Orientation to student placements: needs and benefits.

A review of evidence on the benefits and challenges of student orientation is used in this article alongside experiences of orientation days on a children's ward to consider ways in which such programmes could be improved. Orientation to clinical placements can enhance learning by helping students to feel they fit in, reduce anxiety and increase motivation to learn through early identification of learning outcomes. However, there are challenges in the practical implementation of orientation including timing of students' starting dates, staff time, consistency and level of information and teaching. Increased involvement of individual mentors could improve orientation and optimise students' learning experiences.