Letter of Recommendation for Nursing School — Free Template
Nursing programs want students who are academically prepared and who can stay calm, careful and compassionate around patients. A recommendation from a science instructor, health care supervisor or nurse who has worked with the applicant can speak to both. This version is built around that combination.
Your details
No account needed. Your letter updates as you type.
Live preview
Free to preview[Your full name]
[Your email and phone number]
October 15, 2026
Re: Letter of recommendation for [Name of the person you're recommending]
Dear Nursing Admissions Committee,
It is my pleasure to recommend [Name of the person you're recommending] for nursing school. [How you know them, and for how long]
[Their key strengths]
One example shows the kind of person [Name of the person you're recommending] is. [A specific example or story]
Based on everything I have seen, I recommend [Name of the person you're recommending] [How strongly you recommend them]. I am confident [Name of the person you're recommending] will bring the same ability, care and commitment to this next step.
Please feel free to contact me at [Your email and phone number] if you would like any more information.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
- Clean PDF + editable Word (.docx)
- No watermark, print-ready on US Letter
- Download link emailed to you
One-time payment, secure checkout by Stripe. FairLetter is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Letters are templates you customize and send yourself.
Speak to both care and capability
Nursing admissions readers look for compassion, communication, reliability and the ability to handle demanding academic and clinical work. Describe how the applicant treats patients or clients and how they handle responsibility, pressure and detail.
If you're a nurse or health care supervisor, your view of the applicant's clinical instincts is especially valuable. Describe a moment when they noticed something, followed procedure or advocated for a patient.
Protect patient privacy
When you share an example from a health care setting, leave out patient names and identifying details. Describe the situation in general terms, as the example does.
Some nursing programs use their own recommendation forms or rating scales. Ask the applicant how the program collects letters and by when.
Mistakes to avoid
Avoid generic statements like "would make a great nurse" without examples that show why. Don't overstate the applicant's clinical role; describe their tasks accurately, especially if they worked as an aide or volunteer. And don't include any details that could identify a patient or resident, even indirectly, such as room numbers, dates of specific events or unusual diagnoses.
What to do, step by step
Agree to write it only if you can be positive
A lukewarm recommendation can hurt more than no letter at all. If you don't know the person well enough to be specific and enthusiastic, say so and suggest someone who does.
Ask for the details you need
Get the deadline, where the letter goes, who it should be addressed to and what the opportunity is. A résumé, job posting or program description helps you choose the right strengths to highlight.
Fill in your letter
Answer the questions above. Lead with how you know the person, pick two or three strengths that fit the opportunity, and back them up with one concrete example.
Keep it to one page and proofread it
Most readers skim. Three or four short paragraphs, the person's name spelled correctly and no generic filler will do more than a long letter.
Send it the way the recipient asks
Upload it to the application portal, email it as a PDF or hand a signed copy to the candidate. Keep a copy in case you're asked to write another one later.
What if you don't know the person well enough to write a strong letter?
It's fine to say no. A short, honest reply such as "I don't think I know your work well enough to write the strong letter you deserve" is kinder than a vague recommendation that admissions officers or hiring managers will read as a warning sign.
If you're willing but unsure what to say, ask the person for a quick list of things you worked on together, the qualities they'd like you to speak to and any accomplishments you may not know about. Many strong letters start from a conversation like this.
If you can only speak to part of their experience, write about that part honestly and specifically. A narrow letter with a real example is usually more useful than a broad one full of general praise.
Example letter of recommendation for nursing school
A filled-in sample with made-up details, so you can see the finished result.
Monica Hayes
Charge Nurse, Brookside Senior Living
mhayes@brooksideliving.com, (555) 728-4416
October 5, 2026
Re: Letter of recommendation for Tyler Jackson
Dear Nursing Admissions Committee,
It is my pleasure to recommend Tyler Jackson for nursing school. I have supervised Tyler as a certified nursing assistant on our memory care unit at Brookside Senior Living for the past two years.
Tyler is compassionate, observant and dependable. He treats every resident with dignity, follows care plans carefully and documents changes accurately. He also asks good clinical questions and often spends his breaks reading up on conditions our residents live with.
One example shows the kind of person Tyler Jackson is. One evening Tyler noticed that a resident who usually ate well had barely touched her dinner and seemed unusually confused. He reported it to me right away, and we found early signs of an infection that was treated before it became serious. That kind of attention is exactly what makes a good nurse.
Based on everything I have seen, I recommend Tyler Jackson without reservation. I am confident Tyler Jackson will bring the same ability, care and commitment to this next step.
Please feel free to contact me at mhayes@brooksideliving.com, (555) 728-4416 if you would like any more information.
Sincerely,
Monica Hayes
Charge Nurse, Brookside Senior Living
Frequently asked questions
Who should write a nursing school recommendation?
Strong choices include science instructors, especially in anatomy, physiology or chemistry, nurses or supervisors from a health care job or volunteer role, and employers who can speak to reliability. Many programs ask for one academic and one professional reference.
Can a non-medical employer write one?
Yes. Customer service, caregiving, retail or hospitality supervisors can speak to communication, reliability and handling stress, all important in nursing. Focus on those transferable qualities.
Should I mention the applicant's certifications?
If you know they hold a certification, like a nursing assistant certificate or CPR card, you can mention it, but the program will verify credentials directly. Your letter is most valuable for describing character and work habits.
How long should the letter be?
One page is typical. Follow any length or format instructions the program provides.
What should a letter of recommendation include?
Explain who you are and how you know the candidate, including how long. Then describe two or three specific strengths relevant to the opportunity, support them with a concrete example, and close with a clear statement of your recommendation and your contact details so the reader can follow up.
How long should a letter of recommendation be?
Usually one page, or roughly 300 to 500 words. Admissions committees and hiring managers read many letters, so a focused letter with one strong example is more effective than a long one. Some graduate programs expect a little more detail, so check any instructions you've been given.
FairLetter is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Letters are templates you customize and send yourself.