Students and Faculty Share Observations about Fall Semester
Engage your Chapter Members Chapter involvement in the student nurses association is more important and relevant than ever to learn and practice leadership skills .
Engaging with chapter members is more important than ever now that classes are online . Chapter leaders are finding new ways of reaching out to members and bringing them together for meetings , special speakers , town halls and other innovative ways to use technology to stay involved . Your school may allow school associations to utilize their media platforms . If not , there are several platforms that are affordable and easy to quickly master ( i . e . Zoom ). Let us know how your chapter is using technology and other methods such as social media to stay in touch with members , recruit new members , and participate in chapter activities .
Send your ideas to nsna @ nsna . org
NSNA ’ s Social Media Award The primary purpose of a school or state social media platform is to inform the membership of chapter events and other nursing news in a timely manner . The secondary purpose is to promote a positive image of nursing and to report on state / school news , news in nursing , and encourage participation .
Learn about NSNA Social Media Award by visiting https :// nsnaawards . weebly . com / social-media-award . html
“ As far as the transition goes , it ’ s a little bit rocky right now . A lot of people are skeptical about returning to campus and trying to find in-person volunteer opportunities is like looking for a needle in a haystack . As president , I am working after hours to involve our chapter as much as I can . I actually managed to get 2 in-person volunteer opportunities .” — Jyai Morris-Bell , Roxborough Memorial School of Nursing , Philadelphia , PA
“ At the University of Central Florida , students are accepted into the nursing program for their last 2 years ( in the 4-year BSN program ). Chapter members have reached out to pre-nursing students to include and help them feel connected . For the foreseeable future , Board meetings will be kept on Zoom … and meetings will be hybrid so people can do what is comfortable for them . We have adapted well to life on Zoom … Everyone is not vaccinated , and some people are choosing not to be vaccinated . We are doing our best ...” — Brian Peach , PhD , RN , CRNP , Co-Advisor , University of Central Florida College of Nursing , Orlando , FL
“ What we do will depend upon what takes place with COVID . We are continuing use of Zoom , and hybrid meetings allow people to attend in-person or virtually . From the pandemic , we know how to pivot if needed and are learning ways to ‘ go with the flow .’ By the way , our state SNA had a water drive and hydration event to provide water for hikers in our state which has high summer temperatures .” — Cheryl Schmidt , PhD , RN , ENE , ANEF , FAAN , Clinical Professor , Pre-Licensure Department , Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation ; Faculty , Barrett Honors College , Arizona State University and Consultant , Arizona State University Student Nurses ’ Association , and the state Student Nurses Association of Arizona .
“ In Ohio , at the state and chapter level , we are excited to be back in person for Fall semester ... but with the recent increase in positivity rates for COVID , are returning to a hybrid platform for caution . Students and I are disappointed not to be in person or all events , but we need to be role models for our student communities . With a mix of in-person and online events , we hope to reconnect with many constituents . We are becoming very adept and creative with online platforms and staying connected .” — Katheryn Fernandez , PhD , R-BC , AHN-BC , Associate Professor , Advisor , Capital University Student Nurses Association ( CUSNA ), Columbus , Ohio and Ohio Student Nurses Association , and 2021 NSNA Leader of Leaders
“ I feel like we are starting off strong , especially with many new members on the board . I am excited about being able to do more events this year .” — CUSNA Board Member
“ Our SNA chapter wanted to do a charity walk to raise funds for a parents ’ program in a local hospital ’ s neonatal intensive care unit . However , bringing a potentially large group of people to the university , which requires all students , faculty , and staff to be fully immunized , and the members of the campus community with exemptions to be tested twice weekly was a concern , especially with increasing rates of COVID . A solution was found to make the campus walk possible : Only members of the campus community would participate on campus and virtual “ buddies ” would participate in their own settings .” — Caitlin Gomes , President , Villanova University Chapter Student Nurses Association , Villanova , PA
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