mentor, or colleague. There are many opportunities to network— in the most unexpected settings. Participate in local events and state conventions. There are two NSNA meetings per year— the MidYear Conference and Annual Convention— where you will find hundreds or thousands of your nursing peers, mentors, leaders, and potential employers gather. This is the perfect setting for you to network and present yourself in the best, possible way.
The NSNA MidYear Conference usually takes place during the fall. It is a great conference for career planning— attendees can attend three specialty panels with discussions and insight from experts and leadership from a variety of nursing specialties. Educational sessions provide information that prepares you on your nursing journey and there are many events throughout the conference— like the exhibit hall— where you can network and speak with leaders and experts in the nursing world. For more information on attending the MidYear Conference: www. nsnamidyear. org.
The Annual Convention takes place every spring and this is the meeting you can’ t miss— the Convention is packed with a full agenda with educational sessions, networking and fundraising events, exhibit hall, award ceremony, NCLEX Review sessions, House of Delegates, voting, and much more! For more information on attending the Annual Convention: www. nsnaconvention. org.
NSNA also offers a virtual Leadership U Summer Summit every July to inform members and non-members of all the opportunities NSNA has to offer. The best part is attendees get to hear from a special panel of nurse leaders from various specialties and have pressing questions answered. Visit www. nsnasummerconference. org to learn more about this free event.
Take advantage of these events to go out there and market yourself, as a future nurse and leader of the profession. And remember, any setting could be an opportunity to network.
Advocate
A leader is not afraid to let his or her voice be heard. While nurses aren’ t policymakers or lobbyists, nurses can make an impact on healthcare and its policies. NSNA is not a lobbying organization, but the organization informs and educates so nursing students can have all the accurate information to develop their own stance. NSNA policies and stance on nursing and healthcare related issues— also known as Resolutions ¬— and are passed by the House of Delegates.
Resolutions are one way to introduce yourself to policy formation and the process for effective patient advocacy. If you have a topic or issue you’ re passionate about, you can write a resolution. Visit www. nsna. org / resolutions-committee to learn more about the Resolutions process. Once your resolution is accepted, you can join the Resolutions Hearings to discuss and defend your resolution. The House of Delegates will vote on all resolutions during the Annual Convention. Once an NSNA resolution is passed, it becomes NSNA policy.
NSNA also hosts the annual NSNA Advocacy Education Day in the fall. NSNA’ s Advocacy Education Day is designed for student nurses interested in learning more about legislative advocacy. NSNA believes it is vital to involve all student nurses in advocacy. Each student nurse can positively impact the profession through public policy advocacy for patients, nurses, and the nursing profession. Students have the power to make change happen. This day is dedicated to teaching participants to utilize their leadership abilities in the political world. Nurses continue to be the most trusted profession, and policymakers listen when nurses and student nurses speak! To learn more information about NSNA’ s Advocacy Education Day, visit: www. nsna. org / health-policy-and-advocacy-committee.
Next Steps
After learning about all these opportunities, you can take advantage of to develop yourself as a nursing student and prepare yourself for the profession, think about your next steps. Whether you start small or big, know that you’ re forming your own professional identity in nursing and developing yourself as a leader by choosing to network at one meeting or writing a resolution on a topic you’ re passionate about. It starts small— but the impact is significant.
Bio
Sarah Zhou, BA, is the Communications Specialist at NSNA. She is also the managing editor of Imprint magazine, working closely with the Imprint Editor.
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