Jamie Bowles
The Broadside

Exhausting schedules and battling for room in prerequisite classes are only two of the struggles faced by nursing students. Attending a required nursing orientation helps to arm students for the fight. The orientation is one of the of many requirements to join the nursing program at Central Oregon Community College.
At the orientation, students receive information about the classes they should take prior to applying, the selection process, deadlines and other information related to the program.
“The orientation is to help students organize and plan for their academic career while here at COCC in reference to the nursing program,” said Seana Barry, COCC’s assistant director of admissions and records.
Barry oversees the nursing program applications.Going in depth about the nursing program or the nursing profession is not part of the orientation, she said, but it does cover the important information to get started.
“They did a really good job explaining the basic requirements to get into the program,” said Kathleen Primmer, who attended an orientation in 2010 before starting any classes at COCC.  “Your advisor is the best person to contact for all other questions.”
There are deadlines and numerous requirements to be met and the orientation ensures that students are aware of the diligence needed.
“They made it very clear that COCC’s nursing program is going to be a challenge to get into,” said Primmer, “but to stick with it if it is something we really wanted to do.”
The competition for the nursing program is tough and there are only 48 spots that become available for the program in the fall. Knowing what needs to be done ahead of time gives hopeful nursing students a head start in the journey to their future.
The next orientations are:
Wednesday, March 14 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Redmond Campus, Building 3, room 305
Tuesday, April 10 from 3:30 pm to 4:30 p.m. at the Bend Campus, Boyle Educations Center, room 155
Friday, May 11 from 3:00 pm to 4 p.m. at the Redmond Campus, Building 3, room 305
Thursday, May 17 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Bend Campus, Boyle Education Center, room 155
Tuesday, June 12 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Bend Campus, Boyle Education Center, room 155.

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