As a leader at your facility, you may be asked to provide referrals for staff nurses who are pursuing higher education, such as those applying to certified registered nurse anesthesia (CRNA) programs. We put together this CRNA letter of recommendation sample and section-by-section guide to help you craft an organized, professional, and compelling letter.
Because administering anesthesia is a critical role in healthcare that comes with inherent risk, nurse anesthetist programs look for candidates who are responsible, analytical, and capable of working under stress. CRNA programs are highly competitive, and your input about the candidate's related strengths could make a significant difference.
Writing a Letter of Recommendation for Residency
Before writing a referral for a nurse pursuing the anesthetist career path, it may be helpful to understand what the application process entails and how your letter will contribute. Prospective students will complete a pre-admission checklist that could include:
- BSN degree
- Active RN license
- Relevant work experience
- Prerequisite courses
- CRNA shadowing
- Academic transcripts
- GRE scores
- Professional certifications
- CRNA letter of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Current resume
Your referral will offer a personal assessment of the candidate's potential, including their clinical aptitude and moral character. If you've supervised the nurse applicant in a critical care setting, you can provide valuable insights into how they perform under pressure. Though the letter of recommendation may seem to be just a formality, it carries a lot of weight.
CRNA Letter of Recommendation Template and Tips
Because a reference letter is a critical piece of a successful application packet, you'll want to give the matter some thought. Do you know the applicant well enough to personally attest to their abilities? Only endorse applicants whom you feel can handle the rigorous, doctorate-level training involved and the pressures of the career.
1. Before You Begin: Gather Information
If you agree to write a CRNA letter of recommendation, a good first step is to ask the nurse to give you details about the program they're applying to. As of 2025, all nurse anesthetists are required to have a doctorate degree to practice. There are two common pathways for students to take: Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
Also, be sure to request a list of relevant career highlights including achievements, certifications, and awards. You'll want to showcase the nurse's abilities and attributes with concrete, specific facts, and this list will give you material to draw from.
Add your own notes about what you've seen and experienced with regard to the nurse, with a focus on safe patient care, teamwork, and excellent clinical skills. Once you've gathered some information, you're ready to write.
2. Start With a Professional Greeting and Introduction
Tips: To begin, provide a greeting and introduce yourself. State the reason you're writing, then explain your role and your connection to the applicant.
Use a professional, clear, pleasant tone, and keep your writing concise. When complete, your letter should take up no more than one page. You can use our CRNA letter of recommendation sample to guide your writing style.
Template:
Dear [Name of CRNA Program] Admissions Committee,
My name is [your name], and I am writing to recommend Cristina Lopez to your BSN-to-DNP program. As the nurse manager of the [your facility] Surgical ICU, I have supervised Cristina for the past two years.
I have seen Cristina excel in many diverse and challenging clinical situations and believe that she would do very well in your esteemed program and go on to be an excellent nurse anesthetist.
3. Describe the Candidate's Strengths, Skills, and Qualifications
Tips: In this section of your CRNA letter of recommendation you'll go into some depth about why the candidate is a great fit for the program. Emphasize the candidate's nursing strengths and skills that pertain to the CRNA scope of practice, such as: experience with challenging and complex patients, resilience in demanding situations, and time management skills.
Template:
Across our unit, Cristina is a valued nursing resource due to her deep understanding of pathophysiology, which also benefits her patients. She consistently identifies subtle changes in her patients' conditions and uses impressive critical thinking skills that prevent adverse events.
Her strong communication skills and work on our unit's Quality Council led to the implementation of a standardized transfer report system from operative staff. This contributed to improved scores on our annual Patient Safety and Adverse Event Tracking report.
4. List Personality Attributes and Behavior Traits
Tips: Your next step is to discuss the applicant's positive attributes and behavior traits. Consider the nurse's ability to relate to others on the care team, patients, and patients' family members. You could discuss personality attributes that are desired of a CRNA, such as adaptability and an ability to think clearly under pressure. You may want to include a brief anecdote to emphasize a nurse's unique clinical experience.
Template:
Cristina's team members often commend her unwavering composure in the midst of stress and uncertainty. Patient family members also frequently approach me to share how Cristina's calm presence provides much-needed comfort.
I have witnessed this firsthand. For example, when a patient pulled out his central line, Cristina collaborated with her team to quickly establish a new line and mitigate the risk of infection, all while successfully calming and redirecting her patient.
5. Conclude With a Final Commendation
Tips: Here, you'll want to convey strong support for the applicant, and reiterate the reasons you believe they will succeed. A great letter of recommendation will leave a lasting impression on the reader and help the candidate stand out among the competition.
Template:
These experiences inform my strong belief that Cristina will shine within your BSN-to-DNP program. I am confident in her future success.
6. Provide Your Personal Contact Details for Further Questions
Tips: The recipient of your letter may want to follow up with you, so include your contact details at the end of your letter. Make it clear that you're open to discussing the matter further.
Template:
Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions. I would be happy to discuss Cristina's contributions to our unit in more detail.
Best regards,
[Your name and credentials]
[Place of employment]
[Contact details: email address and phone number]
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