Letter of recommendation for nursing school is a signed letter in which a teacher or supervisor describes a student’s skills and potential as a future member of the nursing profession. Admissions committees read it to learn more than grades can show, so strong letters of recommendation matter for any BSN, ABSN or MSN application. This guide covers who can write one, how to ask and what to include. You can also start from our general letter of recommendation template.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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In common practice, medical schools require three letters of recommendation to get a comprehensive knowledge of the applicant. Any person intending to join a nursing school should have three recommendation letters. Usually, two letters are written by science professors and one by a non-science professor.
Pick a teacher from a class where you earn high grades. That teacher can give concrete examples of your achievements, which makes the letter more convincing.
If your professor teaches a large class and cannot get to know you well, ask a teaching assistant. The assistant can help the head professor write the letter and add details about your goals and achievements. You can also visit the professor during office hours and take an active part in class so that they remember you.
Other people who can write a recommendation include:
In short, almost anyone who holds a teaching or administrative position at your school can write the letter. The writer’s position matters, so it appears in the letter header.
Ask your chosen writer early and make the task easy for them. Give the professor, assistant or supervisor the documents below, so they can link your past and current achievements to the nursing school you want to join.
With these details, the writer can present a complete picture of you and match the letter to your application.
Prepare the ground well before you ask. You do not need to push for attention. Take part in class, ask questions and show that the work matters to you, both for your current studies and for your future. A good relationship with the professor helps them write a truthful and specific nursing student letter of recommendation.
A nursing school letter of recommendation has two parts: identification details and a description of the applicant’s achievements and potential. The letter can be a deciding factor for the admissions committee, so each point deserves care. It is not a piece of fiction about how excellent the student is. It is an honest picture backed by proof.
The identification part includes:
Write out full legal names. Even if you work at a well-known college or school, avoid abbreviations and colloquialisms.
The content part covers the achievements and prospects of the applicant. Cover these points:
Back your points with facts, such as certificates and internships. As the University of Washington campus website states, a good recommendation letter reveals academic achievement, while a great one also demonstrates the student’s personal qualities. The next section describes how to present these points in the main body of the letter.
Along with grades, a nursing letter can describe personal qualities. Consider mentioning:
Support each quality with one short example, such as a clinical placement or a student event the applicant helped organize.
Structurally, the letter has three core parts: the introduction, the main body and the conclusion. Add a letterhead at the top and a signature at the end. Work through the parts in this order:
Enter the full name of the author of the message and add details about the educational institution.
Greet the reader and state your role and department at the educational institution. Briefly introduce the applicant, including their current status and the nature of your relationship. Also say how long you have known each other.
This part usually consists of two paragraphs. Generally, the first covers the student’s results in class, while the second reveals their personal characteristics.
In the first paragraph, specify the student’s grades and internships, if any. Demonstrate their progress during the training and qualities that led them to success, confirming continuous development. This paragraph covers more general information, while the following one details the data.
In the second paragraph, specify the character traits that help the student deal with tasks and cooperate with classmates and teachers. Show the student’s perseverance in achieving study goals, their organizational and leadership skills. Give examples of cases when the student participated in the organization of school events and describe why your student is an ideal candidate for the nursing position.
In both paragraphs, provide anecdotes confirming your thesis, as well as the names of certificates, internships, and other achievements. Your goal in this part is to prove your student’s uniqueness and peculiarity and their prospects in the field. Use the usual rhetorical scheme when the thesis is accompanied by an anecdote that confirms the statement.
Summarize the key points of your comments above. Emphasize the connection of the student’s education and experience with the course they apply for. Specify your phone number and email address and state that you are ready to provide additional information, if necessary.
Affix your signature and the date when you wrote the letter.
Before you read the sample letters, review what to do and what to avoid when writing a nursing school recommendation. These quick checks keep the letter clear, honest and focused on the student.
Each medical school has its rules for creating recommendation papers, so please refer to educational institutions’ official websites for more details.
These three sample letters of recommendation for nursing school cover different situations. Replace each blank and each (he or she) choice with details about the person you are recommending, then adjust the wording to match your own experience and the instructions of the school.
Dear Admissions Committee,
I am proud to recommend ___________ (full applicant’s name), who is applying for admission to the ___________ (name of the university) University’s nursing program. I have taught them in the four courses during ___________ (duration, for example, term(s) or academic year(s)). Along this time, they have shown outstanding academic ability and hard work.
As ___________’s (applicant’s name) teacher, I have witnessed their passion for subjects related to family medicine and child health. To this, they attended courses ___________ (list the subjects that are related to the student’s future specialization). ___________ (applicant’s name) has been an active participant in nursing seminars, which (he or she) has always carefully prepared for in advance.
In ___________ (specify the dates) (he or she) spoke at a student panel discussion with a report on ___________ (indicate the topic). (He or She) prepared a report for the ___________ conference (name the conference) and made a presentation on ___________ (specify the date).
I do not know a more hardworking and patient person than ___________ (applicant’s name). I have always admired (his or her) compassion and empathy for patients. These qualities, however, do not prevent (him or her) from strictly and carefully compiling medical records. Diligence and ___________ (name other positive personal attributes) make (him or her) an outstanding student who is willing to learn constantly.
___________’s (applicant’s name) dedication and kindness make (him or her) worthy of your nursing program. I am deeply convinced that (he or she) will make a meaningful and crucial contribution if accepted. I am ready to provide you with more information about ___________’s (applicant’s name) academic achievements, so do not hesitate to contact me via ___________ (your phone number) or ___________ (email address).
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter confidently recommends ___________ (full applicant’s name), who has worked as a nurse practitioner at ___________ (name the institution) under my supervision for ___________ (specify the term). During this time, (he or she) has shown professionalism and empathy towards patients, which is a rare combination.
___________ (applicant’s name) is the most hardworking and involved person I have ever supervised. (He or She) makes creative and intelligent use of the high-quality education (he or she) acquired at ___________ (name the college or university). (He or She) always finds a solution in difficult situations (provide an anecdote). ___________ (applicant’s name) desire to develop and study medical cases in detail is overwhelming. During (his or her) work, (he or she) had an internship ___________ (specify the name, duration, and location) regarding nursing issues.
___________ (applicant’s name) is always able to find a personal approach to the patient, making (his or her) stay in the clinic not only productive but also pleasant. The quality of (his or her) work is proven with practice since patients know (him or her) and seek (his or her) services. I will not exaggerate if I say that ___________ (applicant’s name) is in some way the face of our clinic.
I am sad to see ___________ (applicant’s name) leave our clinic, but I confidently recommend (him or her) for any nursing position as they deserve it. At (his or her) current job, (he or she) has established (himself or herself) as a brilliant, responsible, and executive employee. I am convinced that having (him or her) as a member of your staff will be a valuable asset. If you would like to know more, please call ___________ (your phone number) or email ___________ (email address) me.
Knowing your graduate program as having high academic standards with a personal approach to students, I recommend ___________ (full applicant’s name) for admission. I have known (him or her) as (his or her) teacher for ___________ (specify the term) at ___________ (name the university). (He or she) is, forsooth, the most talented student in the class.
Throughout (him or her) training, ___________ (applicant’s name) maintained a consistently high learning score. (He or she) attended additional electives related to nursing, such as ___________ (name the courses and specify the number of credits). (He or she) also took part in conferences within our university and other educational institutions. These are such events as ___________ (list the names of conferences and panel discussions and specify the dates). During the practical classes, ___________ (applicant’s name) proved to be capable of applying theoretical knowledge appropriately.
___________ (applicant’s name) knows how to keep (his or her) cool and works well under pressure, which is a valuable quality for a nurse. (He or she) is a calm and patient person who can find a solution quickly when it is necessary. ___________ (applicant’s name) has a sound mind and never panics. Despite (his or her) high workload, (he or she) always helps classmates and colleagues who are stuck in their endeavors.
With (his or her) outstanding abilities in mind, I strongly recommend ___________ (applicant’s name) for your program. I am sure that (his or her) graduate training will give our medicine a highly educated worker, whether they are a theorist or a practitioner after that. I am ready to tell you more about ___________ (applicant’s name), so if you have any questions, please send them to the email ___________ (point out address) or call me by phone ___________ (specify the number).
As you can see, letters of recommendation for nursing school balance the personal and the formal. Follow a structure that helps you present your opinion briefly and consistently. The document does not use rigid formal language, so you can write in your own words within reasonable limits. Use vivid adjectives and precise characteristics that readers remember, and add anecdotes, because without them the letter is less convincing.
Ask a teacher from a class where you earned high grades, a teaching assistant who knows your work, or a supervisor from a research project or volunteer group. Choose someone who can describe your skills with real examples.
Share your CV, your nursing school application and information about the school or the graduate track. A short list of your achievements, such as grades, internships and volunteer work, also helps.
Keep it to a letterhead, a short introduction, one or two main paragraphs, a brief conclusion and a signature. That layout is easy to read and fits on a single page.
Yes. Copy the sample that fits your situation, fill in every blank, choose the right pronouns and adjust the wording so it reflects your real experience with the applicant.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
