Great Opportunities with NSNA

Since joining the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) I have been lucky enough to be a part of multiple health screening fairs, blood drives and career fairs. It has been a great opportunity to practice my skills in a non-school environment (a.k.a. without a grade involved) and to get to know upper classmen. This last part has proved very helpful in getting tips on how to study for certain tests, what to expect from clinical and just getting an encouraging “you can do it” from someone who has.

Joining the NSNA is as easy as going to their website (www.nsna.org), registering your information, and paying the registration fee—$25 for one year or $60 for two. Some of the benefits that you will get from registering include a subscription to Imprint magazine, discounts at Barnes & Noble, scholarship opportunities, online study tools, etc. The NSNA also holds an annual convention which holds career-building workshops, successful speakers and a chance to connect with other hospitals/nurses around the country.

There are also many opportunities to become an officer within the NSNA. I was fortunate enough to have been nominated by the NSNA members of my school and to win the nomination for treasurer. This gives me a little bit more of a hand in what we do as a group within our school and it also looks great on my résumé.

Overall, joining the NSNA is very simple to do. It hardly takes any time to join and then you are linked to a large group of student nurses throughout the country. It helps to prepare you for a career in this field by being active in the community, socializing with all grade levels and by providing resources to ensure your success in school.

Advice for Your Clinical Rotation

Any student nurse has probably noticed that there are nice nurses during clinical rotation and there are not-so-nice nurses. Clinical rotation is often a very nerve-racking experience and having a supportive and helpful nurse can turn it into a very rewarding and memorable time. Here are a few tips that I have learned to help build a relationship with the nurse during the short time we have in rotation.

First, always remember that these nurses were once in your shoes. Sometimes when you see a really amazing nurse it is hard to imagine that they, at one point in time, felt insecure and less than confident in their clinical experience, but it is probably true. The same holds true with the cranky and impatient nurse. They, too, had to start at some point.

Second, always stay busy. There is no bigger pet peeve at the nurses’ station then when they see a student nurse sitting down. There are always call lights to answer and tasks to assist with.

Third, do not get in their way. Make sure to regularly examine your interference with their work day and learn when an appropriate time for questions is, and when it is time to step back and let them do their job.

Lastly, it is very important to assess where your skill level is at. The nurse is the expert and you are not. If a nurse asks you to perform a task that you have not yet been approved for, kindly tell them that you are not trained in that skill yet. Do not compromise yourself or the nurse for the chance to practice that skill.

Always remember that this is a time to gain experience. There will be a lot of unknowns and uncertainties but make the most of your time and learn as much as you can from observing your nurse. Remember that you will someday be in their shoes.