Speaking at new student orientation

[Eirene]

my college asked me to speak at a the new student orientation on the 30th. i'm supposed to talk about my experiences when i was a first year nursing student.

i am by no means a public speaker. i stutter, sweat, get all anxious when around a large group of people like that. but, that's a whole other post.

for you first year students-- what type of information did you find helpful? is there anything you wish you would have been told? i need some ideas!

thanks guys!

dani

[GottaGetIn]

All I would want to hear is how it CAN be done. Tell them that feeling nervous is normal...Throw a funny story in there....

You're going to do great. I can tell by reading your posts. :) Good Luck and let us know how it goes. :)

[maliat]

I spoke at our new student orientation last week. They always ask some students to talk about time management, but we always end up giving some other tips about nursing school.

I tried to emphasize:

1. Get yourself organized now. It only gets harder as the semesters go on.

2. Do not let yourself get behind. Outside life intervenes and then you're really behind.

3. Do the reading before you go to class.

4. Keep a weekly and monthly calendar.

5. And write done everything and I mean everything that you have to do.

I think what I said and some of the other students said scared them. But some of the best advice was given by another student.

She told them to look around and these are the people you'll be spending the next 3 years of your lives with. And even after we graduate we'll be working together as nurses. How these people will be your best friends and only together you will get through nursing school. Someone usually reminds them your are no longer in competition to get the best grades to get into nursing school.

I've been thinking about that this past week as we started class again. I've been at other colleges (my graduating class for my first degree was smaller than my nursing class), but never have felt this close to my fellow students.

Malia

[Eirene, ASN, RN]

you are so right! some of my classmates are like my second family. i couldn't do this without them. i'll be sure to encourage to make study buddies!

[bekindtokittens]

I'm not sure this is something you can do, but I found it humorous and informative.

The 2nd year students who run our nursing student club spoke to us at our orientation. One of them wore and explained the outfit of "what not to look like at clinicals". Black panties under the white wrinkled scrubs, bright green shoes (we are to wear ALL white), cleavage hanging out, super-long fake nails...you get the picture. It was hilarious and made them more approachable for us noobs.

[medicalma'am]

Tell them to get roller bags. I just weighed my books: 39 pounds!

No wonder I have seen all the nursing students with those bags!

Just keep in mind that they are more intimidated than you are.

[danh3190]

I remember my orientation talk. The guy was telling us how is was going to be so HARD, our lives were OVER for the next two years, very dramatic. I felt like it was setting us up for failure. And quite honestly, there wasn't a darned thing I could do with that information at that point than consider running for the hills. Entirely useless.

Reminds me of an honor roll luncheon I was at. The nursing school director asked a graduating student what advice she'd give the students. She said not to let senior students frighten us with stories of how hard it is etc. Best advice I ever heard.

[Eirene, ASN, RN]

i'm not sure this is something you can do, but i found it humorous and informative.

the 2nd year students who run our nursing student club spoke to us at our orientation. one of them wore and explained the outfit of "what not to look like at clinicals". black panties under the white wrinkled scrubs, bright green shoes (we are to wear all white), cleavage hanging out, super-long fake nails...you get the picture. it was hilarious and made them more approachable for us noobs.

oh man, that is a great idea! that cracked me up just reading it!

[Eirene, ASN, RN]

hi everyone!

i just wanted to follow-up on this thread. the new student orientation was a hit! the new students were very interactive and asked great questions... because of you guys i was prepared! i didn't stutter or anything. :)

my husband had to drive me because i still have this darn cast on my right foot, so he and my youngest son sat in the back of the audience (it was in a huge auditorium). that made it even more special. :redbeathe

again, thank you all for all of your hints and suggestions. i really appreciate you guys!

xoxo, dani

[suzy253, RN]

Congrats Dani....glad it went well.