How to Write a Nurse Recommendation Letter: 5 Tips

Most organizations require candidates to submit a nurse recommendation letter from employers or supervisors as part of a nursing job application. This reference can help hiring managers get a feel for a candidate’s clinical ability, work ethic, and personality.

If you’ve been asked to write a reference letter, it’s important to be detailed and honest. Healthcare organizations are looking for high-quality professional nurses and want to make sure that each potential employee is the right fit for their company.

The following nursing recommendation letter template can help you construct an organized and well-written reference. We provide tips on content to include in each section to help showcase your colleague as the best candidate for the job.

Why Is a Nursing Reference Letter Important?

A nurse recommendation letter is one of the few key items an employer will reference when determining the right candidate for their position. Resumes, cover letters, and employee references are used to decide who moves forward to the interview stage.

Companies often look to hire candidates with strong teamwork, communication, and delegation skills to improve nursing satisfaction throughout their organization. Sharing details about a candidate’s specialized abilities and experience can help them progress to the next phase in the process.

It’s important that your recommendation letter is truthful and accurate, as your employee recommendation can reflect your organization’s shared opinion of the individual. Companies will often judge your facility based on the employee’s performance at their facility, so make sure to endorse only the best candidates.

Nurse Recommendation Letter Template: 5 Tips

A recommendation letter should feel personal yet informative. Writing in a conversational tone can help convey the history of your professional relationship while answering employer questions.

Follow the strategies below to organize your nurse reference letter and help your colleague stand out. We guide you through an example letter for an employee named Joshua Gonzales.

1. Start With a Professional Greeting and Introduction

Tips: Start by introducing yourself and state your role at your current organization. Describe how you know the candidate and share the length of time you worked together.

Showing an employer that you’ve supervised or worked with the candidate for an extended period of time shows them the strength of your relationship. It also tells them that you have an accurate and thorough understanding of the applicant’s job performance over time.

If you know the employer’s name, address them specifically. If their identity is unknown, the greeting “To whom it may concern” is considered professional and appropriate.

Template:

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is [your name], and I am writing this letter of recommendation on behalf of Joshua Gonzales, whom I have worked with for the last seven years. I have had the privilege of supervising Joshua at [facility name], where we work as clinical nurses in the cardiac intensive care unit. Joshua has demonstrated a passion for patient care, and his incredible work ethic makes him an ideal employee for any organization.

2. Describe the Candidate’s Strengths, Skills, and Qualifications

Tips: Whether you’re writing an ambulatory care, med-surg, or ICU nurse recommendation letter, it’s important to share specific skills or attributes that highlight your colleague’s clinical professionalism and excellence.

Be concise; the employer already has access to a candidate’s resume, which lists accolades, years of experience, and certifications. Take this opportunity to share stories that might not have been included in the candidate’s application.

Template:

From his first day on the job, Joshua’s shown a willingness to learn and grow as part of our professional team. He came with over 10 years of clinical experience working in a variety of acute care settings. Still, he constantly looks for ways to improve patient care, and earned his CCRN certification as soon as he was qualified. Joshua is always on time and goes above and beyond to help our team perform at its best.

Joshua often volunteers to mentor new-graduate nurses, and received our facility-wide leadership award for his development of a standardized orientation handbook for cardiac nurses. When our unit needs a nurse to present a conference poster, collaborate with device representatives, or educate patient groups, he is always there to lend a hand.

3. List Personality Attributes and Behavior Traits

Tips: At this point in the application process, it’s unlikely that the hiring manager has ever met your colleague. Help employers understand what it’s like to work with them, and note characteristics that portray the candidate as adaptable and solution-oriented.

Template:

Team members describe Joshua as driven, collaborative, and creative as he constantly strives to develop evidence-based strategies through unit research. He always brings a positive attitude to work and finds every opportunity to optimize patient and staff wellness.

Joshua’s name is frequently mentioned in positive patient surveys, and he has been nominated for three Daisy Awards for his compassion, innovation, and selflessness. He helped our team win its first Beacon Award by providing aromatherapy and massage treatments as part of a quality improvement project to enhance the patient experience.

4. Conclude With a Final Commendation

Tips: Finish your nurse recommendation letter with a strong conclusion, restating your respect for the candidate’s abilities and approving them for the position. Share that you’ve enjoyed working with the applicant, and that any facility would be lucky to have them as part of their nursing team.

Template:

Joshua Gonzales would make an incredible addition to your nursing team. His clinical expertise and impeccable attitude make working with him enjoyable and productive. It is with great honor that I recommend him for the cardiac intensive care nurse position at your organization.

5. Provide Your Personal Contact Details for Further Questions

Tips: Make it clear that you are willing to share additional details on the candidate’s qualifications if requested by the employer. Under your signature, provide your phone number, email address, and business address to make it easy for the employer to reach out to you with any questions or comments.

Template:

Feel free to reach out with any additional questions. I would be happy to further discuss Joshua’s clinical abilities and his team-oriented approach. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

[Your name and credentials]

[Place of employment]

[Email address]

[Phone number]

Find More Ways to Improve Career Satisfaction and Advance Nursing Professionalism

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