Do you have a student nurses association...

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in L&D.

in your program, and if you do, are you a member? what kind of benefits does your program have for being a member? the sna is a student run organization which functions to promote the profession of nursing, develop leadership skills in students. we have one, i'm a delegate for my class. i attend the meetings every other monday evening and report to my class the next day about our meeting, volunteer opportunities, the nsna trip etc. we also organize fund-raising activities for the organization and it offers undergraduate students an opportunity to meet the upper level nursing students.

the goal is to nurture the nursing students and watch them grow into self supporting professionals. anyone else have a similar sna?

We have a very active student nurses association. I currently am and have been a member for two years. There is really no direct benefit (i.e. discounts or such) but we do go on the trips (free for active members, except of course food and other such personal expenses). I have found a HUGE benefit for myself in being a member, I have learned to be more assertive, not only in nursing but in my daily life. I have learned the politics of nursing and the impact I can have on my career of choice. It has also been great to talk to students in other semesters.

At the school level I am the break through to nursing chair. I am in charge of recruiting and retaining minority students, including people of color, single mothers, men and older students.

I have learned more about myself by being involved. Many students say they do not have time to be involved...but if not now, then when (as a single mother with a part time job...I can say...most anyone has the time). There is no perfect time....and so now would be as good as time as any.

Pearl :)

Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

I hope to joing a SNA when (or if! LOL) I get accepted into an RN program. I think the study aspect alone would be such a great benefit, but also being with people going through and studying what you are must be a great help.

Yah, being with other students like that is great. Really most people have no idea what we are going through...so its really good to have others to talk to and relate to.

Pearl :)

Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... I have learned the politics of nursing and the impact I can have on my career of choice.

Pearl -- Sounds like you're doing great! :)

Could you elaborate on the above. Would love to hear some of your thoughts.

Thanks for sharing.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry.

There is a chapter of SNA at my school as well, and I serve as a representative for my grade level. I can also attest to the fact that it has helped me become more willing to open up and share ideas with others, many of which are currently being used! The current officers walked into a huge debt and haphazard setup two semesters ago and have since done a great job with reorganizing the setup of the whole program. One of the things we're in the process of doing is selling keychains, sweatshirts, baseball hats, etc. with our nursing logo on it, with all profits going back to the nursing students. (The other majors on campus even get jealous because they don't have personalized sweatshirts!) With that money, we are starting a reward program, in which students who actively participate in SNA, demonstrate great leadership skills, teamwork, etc., will be awarded a certificate good for the uniform store, a local bookstore, the mall...wherever. The goal is not is just base it around GPA, because not all students get a 4.0 and to make students try to strive for something other than just high grades. Besides that and the typical organizing charity walks, blood drives, etc, we will be organizing get togethers for the nursing students to hang out. So far, we're going bowling and to a local St. Paddy's Day Parade in March so that newer students get to socialize with those graduating soon. Hopefully, this semester will be a success! On top of all that, the administration joins the meetings every month so they know what's going on, and it has scored me some major brownie points that I show up and participate! :chuckle

Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

Yeah,we have one. Joining wasn't an option. It was a requirement and paid for in our tution as "special fees". I can't say I'm happy about that. So far, I haven't received so much as a newsletter but they're always standing up there asking for money before a lecture. All I want is a freaking newsletter to give me some idea of what is the function. Maybe I'll get involved if they tell me what it is that they do besides go to a convention.

Sorry. I'm not happy about this situation.

we have one at my school. Some of the meetings are interesting and some are unorganized but it is interesting to meet other students in other classes and that you have something in common with them. Sometimes we get hints on the teacher clinical sites etc. I think its a great idea....

RNKittykat,

I feel you. I still haven't received the promised newsletters or magazines. The way they pass around that money jar you would think you were at church.

What really bothers me is that the school pays to send a select few to various conventions around the U.S., but we have to fund raise money towards graduation. So a few get to go hang out in Tennessee and everyone gets to wash cars (ect...) so we can have a graduation ceremony. I really have no idea what takes place at these conventions, other than they give out various awards. Two of the prizes are for membership and $ raised. Hmmm. I bet you can guess who got those plaques last time.

Hope all is well with you!

Lets see....as far as some of the important nursing contributions the national student nurses association has made (just to name a few) were, the fifth vital sign (pain) and those hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere in the hospitals were also from the students. At the conventions they have resolutions (presented and written by the schools) that they either pass or not. If it passes there is a possibility to have it become a law or picked up by hospitals (like the items fore mentioned).

So, as students you can make a HUGE difference in whats going on in your choosen profession.

Pearl :)

Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.
Lets see....as far as some of the important nursing contributions the national student nurses association has made (just to name a few) were, the fifth vital sign (pain) and those hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere in the hospitals were also from the students. At the conventions they have resolutions (presented and written by the schools) that they either pass or not. If it passes there is a possibility to have it become a law or picked up by hospitals (like the items fore mentioned).

So, as students you can make a HUGE difference in whats going on in your choosen profession.

Pearl :)

Thanks Nursepearl. I had no idea that's what our association does. The last time they had a meeting, they scheduled it during class time just before an exam. I would like to have gone but the timing was really really off. Maybe our local chapter wouldn't get so much attitude and a lot more support if it lent itself to better communication and accessibility.

We have a SNA at our school. I paid my $15 last semester and have been to one meeting. All of the officers are from the same semester, so they schedule meeting times when it is convenient for them. As it turns out, the majority of the people have class at that time. We have done absolutely nothing since August. We haven't done anything fun, haven't raised money, etc. We get e-mails which basically tell us that we need to attend the meeting. Let me think, go to the SNA meeting, or go to clinical? Tough choice. Anyway, sorry to rant. It's been a long couple of weeks.

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