Fostering bonding/unity amongst students

[John's lpn bridge]

I'm an lpn to rn that will be starting a high intensity program this January. This school, Baptist Health in Little Rock, is an 8 hour day, 4 day a week program. Basically I'm about to enter a full time job; anyway, I was wondering how I could foster morale, bonding, unity, optimism, and all the warm fuzzy feeling we all love. Since this will be a pretty tough ride, I want to keep everyone as positive as possible. And I think the happier and closer knit we are, the happier we will be. As in going to spend a lot if time with these guys, and I don't want us to get worn down or broken. And ideas or past experiences on what to do, or not to do? I'm a failed rn student going to another school, I've got an "us vs them" chip on me right now, and I think that smiling in the face of hardship and never letting myself look worn down are good ways to keep moving.

-John

[Cuddleswithpuddles]

Us vs. who exactly? The school faculty or the non-LVN students?

I gotta say that my class was really united despite the rockiness that came with a relatively new RN program. We had a student nursing club. I was involved in fundraising, planning the pinning ceremony and went out and partied with the non-LVN students. We acknowledged people's birthdays every month and chipped in for a donut box or cake for everyone. We had a Facebook group page, email and phone list and regularly emailed each other announcements, reminders and neat resources like websites and outside classes like ACLS and EKG.

That and food and booze. Who can't bond over food and booze?? LOL!

[somedaypeds]

I am halfway thru my LPN to ADN program after finals next week. We have a close knit group of professionals. It is nothing like the drama that I experienced during LPN school. Here are some little things you can do that will go a long way to promoting unity:

on the first day of class the instructor usually asks people to introduce themselves. I draw a little seating chart (because people normally sit in the same seats every time) and I write down their names. I keep this little chart in the front of my binder for class. I notice who is more talkative in class and try to make friends with them first. Talk to everyone. Smile at everyone.

If someone is not feeling encouraged after I test, I try to encourage them.

I planned study groups and invited everyone to attend. I help with planning a end of quarter party, ever quarter.

I helped with the creation of a Facebook page and passed out business cards with our page address on it. I frequently remind people to join. I invite students who are rejoining the program in subsequent quarters and make them feel welcome.

I always have gum and freely hand it out before tests.

Above all - always be a professional. Don't engage in gossip about your classmates, don't be loud in the hallway after exams, don't argue your test score with your instructor. Come prepared to clinicals.

You can make a difference.