Authors

  1. Emmanuel, Elizabeth PhD, MN, RMN, BN

Article Content

Anxiety and apprehension are common among nursing students entering nursing programs for the first time. Often, these feelings override the students' ability to learn. For this reason, in my foundational course, I introduced a "warm-up" video on the course website before the commencement of study. The video comprises positive aspects of university life (friends, music, laughter, fun), the university system and its landscape, and an introduction to the course. Designing the video involved meeting and planning with the student engagement and audiovisual personnel. Important course aspects were identified, for example, the approach, tone, and beginning journey of a nursing student. The video provides a way for students to see and hear me in my role as a teaching coordinator, leading the course across 3 campuses. In the video, I introduce myself and welcome them to the course and its various components, for example, tutorials and laboratory workshops. Students also get to meet a second-year student who provides his lived experience of the course, which includes highlights and challenges. The video (3-4 minutes in length) provides a brief overview, making students less anxious about the course. Consideration for planning, time management, use of available learning resources, and writing assignments are covered. Through the semester, students get to know each other particularly in small group activities and by asking questions about the course. Students are invited to hear my welcome each time they log into the course website.