8 NSNA Imprint
MEMBERSHIP
Matthew Zender, Vice President and Chair, Membership Committee vicepresident @ nsna. org
Paving the Way with NSNA
The nursing profession needs us— the next generation of nurses— now more than ever. Recent challenges have put nursing in the spotlight, bringing scrutiny but also opportunity. As student nurses, we have the chance to shape the future of healthcare. With passion, drive, and commitment to our values, we can pave the way to success for ourselves and the profession. This journey starts today.
Deciding to become a nurse is noble, but the road ahead will have obstacles. Self-doubt, burnout, and knowledge gaps are all normal. We must remember why we started this journey and hold on to our vision through the challenges. For every student nurse, the path is unique, but the destination is the same— becoming the best nurse we can be. This takes resilience, resourcefulness, and community. We must lean on each other when times are tough. The connections and support we build now will uplift us throughout our careers.
This is where NSNA comes in. As the voice for nursing students, NSNA provides the community and resources to help us learn, grow and thrive. By joining together, we gain strength and knowledge from each other’ s diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We are empowered by our shared experiences and passions. NSNA offers a wealth of opportunities to develop ourselves personally and professionally, through conventions, publications, scholarships, grants and more. This support system will prove invaluable long after graduation.
The core values of NSNA— caring, integrity, diversity, and excellence— mirror the foundations of nursing. By living these values during school, we cement them as the guiding principles for our practice. With caring and compassion at our center, we build trust with patients. With integrity, we earn respect as professionals. Honoring diversity makes us more effective, culturally sensitive nurses. Striving for excellence keeps us learning and improving our craft. NSNA activities teach us to enact these values gracefully and authentically.
School prepares us with clinical skills and knowledge, but NSNA prepares us for the realities of nursing. We learn how to handle challenges like stress, conflicts, ethical issues, and communication barriers. We gain insights into leadership, policy, research, and informatics. We find our voice to speak up constructively and advocate for change. We realize that self-care and worklife balance are essential. The lessons NSNA provides are not found in textbooks but will prove invaluable in our careers.
After graduation, NSNA helps support the transition into practice. The network connects us to nurse leaders and peers nationwide. Mentorship programs, special interest groups, grants and discounts smooth our entry into the workforce. The Career Compass Corner at NSNA meetings helps optimize our resumes to stand out. No matter our chosen nursing path, NSNA has resources to set us up for success.
The world needs more nurses like us— caring, dedicated, and ready to make a difference. Patients and the profession are counting on us. But we cannot do it alone. Rosa Parks once said,“ To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try.” Progress requires courage and initiative. It starts with one bold step, then another and another. NSNA empowers us to take these steps forward together.
There will always be challenges in nursing, but each generation must pave the way for the next. Everything we do now is practice for the nurses we will become. Let us approach school with passion, integrity, resilience and a commitment to personal and professional growth. Stay focused on our vision through the ups and downs. Embrace NSNA’ s support, values and opportunities. Learn from every experience. Lift each other up along the way. If we do this, we will graduate not just with nursing degrees but prepared to shape the bright future of healthcare. Our journey is just beginning. Let’ s pave this road together. I look forward to seeing everyone at the NSNA 73rd Annual Convention in Seattle, Washington!