Orientation, does everyone get one?

Iwannabeababynurse · Aug 3, 2006

i'm a first time student been out of high school for ten years.when i went and got my schedule they put me in a orientation class. at first i didn't understand why they placed me in a class like that especially after reading the description of the class. so i asked them what was the point of the class. they told me that all the freshman/first time students had to take the class that it was a one time thing.and the orientation is on my first day of school and its only for 50 minutes. but i also have a workshop date which is part of the orientation too.

VRN-RN · Aug 3, 2006

well the way my school did it was for freshmen they have like a 1 night 2 day kinda thing. all they do is talk about the campus, financing etc. you know stuff that familiarize newcomers. For transfers, we got our schedule, they just talked about basic stuff. you would do orientation through out the summer. kinda wet your feet thing.

AuntieRN · Aug 3, 2006

Our orientation for our program was 2 weeks before the first class started. they went over stuff like the student handbook, the ADN handbook, what was expected of us, uniforms, department policies, what was expected regarding clinicals, books, we met our professors....I forget what else but it was stuff like that. I think it lasted about 3 hours and then one of the hospitals brought us lunch.

chickapin · Aug 3, 2006

I had a day-long orientation in August for my BSN program. The first half of the day we got congratulated on our acceptance, a bit of info passed out to us, they went over the program a bit, and then we listened to presentations from the area hospitals so we could make informed decisions about which ones we wanted to pick for our clinical site. Then we had lunch, during which we ranked our choice of clinical site, went back in to listen to listen to more about the program and got to ask questions about things. During the q&a session, some professors were off in another room, assigning people to the clinical teams. They came back, told us what teams we were on, we broke into our teams, talked a little more about clinicals, and then we were free to go, though most people went and registered for classes then. Anyway, they did give us A LOT of information about what to expect and I am thankful we had an orientation. However, it was weeks ago and school doesn't start 'til the 28th!! Gotta get us very nervous about the program months before it starts! Well, maybe they are just late getting the info to you? Maybe there will be an orientation right before school starts? Try calling the school and ask them to be sure!

StudentNurseAbby · Aug 3, 2006

I have a student orientation for all programs which is an all day thing on Aug. 15th. On August 30th, I have my nursing orientation which is also a day long.

christy,rn · Aug 3, 2006

We just show up the 1st day of class. NO orientation

trjohnson0213 · Aug 3, 2006

We had a orientation that lasted for 6 hours. We were given and introduction by staff that were there, told what they chain of command was if we had a problem, the ADN student answered questions before staff came in, told about the student handbook, fitted for uniforms, and seperated into LPN and ADN students. It was a very long day. We also got a chance to register and got clinical schedules.

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 3, 2006

Our 1st day of class each semester is spent in orientation. We have to re-read the student handbook. We go over dress code changes, policy changes, etc....We all sign a paper saying we did that. Each instructor then goes through the course handouts with us, talking about the big projects and papers due, etc....Then we wrap up with the clinical information, where to be, when to be there, etc.... and explaining our jacked up clinical schedule we get emailed to us about 4 weeks before classes start. We start around 8 a.m. and end somewhere near 3 or 4 in the afternoon.

The next day of class is Tuesday, we go as scheduled.

Wed, Thurs. and Friday are all spent in various hospital orientations. You go to the facility in which you have clinicals. Most are 1/2 day long orientations, which allows you to attend 2 in one day if necessary. This semester I attend clinicals at only 2/4 hospitals, so I just have 2 sets of orientations to go to - lots will have all 4 though depending on their rotations.

This will be my final semester and it's been like that every semester for us. And....they never told us that either.

js142430, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2006

Thanks to all who posted! It sounds like every school does something a little different. I've tried to contact the department to find out what our school does but haven't heard anything yet. Who knows, maybe like some of you, it is something that they just do the first day of classes.

Thanks again!

~Jessi

FLAtoNYC · Aug 3, 2006

our school has 4 days of orientation scheduled. tue- fri from 8am to 4pm. this has not yet been officially announced, the letters just got mailed out and it starts the 22nd. so dont worry, you will prob. find out soon. call and ask them if you really want to know. that is what i had to do so i could let my job know in advance.

missninaRN · Aug 3, 2006

My orientation is not mandatory, which makes me think it's more of a meet and greet kind of thing. (I'm still going anyway.) I've been told that the first day or two of classes will function as orientation to the program.