NS Orientation--What to expect?

momathoner09, BSN, MSN, APRN · Jul 22, 2007

First off- you could call the school first thing in the am to double check the answers to those questions. I would definetly bring something to write on and with. You may not get a lunch since it is only 4 hours. There shouldn't be a math test if they did not tell you about one but you never know.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 22, 2007

I would expect you to get a packet from the school with information. There may be some things you have to fill out that day and other things that are just informative.

You may be sitting through an OHSHA training or a fire safety training.

You will probably hear them giving you more specifics about the school.

A pen and note pad never hurts.

I would not be stressed and wouldn't expect any tests. I would expect this to be an information giving session to help your new phase of life start off easily.

Good luck!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2007

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/first-day-nursing-school-235170.html

SoulShine75 · Jul 22, 2007

during our orientation we filled out a lot of paper work, turned in our immunization records, cpr certificates, background checks and drug screens. they also provided lunch and we heard from a few school organizations (nursing related) that we could join. we covered the syllabus and the student handbook, we also introduced ourselves and talked about our medical backgrounds, or lack thereof and had to explain why we wanted to be a nurse. they covered their expectations of us and talked a lot about how difficult our journey would be. (thanks a lot! :uhoh3: lol) they also covered things we would need: uniforms (what was and wasn't acceptable), our lab kits, certain supplies needed (stethescope, index cards, bandage scissors, pen lights etc). we went over our schedule and they explained that it was subject to change at any given time. (boy, were they right!:uhoh21:) they covered some of the skills we'd be learning and explained all about the skills lab and our time and commitment to learning.

basically, we just covered everything and then we were set free. i'm about to graduate in december and i still remember orientation like it was yesterday. we all felt so scared and i'm sure many of us were having second thoughts. :lol2: you kind of feel like all of this is thrust at you and they give you a shove and say "good luck". atleast that is what i felt like at that time.

i doubt they'd give you a math test unless they tell you about it first. that would be dirty eh? surely they'll let you know when your tests are, but you never know so give them a ring just to be sure.

good luck and let us know how it goes.

time2fly · Jul 22, 2007

Our orientation comes in two days. We had one in July where it was all day from 9-4. We got a 2hr lunch break where we had to do drug testing and buy our uniforms at that time. They also gave us a lot of information. What classes would be like, what our schedules would be like, how nursing school works, etc. It was pretty informal we got to meet some of our teachers and played some "get to know you" games with our class. Actually I thought it was a lot of fun and made me more excited. Our next orientation is on August 13th and then we are supposed to get all our books, our PDA's, our final schedules, and well... I'm not really sure what else. Don't stress about orientation, be excited and have fun and look forward to all that's ahead of you.

Jilaweez, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 23, 2007

Hi natrrgrl,

How was your orientation?

*Blessed2BaNRS* · Jul 23, 2007

during our orientation we filled out a lot of paper work, turned in our immunization records, cpr certificates, background checks and drug screens. they also provided lunch and we heard from a few school organizations (nursing related) that we could join. we covered the syllabus and the student handbook, we also introduced ourselves and talked about our medical backgrounds, or lack thereof and had to explain why we wanted to be a nurse. they covered their expectations of us and talked a lot about how difficult our journey would be. (thanks a lot! lol) they also covered things we would need: uniforms (what was and wasn't acceptable), our lab kits, certain supplies needed (stethescope, index cards, bandage scissors, pen lights etc). we went over our schedule and they explained that it was subject to change at any given time. (boy, were they right!:uhoh21:) they covered some of the skills we'd be learning and explained all about the skills lab and our time and commitment to learning.

my orientation will be something like soulshine's. i have a schedule, which shows that orientation is 2 days long from 8:00-6:00. we do have lunch, but it is a working lunch provided by the student nurse association, and the whole time is spent filling out forms, learning the syllabus, getting familiar with the textbooks and classes and finding out about everything we will be doing.

hope yours went well.

natrgrrl · Jul 24, 2007

Hi natrrgrl,
How was your orientation?

Orientation was not as exciting as I hoped it would be.

I did get to meet some of my new classmates. A lot of the info we got was strictly for 2nd year students and that was confusing for a while. We did paperwork and tried on uniforms. We got to see our textbooks but we can't put our orders in yet.

I am so excited for school to start but the 2nd year students kept saying how DIFFICULT it is. I guess the good news is that they came back for more. Their NCLEX PN pass rate is 100% so far.

Jilaweez, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 24, 2007

That sounds like par for the course. How are your uniforms?

If the second year students came back for more it couldn't have been TOO bad.

natrgrrl · Jul 24, 2007

How are your uniforms?

Let's just say that we got to try on the navy blue but we have to wear white. The tops are heavy poly/cotton but the bottoms are flimsy and thin. I think I'm going to go buy my own non see through white pants. The school uniforms also have draw strings. I hate those. I am always pulling up my pants while I'm walking down the hall.

Anyone know where to get white no-show pants without a drawstring?