NSNA Leadership Programs & Activities Overview
As an NSNA leader, you'll learn and practice essential leadership skills by participating in shared-governance as outlined below and expanded on in the links provided. It is by learning about and practicing shared governance that you will develop the attributes needed by future nurse leaders. Your professional identity in nursing is formed as you discover your leadership style and learn the fundamentals of how to serve on boards, chair and participate in committee work, engage in projects, write resolutions, serve as a delegate, and become more confident in your leadership ability. As a member of the NSNA Leadership University Honor Society you are actively learning and engaging in leadership experiences as you enter the pipeline that becomes the source of future nurse leaders.
Explore NSNA's Guidelines for Planning.
Explore NSNA's Guidelines for Planning.
Breakthrough to Nursing (BTN)
The goal of the BTN Project is to increase the number of underrepresented students enrolled in and graduated from nursing school. Understanding the dynamics of attracting students to study nursing is connected to how well we portray ourselves as a profession, understand our core values as nurses, and empower students to attain the best possible nursing education. At this time, the importance of this committee and its role in recruiting students into the profession, is urgent. |
Health Policy and Advocacy
Advocacy is an essential element of professional identity in nursing. Patients depend on the nursing profession to take action that ensures a high standard of nursing care for all patients. Although NSNA is not a lobbying organization. members develop policies as part of the resolutions process. These policies serve to educate nursing students about public health actions needed at the local, state and national levels of government. |
Image of Nursing Projects
The image of nursing is vital to forming a professional identity in nursing. The image that the profession portrays to the public, to other health professionals as well as to fellow nurses tells nursing's' story and makes a lasting impression. Now is the time, with nurses front and center in the media, to foster a positive image of the profession. This is extremely important to the future of the profession as a nursing shortage looms in the US and worldwide. |
Membership Recruitment Projects
Joining a pre-professional organization exposes opportunities for nursing students to think, feel and act like a nurse. NSNA members may earn formal credit for the leadership learning for participation in projects associated with starting or strengthening an official NSNA school or state chapter; engaging in a variety of projects designed to meet member and community needs; and serving as a delegate or resolution author are just a few examples. |
Ethics and Governance
Values and ethics are at the heart of any profession. Nurses are highly regarded as the most ethical of the health professions according to Gallop Polls for the past 19 years. NSNA's core values and Code of Ethics guides professional comportment and is foundational to forming a professional identity in nursing. Governance structures provide for continuity of organizations and access to democratic decision making. The shared-governance model that NSNA teaches is fundamentally the same as that used in non-profit, for-profit and healthcare agencies. Population and Global Health
Population and Global Health projects incorporate activities that improve health, reduce disparities, protect against global health threats, and disaster preparedness for communities. Participating in population and global health projects broadens a nursing student's understanding of the wide scope of nursing practice that includes public health. These service-learning projects often earn recognition and academic credit while providing a clinical setting for community service. NSNA partners with the American Red Cross to provide disaster certification at NSNA meetings. Serving as a Delegate and/or Writing a Resolution
The democratic process of shared governance is best practiced serving as a delegate in the annual NSNA House of Delegates and/or the state association annual membership meeting. School chapters also have annual membership meetings. Generally elections take place during annual meetings. Policies are passed in the form of resolutions that are submitted by NSNA school and state constituents. There is no substitute for expanding your influence and practicing leadership than by serving as a delegate or the author of a resolution. Nominating and Election Committee
Nominating and Elections Committee (NEC) seek out candidates for national office and to present a slate of nominees for all elected positions of the association. NEC Committees form well-established process for identifying and nominating qualified people to step into leadership positions will ensure success for many years into the future. The members of the nominating committee have a tremendous influence on the future of the local, state and national levels of NSNA. |
Serving as Treasurer (Fiduciary Responsibility)
The role of an association treasurer is important to the fiscal health and fiduciary accountability of an association. The treasurer is responsible for many details and reporting of the financial health of the organization to the Board of Directors, the membership and the IRS. NSNA has tools to help the treasurer understand their role and responsibilities. NSNA offers Leadership U Treasurer Workshops and provides resources for school and state treasurers that include annual check lists, accounting and reporting guidance, and legal guidelines. Serving as the Secretary
A key role in governance is taking and maintaining the minutes of the association. Minutes serve as a legal document and serve as a chronology of the history of the association. The specific requirements are available in templates and there are standards and guidelines that must be followed. NSNA constituency status requirements include submission of state association minutes annually. Serving in this role requires meticulous attention to detail, understanding of the legal ramifications of decision making, and both spelling and grammar count! Meeting and Convention Planning
It takes a high level of organization to create successful meetings and conventions. At the state association level, organizing and implementing an annual business meeting and convention is an exciting experience. Meetings at the school chapter level provide opportunities for shared decision making and programming on topics of interest to members. The process of creating meetings and conventions that address issues and concerns of nursing students empowers them to be change agents and advocates. Now, with broadcast technology, audiences are widened and engagement with members is highly effective. Connecting your Professional Identity in Nursing:
From Student Leader to Nurse Leader Leadership Assessment for Student Nurses By the time you graduate, pass NCLEX-RN, and onboard for your very first RN position, the foundation of your professional identity in nursing has been well established. You will be putting to good use your ability to be part of an interdisciplinary team, know how to think, act, and feel like a Registered Nurse. As a member of NSNA and your school, state, and national leadership involvement, you know how to run and/or participate in meetings, set an agenda, delegate, plan, implement and assess the activities organized by a team of nursing student association members. These very same skills will be needed to participate in the shared-governance councils that have been established in many healthcare delivery settings and in all Magnet Hospitals. These very same skills will benefit your participation in professional nursing and community organizations. The Leadership Assessment For Student Nurses will help you gauge your strengths and opportunities for growth as an emerging leader. Continue reading . . . |
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