Authors

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

Article Content

First day of class can be daunting, particularly in the first semester and first year of study. Getting students to meet each other in a yarning circle can break the ice. The yarning circle, a strategy used among societies with oral traditions, is valuable for sharing stories and information. It is based on caring interactions and communication. In this course, students paired off to find out personal information from their partner, for example, why they chose nursing, what excited them about nursing, and what worried them the most. On completion of this exercise, students were invited to join the circle. The teacher asked students about what stood out about being in a circle. Responses included face-to-face positioning, eye contact, body language, immediate feedback, and increased sense of participation. All of these are essential for patient-nurse interaction. Following this increased sense of human interaction and awareness, each student introduced their partner to others in the circle until everyone got introduced. The overall effect was powerful in that students felt safe to share meaningful information and gain a greater understanding of other students and their world. Presence, openness, and honesty demonstrated by the students promoted a sense of inclusiveness and collaborative spirit in this new and different learning environment. This is a great way to establish enthusiasm, warmth, and a sense of humor for everyone, and most importantly to highlight how basic principles of caring and communication in nursing can "break the ice" in any communication.