Family at school orientation?

Nurses General Nursing

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Do you think it would be okay to bring a family member to you nursing schools orientation?(it doesn't say on my letter if it was okay or not)

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Do you think it would be okay to bring a family member to you nursing schools orientation?(it doesn't say on my letter if it was okay or not)
Congratulations on your acceptance into nursing school! It would be absolutely disastrous to bring a family member to nursing school orientation.

Bringing a family member to your school's orientation would give your nursing instructors the impression that you have not fully launched into adulthood, especially if the person you bring is a parent. Arriving alone in a timely manner will signify that you are a mature adult who is ready to attend to the needs of future patients.

Good luck to you!

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I'm going to add one more thing here, because the OP's post reminds me of another student who was facing being thrown out of school for bringing someone to a clinical. I seem to think it was a boyfriend, don't remember, but the "other party" was nearby while she was charting, reading patient charts, etc. She didn't see a problem with it as I recall, but it was so clearly a HIPPA violation in action we were surprised she DIDN'T see the issue.

School is for YOU. Clinical environments allow YOU to attend. Your family can show up at your graduation, in the audience :)

I remember that thread.

Specializes in ccu.
I remember that thread.

What was she thinking?! Can you link that thread? I can't find it. I'm seriously wondering how she would think that was okay.

Wow, I go to orientation on Monday and it says in the letter "family members are encouraged to attend". Selecting non-nursing classess, ordering uniforms, receiving book list, obtaining school ID.....I guess just like most things, not a one size fits all. You really need to investigate your individual circumstance. With that being said, if it does not explicitly say something about bringing someone with you, I would NOT do it.

Specializes in Urology, ENT.

Huh. My nursing school allowed it. They strongly encouraged it actually. I suppose it depends on the nursing school in question.

Specializes in General.

When my daughter had orientation at SLU they had a parent reception which was very nice and encouraged parents to attend. We went but did not attend any of her classroom orientations. We met up in between her scheduled meetings and then went out for a nice dinner to celebrate. It also gave us a chance to check out some of the local culture.

Why would you even question this? You wouldn't bring them to a new job orientation.

Specializes in LTC.

.....why do you want to????? Way to be the laughing stockof school

This has really got me thinking with some of the posts on here regarding this subject. I will let you know after Monday how many showed up by themselves and how many had someone with them. Like I said, my letter said family members are encouraged to attend. But wonder why such a spectrum?

Could some schools be encouraging family to attend to help with the understanding of just how difficult and time consuming nursing school is? I am thinking of someone that is married. Would it help for the spouse to get a little glimpse of what is coming and how this will change the family dynamic? Just a thought.

Specializes in CCM, PHN.

I think the wide range of answers has something to do with the definition of "orientation" by each school. Every school has a different program. Some schools "nursing program orientation" is an "introductory" event where families are encouraged to attend, featuring very basic intros, info, and speakers from different departments, Q&A with reps from campus resources, a tour, swag bags and lunch/punch & cookies.

Some schools have an "orientation" that is intended as an event for students only - where they line up to get books, schedules, registration passes, order scrubs & equipment, sign up for services, talk with advisors and generally gather their needed items and info for the actual start of classes.

I think that's why there's such a wild range of answers here. My school had both. The "family welcome" orientation was 2 weeks before the start of classes, then 2 days before was the "student" orientation where we got all our stuff.

...and I apparently can't spell HIPAA. Sigh. Won't let me edit my typo!

Specializes in Hospice.

I wouldn't even have thought of that. I doubt I would even bring anyone even if I could, I will be busy taking notes and listening intently to speakers and I would feel like the person I brought would have to be "entertained" and that would make me feel rushed and distracted. But, like some of these posts said, if the school put it in the letter that family is encouraged to attend, then that's different, especially for someone who is fresh out of high school and whose parents are paying for their education! I went to orientation for my kids's college, JMU. I had a great time too! But then, every students parents were there and it wasn't a specific program's orientation.

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