Students- would having a 'big brother/ sister' be of any use to you?

BBRANRN2013, ASN, RN · Aug 4, 2012

Hi guys, I am a student going into my last semester. I have been thinking that it would have been helpful if I had a senior classman to ask questions of while I was going through the program. You know, how many care plans were there in peds?, does professor so and so give study guides?, how come DM is associated with foot ulcers?, whatever. As it was, questions were usually answered by gossip or not at all. I'd like your opinions before I think about going to the faculty with the suggestion.

Actually in our community college when I first started we were all assigned to upper classman! It was a great tool to use when and if you ever felt discouraged or just needed someone to help you out. I think it's a great idea and you should talk to your nursing faculty about it!

ER(notso)n00b, ASN, RN · Aug 4, 2012

We all had big brothers/sisters and some of them were awesome. My big sister never even introduced herself to me and I felt pretty left out. It'll only work if the big sibs are willing to actually put any effort into it.

OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2012

I would love it and would love to do it. We do nothing like that at my school and didnt even have an orientation and I had so many questions it would be have been so nice.

Nurse Lynette, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2012

In our program we are each assigned a mentor. The mentor is actually one of the instructors in our program. We have 6 instructors so they all take a group of us and if we have questions and such along the way, we go to our assigned mentor.

Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN · Aug 4, 2012

Thanks everyone, keep em coming. I like the mentor idea too, although I have my doubts my school would go for it.

Katie71275 · Aug 5, 2012

We have them in our program.

My school admits students in the Fall and the Spring. Those admitted in the Fall will get their "littles" in the spring when the new class starts. We do a big welcoming breakfast, raffles(we usually get businesses to donate), we do gifts to our littles, which a lot of times includes books we may not be using anymore, pens, supplies, etc. We give them our contact info so that we can support them if they have any questions...Alot of times we send them our old notes/study guides to help them out. My little will become a "big" in the Fall when our new group comes in. I think it is super helpful and it's a big tradition in our school actually.

SC4Nurse2B · Aug 5, 2012

I am going to be a student this fall. I knew 3-4 who started the program last year. Our school does not have a program like that, but I did ask my friends a lot of questions, and they have been a tremendous help. I think it would be really great to have that in any school. Many of us don't know what to expect, and having an experienced student would help to keep the "boogey man" at bay, I do believe. :eek:

ProudStudent · Aug 5, 2012

I would absolutely love to have an opportunity like this, and had not even thought about it! I am not aware that my progam offers anything like this, but it's a rather small community. I might have to reach out and find someone on my own. That's a great suggestion.

Journee2 · Aug 5, 2012

During our final orientation we were introduced to our Senior Buddy. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not a fan of the whole Student Buddy thing (even if they are in the 2nd year). We are assigned an Advisor who is a Faculty member and I see myself speaking with them more about any issues I would have with things pertaining to lectures or skills labs, than going to a fellow student.

rubato, ASN, RN · Aug 5, 2012

I am a new student meeting my mentor for the first time tomorrow. She's a 2nd year student and has 2 of us 1st years. I think it is going to be invaluable to bounce questions and ideas off of her.