1305 North Martin Avenue

P.O. Box 210203

Tucson, AZ 85721-0203
Tel: (520) 626-6152
Fax: (520) 626-2669
www.nursing.arizona.edu

October 21, 2015

To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter of recommendation in support of Michelle Splavers application for a
nurse residency or new graduate nursing position at your institution. I had the pleasure of being
Michelles clinical instructor for her pediatric nursing course during the Fall 2014 semester.
This included teaching Michelle during the didactic (lecture) portion of the course, along with
serving as her clinical instructor on the pediatric inpatient units at the University of Arizona
Medical Center - Diamond Childrens (now Banner Childrens Diamond Childrens Medical
Center). During my time with her, Michelle impressed me with her compassion and her ability
to embrace teachable moments with her patients and families. She asked pertinent questions,
and she consistently worked hard to improve on the skills she had learned in class and in clinical.
During her pediatric clinical rotation at Diamond Childrens, Michelle established excellent
rapport with staff and patients/families alike. Michelle was well-liked by her patients, and she
consistently offered help to her peers and the nursing staff whenever she saw a need for
assistance. This often included assisting the patient care techs with completing vital signs on a
variety of patients, answering call lights when other staff members were unable to do so, and
providing parental support and respite when needed. Michelle utilized critical thinking skills to
provide safe and appropriate care for her young patients, and she maintained flexibility when
clinical situations changed. During this rotation, Michelle also began to develop her role as a
patient advocate by working with the interdisciplinary team to ensure the needs of her patients
were being met. Michelle actively participated in patient medical rounds, as well as the daily
nursing care coordination meetings, during which time the patients current and predicted
medical and discharge needs were discussed. Michelle took an active role in her learning, and
she willingly accepted feedback in order to improve her clinical performance and understanding
of the theory behind why she was doing what she was doing. It was rewarding to watch her
grow and develop in this area.
I highly recommend Michelle for a nurse residency or new graduate nursing position at your
institution. She is a delightful student who I think will make a compassionate and skilled nurse.
If you have any questions about this letter of recommendation, please do not hesitate to contact
me via email (smcarson@email.arizona.edu) or phone (520-444-2459).
Sincerely,

Sheri Carson, MSN, RN, CPN, CPNP

Clinical Instructor University of Arizona College of Nursing