And it was great, I think all nursing school should do this. They did a powerpoint to show the number of hours the student is in class and the number of hours they should be studying at home so the family understands the workload. They also talked about how the family can help the student by picking up the slack at home and being quiet for study times and for just giving some extra consideration at the stress the student is going through. They then took the students and their families for a tour of the nursing building and went through all the lab simulators and clinical areas, explaining what they would be doing in each class. I really enjoyed it and my family did too. No matter how much I tell them how hard its going to be, it always helps to hear it from someone else.

One thing I would recommend is that we noticed many students who showed up, took the tour and left.........without introducing themselves to the instructors or even speaking to the other students. I already made contact with each of my teachers and hopefully made myself known. Even in a little way, you want to make the effort. I think those students who didn't do that maybe don't understand politics of school and getting to know the people you are about to spend 2 years with.

I hope all schools some day will offer this family orientation......

Wow - that is cool.

I think that would be nice.

We do something similar here at UMDNJ-School of Nursing for students new to the accelerated BSN program. Family and friends are invited in with the new students to tour the facilities, and hear from presentations by faculty, admins and current students on tips for success in our very intense 15-week program. http://sn.umdnj.edu

We know that support systems are key to success and want to share that knowledge with those involved.

Fantastic Idea! I wish my school offered something like that! I did take my 10 year old daughter to the building before school started so she could see the labs. She loved it!

Our school did something similar too. Students were highly encouraged to bring up to 2 support people with them to orientation back in Dec, except we didn't get a tour. It would have been nice if DH could have been there, but orientation started at 5 and he doesn't get off work until 6, and even then he wouldn't have made it until it was already over, so meh. I think its GREAT that schools are doing this!

I would be curious to hear which schools are being represented in these posts....

Lynn,

UMDNJ-School of Nursing

My school is Butte Community College in Oroville, California