The END is Near!

Today was the last day of nursing classes for this year!!! I also had my last nursing test for my NURS 209 class today. The only thing left is the NURS 209 Final next Tuesday. I’m almost completely done with my Associates Degree in Nursing! It seems like this last semester has flown by so fast. It’s amazing to look back and see how far I’ve come and how much I have learned. I can say with full confidence that the Lord has been faithful and brought me to where I am now. I have been so blessed and for that I am extremely grateful. My NURS 209 instructor, Mrs. Wines, has often expressed how proud she is of each and every one of us. Her support and encouragement throughout this last strenuous semester has been invaluable. She has been an awesome instructor, and I’m proud to be one of her students. We had our review for the final in class today, so I know that I will definitely be studying tomorrow on Reading Day. Thankfully, this is my LAST nursing final. Graduation is in 11 days!!!

NSNA Cords for Graduation

The NSNA Cords for Graduation came in today!! After the Student Nurses Association Executive Board members voted yes on the graduation cords that I presented, the Treasurer and I placed the order for the cords from the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA). We were so excited to find that they came in today! Our Dean for the GWU School of Nursing was there when we opened the package and she was just as excited as we were. Our SNA advisor was also very excited about the cords, and she will be the one presenting them to all NSNA members of SNA at the Academic Recognition Ceremony for all nursing graduates on May 10th. There will also be a note about the cord and why we are receiving it in the program for the ceremony. We will also be receiving our Nursing pins at that ceremony. I’m so happy and thankful that the graduating SNA members will be recognized and rewarded in this way for all their hard work this year. It’s only a couple days away!!

National Student Nurses Convention in Nashville, TN

I just returned from the National Student Nurses Convention in Nashville (NSNA), TN! As part of the NC Association of Nursing Students Board of Directors, I went and represented NC with the rest of our board. It was a long 7 hours road trip to Nashville. I was allowed to be a delegate (voting member) in the House of Delegates that was held at the conference. During that time, different state boards presented resolutions that dealt with all sorts of issues that they wanted NSNA to support and advocate for in our government. Delegates could stand and speak pro or con to these resolutions. After all statements were made, it was time to vote. As a delegate, I was able to cast a vote for or against resolutions, and I was also able to vote for the new officers of next year’s NSNA Board of Directors. The President of the American Nurses Association also spoke during the conference, This conference concentrated more on the political and business side of NSNA, and it was a neat experience to see how that House of Delegates was run, and be able to participate in the voting process. It was quite an eye-opening experience to learn how involved nurses have become in the government and how much a voice nurses can have in the legislature.

Special Rewards for Hard Work

Yesterday the Executive Board Members of the Student Nurses Association (SNA) met to discuss our plans for the next two months. All present members gave reports on past events, fundraising monies, and ideas for one last project for this year. As Vice President, I had two new ideas I wanted to present to the board. For the past few months I have been working on securing graduation cords from the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) for graduating members of SNA who are also NSNA members. I feel that our graduating members deserve a special gift or token of appreciation for all their hard work this year. SNA was just getting started, and it took all of us to get it off the ground. All those who had an active part in it should be rewarded. These cords would be presented to us along with our nursing pin during our Academic Recognition Ceremony. I presented this idea to the SNA Executive Board and received positive votes from everyone. I will be consulting with the Treasurer to determine how much SNA can donate towards the cost of the NSNA cords for this year’s graduating NSNA members. Our board will suggest that next year’s board work on securing customized cords in SNA colors for next year’s graduating members.