Anyone been to a Student Nurse Assoc Conference?

[Scooter321]

I'm thinking of attending the Massachusetts conference next week. It's being held in Boston and will take me close to two hours travel each way. I was wondering if anyone had feedback on these conferences and whether they are generally worth giving up a day for (bearing in mind all the studying we have to do). In recent years I have attended many conferences for medical transcription and always got a lot out of them. I have no idea what to expect from one that is aimed at students and is free. Any comments would be gratefully received.

:[anb]:

[Elle_BSN]

I haven't attended but I hear good things about them. My school (in MA) is highly involved with them. They say its like a big networking conference. You get to learn some new things (study stuff as well) and get a voice in on some topics. Sounds interesting. I'd go :)

[Scooter321]

Thanks, Elle. Which school do you attend? I'm at MWCC in Gardner.

[elkpark]

Years ago, when I was teaching in an ADN program, I was the faculty advisor for our SNA chapter and took the students to some of the conferences and conventions. They really enjoyed them and found them v. worthwhile. It just happened that, during that time, the annual national SNA convention was held in a city not too far from us, and a group of us went to the national convention, which they really enjoyed. I was impressed with the program and all that was offered to the students, and they really enjoyed meeting and talking with the students from other places.

[Scooter321]

Thanks elkpark. That's the kind of thing I found with our national conventions too (AHDI, for medical transcription). I attended every one for a dozen years, and they were held all over the country. It sounds as though the SNA meeting might be along similar lines as our state meetings were--in other words, worth going to.

I appreciate the feedback and think I'll stick to my tentative plan of going to the conference. Now to try to talk some of my classmates into joining me.

[Spoiled1, MSN, RN]

I went to one a few years ago here in NC when I was in nursing school. I had a lot of fun and met a lot of people. However, now-a-days it would be in your best interest to go and NETWORK because it's becoming harder and harder for new nurses to get jobs right out of school. Take the business cards and keep them because they may come in handy. So go and enjoy yourself! :)