HELENA MORRISON, PHD RN

Assistant Professor
Department of Biobehavioral Nursing
C: (520) 331 8802 | hmorriso@email.arizona.edu

To: 3E Medical Surgical Unit Manager

Re: Haley Kennedy

November 8, 2019

It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend and support Haley Kennedy’s application for
employment as a nurse at the Veterans Affairs Hospital 3E Medical Surgical Unit. I have known
Ms. Kennedy for about 11 years starting when she was a young school-aged girl and child to my
best friend. Over these years, I have observed this young, polite, tenacious young child grow
into an intelligent, accomplished and caring young woman. She never hesitated to politely
engage with the adults around her. Because of her open and respectful nature, we have often
talked about her future and over these years I, along with her Aunt, encouraged her to enter the
nursing profession. Nursing is a perfect match that incorporates her knowledge and intelligence
with an inherent compassion and caring that she demonstrates to all that know her and work
with her. I am now fortunate to see her bright face on campus and in my workplace as she
becomes a nurse.

While I am an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at University of Arizona, I am

providing a personal reference in support of this application because I am not directly involved
in her education and cannot provide specifics on Ms. Kennedy’s academic achievements. In my
own work, I primarily educate graduate students. I can, however, mention that I interact with
many undergraduate and graduate students and I know that Ms. Kennedy consistently
demonstrates a maturity that places here in the top 1% of the students with whom I interact. She
is dedicated, on time, responsible and communicates well. I know this because she has, for the
past 5 years, been our house sitter and pet care-taker. We entrust her with our house and furry
children during long trips because she is responsible and trustworthy. She is level-headed,
dependable, seeks out appropriate clarification when problems arise, and makes responsible
decisions when they are needed. I know that these attributes are the basis for her success in
her educational endeavors.

Personally, I know that acquiring an education in nursing is hard work. It requires tenacity,
intelligence and organization. Ms. Kennedy possesses all of these elements and will soon enter
the workforce to be an excellent and successful nurse; she will be of high value to the
community of patients that she will serve. For these reasons, she is a wonderful candidate for a
nursing position at the VA in the medical surgical unit. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I
can provide any additional information.

Sincerely,

Helena Morrison, Ph.D. RN

1305 N. Martin Avenue, PO Box 210203 ▲ Tucson, AZ 85721 ▲ www.nursing.arizona.edu