Advice for nursing students: a word on references
Guys. References are important. Like, super important. So don’t put somebody down as a reference for a job if you haven’t asked them first. I’ve seen this from a couple people on here, and heard about it happening from some of my colleagues. Jobs actually call your references to ask about you. You might be the best student nurse of all time, but if somebody calls for a reference and the person doesn’t know you listed them, it’s going to look REALLY BAD on you. Not only does it make you seem irresponsible and disorganized, but it makes it look like you were trying to trick the recruiter or like you didn’t think you could get a good reference from somebody so you listed a random person.
I asked my capstone preceptor for a reference, and she wrote me a glowing letter of recommendation. Most of the time, we are more than happy to do things like that! We want to help you succeed and we are flattered that you asked us! Letters of rec and references should be given by people who know you, trust you, and will be able to paint a good picture of the kind of nurse you’ll be. They can be your biggest asset to finding a nursing job, so take it seriously!
So who should you ask? My advice is to ask someone who worked with you clinically, as well as someone who worked with you in a classroom setting. Former employers are a good idea too, especially if you’ve been employed in a healthcare setting! I asked my capstone preceptor, one of my clinical instructors, and one of my lecture professors. Give them advance notice so they don’t feel rushed or pressured, and give them a solid date you need the letter by. Additionally, attach letters of rec to applications even if the application doesn’t specifically ask for it. There’s usually a spot to attach extra paperwork - use it!
Ok that was a lot longer than I thought it would be, but if anyone has anything else to add, feel free!
