Description
Higher education institutions have made a bold attempt to invest in the success of its
students by instituting first-year experience courses. Such courses familiarize students with their
new educational landscape by discussing topics such as student resources, technical support, time
management, test-taking skills, career planning, stress management, and financial literacy. This
has been a great step to setting students on the right path, and the outcomes have been positive.
An opportunity to bring this concept full circle exists with extending these experiences beyond
the first year. In programs such as nursing, where the demand on the student is great in all
directions, another deliberate action for success can be implemented.
The Nursing Program Year Experience workshop is a means for implementing a twoprong curricular approach for nursing students, once at the start of the program and again at the
mid-point of the program. Part one of the workshop considers an in-depth discussion on the
course sequence and steps to successful program completion. Steps to success and resources are
aligned with the nursing program. Part two of the workshop describes the benefits of continuing
education and explains the preparation needed for the professional setting. With dedicated
commitment from the nursing program and college administration, we can work to support
students as they start their program of study and lay the groundwork for continued education as
they transition from learner to professional.
