, I’m recommending Mr. Banks for the nursing position being offered at your institution. He is a dedicated nurse and is known to bring the best out of those he works with. Kindly contact me at [email protected] if there will be further queries. 

Sincerely,
Halley Bean,
Human Resource Manager

Nursing Reference Letter Sample

Nursing Reference Letter Sample Email

Following are the free downloadable templates that can be customized as per need:

A registered nurse (RN) letter of recommendation is written to bolster a nurse’s application by outlining their best skills and qualifications that would make them a good fit for a specified opportunity. It is meant to market the nurse. A registered nurse (RN) letter of recommendation will usually contain sender and recipient’s information, introduction, skills and qualifications, examples of how the applicant utilizes the skills at work, and a conclusion.