Thank you for a SUCCESSFUL convention!

Greetings! On behalf of the attendees of the 67th NSNA National Convention, we would like to send a HUGE THANK YOU for sending our officers and members to this year's convention! A few of the highlights include: 

Three of our local officers are now newly elected National Officers with NSNA:AJ Cook is the new Vice President of NSNA Stephanie Bell is the new Director West of NSNALauren Shipton is the new Director West with the Nominations and Elections Committee (NEC) of NSNA AJ, Stephanie, and Lauren worked very hard to get elected to these national positions, please join me in congratulating them! As a testament to their commitment to this profession, they took on this challenge within the first few weeks of level 1 and 2 in nursing school. Their commitment was undeniable as they came up with their platforms, campaign slogans, participated in caucuses throughout the entire convention. The state of Nevada is well-represented in the Nationals and we cannot wait for the changes they will institute within NSNA. We are PROUD of our Rebel Student Nurses.    This is the first year we got to take seats in the House of Delegates (HoD) as this is the first year we officially filed for constituency within NSNA. With that, we took the 7 seats to represent UNLV and the State of Nevada in Resolutions Hearings, Bylaws Amendment Hearings and election of the National Officers in NSNA. We quickly got indoctrinated in the Robert's Rules of Order. As the resolutions hearings started, our delegates Justin LeMay and Matthew Mastalski debated and made their voices heard regarding issues that we felt we had to stand by including LGBTQ+ rights, mental health conditions in nursing students, STIs in the older adult population, mental health screenings, the necessity of academic integrity in nursing school, promoting awareness of supervised injection facilities (SIFs). Matt was also instrumental in amending RESOLUTION 30: In support of health education courses as a graduation requirement for high school students  We got to meet and speak to Dr. Ernest Grant, the President of the American Nurses Association (ANA), a highlight of Day 3  The candidates and delegates UNLV-SNA were well-loved and supported by the delegates and attendees from all over the United States. We didn't just represent UNLV and the State of Nevada, we showed them that we were passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds who used our voices to champion our cause.

To end, I would like to share an entry from my reflection over this weekend: 

"As I come back from the NSNA National Convention, I am overwhelmed with emotion – what I have gotten myself into was larger than me. If change is what you wish to see, you have to step outside your comfort zone and realize that the bigger picture is easily within reach. We came to convention as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed nursing students curious to learn about what’s out there for our future professions. We come back with a fire that’s ignited within us to set the stage to make a difference in our respective professions in a way that reaches a bigger audience. We came as acquaintances, we come back as a family with a united vision to set the fire ablaze within our peers. This was the perfect end to the most rigorous level 3. I am excited with what’s to come for my final level 4 and the opportunity to serve as President for UNLV-SNA. Bring it on SNA! Challenge accepted."

Again, I cannot thank you enough for your support in sending us to the convention! 

Best Regards,

Sherrie Serrano

UNLV-SNA President-elect