Free template · Word and PDF

Nurse reference check template

A ready-to-use reference check form for registered and enrolled nurses. It covers the standard verification questions plus eight questions built around patient safety, clinical judgement and how the nurse works across a busy shift.

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  • Free, no sign-up
  • Editable Word file
  • 8 nurse questions

What to focus on in a nurse reference check

For a nurse, the reference that matters most is a recent nurse unit manager or clinical supervisor who saw the candidate on the ward. Ask for specific shifts and incidents, not general praise. Confirm current registration yourself on the official register (in Australia, the Ahpra public register) rather than relying on the referee.

8 reference check questions to ask about a nurse

Ask these after the standard verification and performance questions. They are already in the Word and PDF template.

  1. 1.Which ward or setting did the candidate work in, and what was a typical patient load for them?
  2. 2.Tell me about a time the candidate noticed a patient deteriorating. What did they do, and how quickly?
  3. 3.How did the candidate handle medication administration and checking? Were there any medication incidents?
  4. 4.How well did the candidate hand over at the end of a shift? Was their documentation clear and on time?
  5. 5.Describe how the candidate worked with doctors, allied health and other nurses when the ward was under pressure.
  6. 6.How did the candidate respond to a distressed patient or family member?
  7. 7.How reliable was the candidate with rostered shifts, last-minute changes and overtime?
  8. 8.Would you be comfortable having this nurse care for a member of your own family? Why?

What a strong reference sounds like

  • Specific examples of escalating a deteriorating patient early
  • Clean medication record, or an honest account of an incident and what changed after it
  • Handover and documentation described as clear and consistent
  • The referee would rehire without hesitation

Red flags to follow up

  • Vague answers about patient safety or medication incidents
  • The referee never worked a shift alongside the candidate
  • Repeated sick days or no-shows around weekends and nights
  • Hesitation on the family-care question

Download the nurse reference check template

Free, no sign-up. The Word version is editable; the PDF is ready to print.

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Want more questions? See 35 reference check questions to ask references. Prefer referees to answer online? HiveRef sends the form, chases replies and builds the report. Start with 4 free checks.

Nurse Reference Check Template

For phone or written reference checks. Use the same questions for every referee so answers are comparable.

1. Candidate and referee details

  • Candidate name
  • Role applied for
  • Referee name
  • Referee job title and organisation
  • Referee email and phone
  • Relationship to the candidate (for example, direct manager)
  • Date of reference check
  • Checked by

2. Consent

Confirm the candidate agreed to you contacting this referee. Tell the referee their answers are used only for this hiring decision.

  • Candidate consent confirmed (yes / no)
  • Date consent was given

3. Verification questions

  1. 1.How do you know the candidate, and what was your working relationship?
  2. 2.What were the candidate's start and end dates, as far as you remember them?
  3. 3.What was their job title, and did it change while you worked together?
  4. 4.Did the candidate report to you directly? If not, how often did you see their work?
  5. 5.What were the main reasons the candidate left, as far as you know?

4. Performance questions

  1. 6.Which parts of the role did the candidate own day to day?
  2. 7.Tell me about a deadline the candidate missed or nearly missed. What happened next?
  3. 8.Give an example of the candidate producing good work with incomplete information.
  4. 9.What result improved while they were in the role, and what was their contribution?
  5. 10.When results were below expectations, how did they respond to feedback?
  6. 11.What skill did the candidate develop most while you worked together?

5. Nurse questions

  1. 12.Which ward or setting did the candidate work in, and what was a typical patient load for them?
  2. 13.Tell me about a time the candidate noticed a patient deteriorating. What did they do, and how quickly?
  3. 14.How did the candidate handle medication administration and checking? Were there any medication incidents?
  4. 15.How well did the candidate hand over at the end of a shift? Was their documentation clear and on time?
  5. 16.Describe how the candidate worked with doctors, allied health and other nurses when the ward was under pressure.
  6. 17.How did the candidate respond to a distressed patient or family member?
  7. 18.How reliable was the candidate with rostered shifts, last-minute changes and overtime?
  8. 19.Would you be comfortable having this nurse care for a member of your own family? Why?

6. Working style and integrity

  1. 20.Describe a disagreement the candidate had with a colleague. How did they move the work forward?
  2. 21.How did the candidate ask for help when they needed it?
  3. 22.When the candidate made a mistake that affected others, what did they do?
  4. 23.What would you tell a new manager about working with this person?

7. Closing questions

  1. 24.Is there anything we have not asked that you think we should know?
  2. 25.What kind of manager or team would get the best out of this person?
  3. 26.Would you hire or work with this person again? Why or why not?

8. Recommendation

  • Overall: recommend / recommend with reservations / do not recommend
  • Strengths confirmed
  • Concerns or follow-ups
  • Signed and dated

Do not ask about health, family, age, religion or other protected personal information, and check the law where you hire.

Frequently asked questions

How many references should I check for a nurse?

Two is the usual minimum, and at least one should be a nurse unit manager or clinical supervisor from the last two years. For senior or specialist roles, add a third.

Does a reference check replace registration and screening checks?

No. A reference check gathers feedback from people who worked with the nurse. Check registration on the official register and run any screening your sector requires through the proper channels.

Can I ask a referee about a nurse's health or sick leave?

Do not ask about health conditions or medical history. You can ask whether the candidate was reliable with rostered shifts, and leave health out of it.

Send these nurse questions online instead.

HiveRef emails the referees, chases them for you and puts every answer into one report. First 4 checks free, no card needed.

Start freeSee a sample report