Freshman seminars. Do they help pre-nursing students adjust to college life?

Abstract

One purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify challenges pre-nursing students face as they enter college. A second purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Freshman seminar in helping students develop a sense of belonging on campus. An interpretive analysis was completed of 20 student essays focused on these challenges and the effectiveness of the Freshman seminar. Students reported that three major challenges confronted them as they transitioned from high school to college. These challenges were to "make the space on campus my own," "get used to the way things are done in college," and "get a sense of who I really am." The Freshman seminar helped pre-nursing students settle into a new environment and better prepare themselves for nursing school. Strategies used in the freshman seminar are also applicable to service delivery settings.