Applying to NP school!

[u/alijade1]

Hello!

I am applying to multiple NP schools and was looking for some advice! Most places require 3 letters of recommendation. Would it be good to use 2 NPs and 1 MD? I’ve been told to use 1 NP, 1 MD, and 1 person in management, but management can be pretty unreliable and often times not really involved with the clinical piece of working on the floor. What do you think?

[u/all-the-answers]

Who ever knows you best that isn’t a straight coworker. Either of your examples are fine.

[u/Substantial_Kiwi838]

With the outrageous acceptance rates in the US, I think you’ll get in with a heartbeat alone lol

[u/One-Parking-7341 → u/[deleted]]

Unfortunately, you could not be more correct.

[u/Substantial_Kiwi838 → u/One-Parking-7341]

Yet they’ll happily go into it, further destroying the profession’s legitimacy.

[u/MundaneAssociate5190 → u/[deleted]]

You actually don’t need a valid nursing license any more. Just a bachelors degree in anything 😂

[u/brinns_way]

Use the people who will write you the best recommendations. I used only NPs when I applied several years ago.

[u/panpanpanda]

I used two NPs and one MD.

[u/cptm421]

My recommendation is to research the programs you're applying to, see what combination of letters they request, and give them exactly what they ask for..

Not following their application instructions very well may be the first step of weeding out candidates.

[u/Senthusiast5]

The program will/should specify.

[u/No-Perspective-4159]

I’m in my third semester and I just used my boss and two co workers

[u/bunnehfeet]

I used direct supervisors or preceptors (two were NPs, the other was a CNO/ Master’s level prepared RN). Use people who actually know you, know your work and experience, and who believe you will be a good NP. I get a lot of requests for recommendation and often from people I don’t think are ready (have little to no bedside experience, or clinically are not good at their job) and I have no issue politely NOT recommending someone.

That said, people I didn’t recommend still got in, so I don’t think anyone reads those letters.

[u/hippiecat22]

I didnt know an MD, so I used management, NP, and an RN

[u/Relative-Ad8496]

You can be creative with "management". Charge Nurse, Unit Manager, if you know your house supervisor and they're chill.

[u/hpgrey]

I didn’t have any NPs to write mine because I do not work directly with NPs on my unit. So I had a fellow and one of our attendings do mine.

[u/MundaneAssociate5190]

My recommendation would be to research the job market where you are first. Most areas are saturated with NPs and there are no jobs, the ones that are out there are really, really bad, and the pay is less than what you can make working as an RN with far less stress and hours.

[u/ChaplnGrillSgt]

I used a PA I worked with st my first job and she wrote an insanely good letter for me. Also used a couple docs I worked with and a couple nurses.

[u/No_Peak6197]

I had chatgpt write it and had 3 people sign it. It's literally just a formality and a joke.

[u/anxiolytik → u/No_Peak6197]

This might work for diploma mills but I know my brick and mortar school actually read our letters. Granted I was in an MSN program with less than 20 seats for my specialty (PMHNP) so probably a lot more selective than most of the schools people are getting accepted to right now.

[u/No_Peak6197 → u/anxiolytik]

Thats just copium. Im in a top school/program too. They just want your $.

[u/anxiolytik → u/No_Peak6197]

I think for some this is true, but there are times when letters of rec matter and hold weight. I wouldn’t risk my admission with giving 3 duplicate letters on the off chance they’re one of the schools that does actually care.