Why NSNA and Why is it Important?

Greetings, NSNA members and future colleagues!
             Many times, we ask ourselves, “why?” Why should I do this paper? Why should I get involved? And what this blog post is about: Why NSNA? Aside from the multitude of benefits membership brings that are tangible (which you can find on the NSNA website under Membership —> Membership Benefits), NSNA has a plethora of intangible benefits.
            I recently gave a presentation at the Nursing Students Association of New York State (NSANYS)’s annual Council of Student Leaders (COSL) event about my leadership journey and why leadership is important. In this presentation, I talked about NSNA’s benefits briefly but then focused on the benefits that I feel are so worth the NSNA membership these past four years.
            My first point was getting to make a difference in my classmates lives and for the future of nurses that come after us. I feel by being present at NSNA conventions and having used my vote on resolutions, I was being proactive in creating a better future for students that follow. Additionally, advocacy is so big! NSNA runs our organization a lot different than a lot of other nursing organizations. We hear from our students every year and our policies (resolutions) as an organization are determined by the House of Delegates. Therefore, students are doing advocacy work by just submitting their vote on the floor of the House of Delegates for resolutions. And then, the next year we follow that mission that was set in place by you to work hard at more advocacy!
            Another big point I had about why getting started in leadership is so important was because you create a path. No two people are alike or have the same experiences but that doesn’t mean we don’t look up to each other every now and then for mentors and role models! And for that very reason, you create a path in which someone can follow. If we aren’t encouraging the next generation to be bigger and better than us, how are we going to leave a better tomorrow? The truth of the matter is as a leader, I can only hope that the next leader after me is EVEN better than I am! And I will do everything in my power to ensure that they are as well-informed and knowledgeable about whatever position I transition someone into. Speaking personally, I used to be the Treasurer of NSANYS and when it came time to transition my successor, she was so well-prepared that she thanked me. She knew exactly what was asked of her, had all her documents organized, and knew if she ever needed me, that I was a call or text away! THIS is how we also intact change! By making sure our leaders are well prepared.
            My last points were about lifelong memories, friends I will never forget, and gave me a place to use my passion. At NSNA Conventions, I have met students from Arkansas, Nevada, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and all around the states. We’ve laughed, we’ve shared our nursing experiences, and we’ve done our best to make real change. Those are the people that I will see moving on to the American Nurses Association and the National League for Nursing and continuing their leadership through post-graduation professional organizations. These are the friends that I will continue to champion forward and cheer on throughout their nursing career. And lastly, NSNA gave me my passion. My absolute love and passion for leadership and a place to use my leadership in my career for the rest of my life and for good!
            Above all else, I hope that all of our members experience that like I have. And that’s what makes NSNA an organization that is unlike no other. We help students with that passion and grow it into a professional nursing leader that moves on to other organizations with poise, experience in leadership, and knowledge about professional comportment.
 
What is your favorite thing about being an NSNA member? Leave your comments!
 
Yours in service and signing off for now,
Lauren