Nursing Playbook / A working session
Give your reference a clear brief.
Prepare a factual request and a small briefing packet so the person helping you knows the role, the requirement and the submission route.
Make it easy to understand the request
A useful reference brief answers a practical question: what are you asking this person to do, for which application, by when and through which route? Start with the employer's instructions about who may provide the reference and what form it takes. A contact listing, a questionnaire and a letter are different requests.
Ask the person before presenting them as an agreed reference. Someone's willingness to help on a previous application does not establish their availability for this one. The exercise below uses an invented applicant and employer; adapt the method to your actual relationship and requirements.
The working case: Elena asks an instructor
Elena is a fictional nursing student applying to an invented new-graduate role. The instructions accept a reference from a recent instructor and require that person to submit a questionnaire through an employer-provided link. The deadline is November 20 at 5 p.m. in the employer's stated time zone.
Elena took the instructor's course during the previous term. The instructor observed her group presentation and her response to feedback. Elena has confirmed the route and deadline, but she has not yet asked whether the instructor can participate.
A first request might read:
Hello [name], I am applying for [verified role and requisition]. The application accepts a recent instructor reference and asks you to complete a questionnaire through the employer's link by [confirmed deadline and time zone]. Would you be comfortable providing a reference, and does that timing work for you? I can send the instructions, my current resume and a short reminder of the work you observed. Please let me know if you are unavailable.
The request gives the person enough information to decide. It does not announce that the instructor is already listed, dictate a positive assessment or imply that they must agree.
Prepare the brief after agreement
For this fictional case, Elena assembles the following small packet:
On a narrow screen, scroll the table sideways to read each column.
| Part of the brief | What Elena includes | What she leaves out |
|---|---|---|
| Application identity | Exact role, requisition and employer instructions | A general hospital page in place of the actual requirement |
| Submission logistics | Verified link, deadline and stated time zone | An invented earlier employer deadline |
| Her current record | Resume and accurate education stage | Credentials she expects but does not yet hold |
| Shared work reminder | Course, term and the presentation the instructor observed | A letter written for the instructor to pass off as their own judgment |
Her reminder is factual: “In our group presentation, you commented that my section needed clearer transitions. I revised those and practiced the sequence before presenting again.” It helps identify the occasion without telling the instructor what conclusion to draw.
Use only the personal information needed for the request. Patient records, clinical documentation and unrelated identity documents do not belong in this briefing packet.
Work through the response
If the person agrees, record what they agreed to provide and send the promised materials through the appropriate route. If they decline or cannot meet the deadline, thank them and consider another person who fits the employer's requirements. Do not submit their name as an agreed reference anyway.
If they ask for more context, answer the specific question. A concise explanation of the role may be more useful than forwarding several unrelated documents. If the employer sends the questionnaire automatically, tell the person what to expect only to the extent the instructions establish it; do not invent a delivery time.
Agree on a reasonable reminder arrangement where possible. A reminder should identify the application and deadline without implying failure or demanding that the person disclose a confidential assessment.
Keep agreement and completion separate
The blank worksheet has space for request sent, agreement received, materials supplied and submission evidence available. These fields should not all be completed on the day the person says yes.
In Elena's case, the employer portal later shows the reference as received. She records that observation and its date. If her real portal did not show receipt, she would retain the available record and follow the employer's instructions rather than claiming she verified something she could not see.
For the whole application, return to the packet session. For a shorter request-writing exercise, read the reference guide. The download above is an editable briefing worksheet, not a recommendation letter or a way to submit one.
If you need the wider process
The Residency Application Workshop
The workshop connects reference requests with document dependencies, role preferences and submission repair. Its six editable companions support the wider application packet.
27-page PDF · 8-page free preview · Edition 2026.1
$29 USD one-time price. See the product page for current availability.
The free worksheet above is useful on its own. The book is self-directed career preparation; it does not include a personal review or determine eligibility.