Multiple students at Penn's School of Nursing expressed frustration over the program's course selection process in interviews with The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Throughout Penn's Course Selection and Drop periods, many nursing students experienced scheduling challenges — describing the process as “disorganized,” “last-minute,” and “unprofessional” — especially when selecting a clinical practice. Clinicals are a requirement to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and are typically taken in the spring of a student's sophomore year.
Nursing sophomore Carliana Mejia Ortiz described the clinical scheduling process as “a complete shit show” and “completely unprofessional.”
“They are super disorganized,” she said. “They will literally change you at the last minute, even after they give you your assignment.”
“Penn Nursing recognizes the frustrations students can face regarding scheduling,” a Nursing School spokesperson wrote to the DP. “Because clinical placements are hosted by external health care partners, timing is often dictated by hospital operations and staffing, which are outside the School’s direct control.”
“While our BSN curriculum is structured to meet rigorous national accreditation and licensing standards, we remain committed to supporting our students in receiving a well-rounded experience while at Penn,” the spokesperson added.
Mejia Ortiz expressed frustration with the Nursing School's administration, claiming they “care more about themselves than about the nursing students.” She urged Penn to provide additional support and resources to help students navigate the process.
She added that the structure of the curriculum inhibited her “freedom” to explore other course offerings, noting that students are sometimes expected to “sacrifice either a club or a class” to keep up with the academically rigorous courseload.
Nursing first year Maggie Coors explained that clinicals help students “gain practical experience.” Each semester, she said, students take a course that focuses on a different area of nursing — including pediatrics, labor and delivery, and psychology.
Students complete their clinical rotation concurrently with a class and are assigned to shadow a nurse throughout their day.
Though Coors has not yet started her clinicals, she said that the process of registering for her other nursing classes has been “very simple.”
Nursing sophomore Owen Heit, a transfer student, described the registration process as a “roller coaster,” leaving students “disoriented” and unhappy with their clinical placements. He also claimed the process forces students to shift their schedules around “super last-minute.”
Heit added that he “didn't know what to do” during course registration due to “a lack of education for transfer students.”
“I had to drop two of the classes I wanted to take,” Heit said.
Jeongmi Ahn, a sophomore in the Nursing School, said certain clinicals may be rescheduled to different times of the week — forcing some students to miss classes or meetings.
Ahn added that clinicals — some of which take place off campus — can cause other scheduling difficulties for students due to travel time.
“Lucky for me, I have one that's only a 10-minute walk away from here, but one of my friends' is a 30-minute drive away,” she said.
“I think they should just make a form where people can decide beforehand,” Ahn added while describing a ranking system for students to indicate their preferred availability. “We can make a clear schedule and submit it all together.”
Staff reporter Addison Saji covers Penn Medicine and can be reached at saji@thedp.com At Penn, she studies English. Follow her on X at @addisonsaji.
