Imprint - April/May 2012

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The Professional Magazine for Student Nurses

National Student Nurses’ Association®

APRIL/MAY 2012 • VOL. 59, NO. 3

®

Imprint

1 APRIL/MAY 2012 NSNA IMPRINT® y www.nsna.org 1

All published material in IMPRINT® is protected by copyright. n Material, including illustra-tions and artwork, may not be reprinted without permission from the National Student Nurses’ Association. n NSNA encourages its readers to submit original articles for publication to IM-PRINT® but reserves the right to edit for style clarity, and length. n IMPRINT (USPS #899-300) is published five times a year by the National Student Nurses’ Association, Inc. in the months of February/March, April/May, September/October, November/December and Janu-ary. n ISSN @ 0019-3062. IMPRINT is indexed in the International Nursing Index. n Three dollars of NSNA dues is for subscription to IMPRINT. Other interested persons may subscribe at $18 annually. Mexico and foreign subscriptions are $30 annually. n The views expressed in IMPRINT are solely those of the authors or persons quoted and do not necessarily reflect the

views of NSNA. Statements made by authors are not statements of NSNA policy unless adopt-ed by NSNA resolution. The appearance of advertising in this publication in no way implies endorsement or approval by NSNA of any advertising claims or of the advertiser, its product, or services. NSNA does not attempt to investigate or verify the accuracy of claims made by its advertisers, and NSNA specifically disclaims any liability in connection with advertising ap-pearing herein. © National Student Nurses’ Association, Inc. 2010, 45 Main Street, Suite 606, Brooklyn, NY 11201. n IMPRINT was formerly published as the NSNA NEWSLETTER. n Periodical Postage Paid at Brooklyn, NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to National Student Nurses’ Association, Box 789, Wilmington, OH, 45177.

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Departments & Columns

Commemorating 60 Years

Editorial……………………………………………………………Membership Benefits & Highlights…………………………………News: NSNA……………………………………………………… National…………………………………………………… People………………………………………………………Happenings………………………………………………………Community Health & Disaster Preparedness………………………Legislation/Education ………………………………………………Image of Nursing……………………………………………………Up Close……………………………………………………………Foundation of the NSNA…………………………………………NSNA: Alumni……………………………………………………

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pg. 9 Participate on the National Level! Apply for Imprint Reporter or Resolutions Committee.

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Reflections of the Past……………………………………………… By Mary Foley and Pamela CiprianoNSNA: The First 25 Years………………………………………… By Dorothy NayerNSNA in the 1960s………………………………………………… By Mary Dennesaites MorganChallenges of the Seventies and Early Eighties……………………… By Mary Ann TuftConventions of the Past……………………………………………Presidents of the National Student Nurses’ Association………………NSNA Honorary Members…………………………………………NSNA Through the Information Age………………………………

Look for future articles about NSNA in the 1980s-2000s this fall as we continue to celebrate this 60th Anniversary year!

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Cheryl K. Schmidt, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEFAppointed by the American Nurses Associa-tion

Cheryl Taylor, PhD, RN, FAANAppointed by the National League for Nursing

Diane Mancino, EdD, RN, CAE, FAAN

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puBlished By the national student nurses’ association, inc.®NSNA® is a membership organization representing students in associate degree, diploma, baccalaureate, generic masters and generic doctorate programs preparing students for

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4 APRIL/MAY 2012

The History of NursingBy Brigid Lusk, PhD, RN, Professor of Nursing and Chair of Nursing & Health Studies, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, IL; and President, American Association for the History of Nursing

As the current president of the American Association for the History of Nursing, I was delighted when Imprint asked me to write the editorial for this issue. One of my professional goals as a researcher and as a member of the nursing history association is to do my part to share our history. This celebratory issue does just that. Congratulations

to the members of the National Student Nurses Association on your history of 60 years of advocacy for nursing students, your patients and your profession.

Then came the tricky bit—what to write? As I was sitting in front of my computer with not a single neuron connecting, my dean e-mailed me a special report of US News Weekly. Registered nurses, I read, are ranked at the top of 25 “high-opportunity” professions that have competitive salaries and strong job satisfaction (US News and World Report, Best Jobs, 2012). That gave me an idea—what has changed and what has remained consistent in nursing over the past sixty years? In terms of salary, nursing has come a long way. The salary range for Registered Nurses is now $44,190 to $95,130 according to the US News Weekly. In 1947, the annual starting salary for a hospital nurse was $2,100. In 1960 it was on average $4,400—considerably less than the

other traditionally female professions of elementary school teachers, librarians, and social workers (Lynaugh & Brush, 1996).

The practice of nursing has become much more complex, with the introduction of critical care units, more complex pharmacology and technology, and the overall increased acuity of our patients. Years ago patients were admitted for weeks—now it may just be for hours. Our education has changed too. In 1950, 83% of nurses were graduates of hospital training schools while just 17% graduated from universities. Nursing programs were not offered in community colleges until 1952 (Lynaugh & Brush, 1996). With the Nurse Training Act of 1964, congress funded undergraduate nursing education and the number of nursing education programs expanded. In 2008, the latest data available, most of the diploma programs have closed and about half of all nurses have a baccalaureate or higher degree either in nursing or a related field (Registered Nurse Population, 2010). And there is a growing drive in the US to have all registered nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level. Expansion of knowledge in genetics and informatics, new essentials such as care of the elderly, and the overall imperative of patient safety, is driving this discussion. But while we are finally earning the salaries that the complexity and responsibility of our work mandates, and while we are realizing that we must have a 21st century

G U E S T E D I T O R I A LMedora McGinnisImprint® Editor2011-2012

It has been a pleasure serving as your Imprint Editor for 2011-2012! We are so very pleased to bring you this commemora-tive keepsake issue of Imprint celebrating the NSNA 60th Anniversary. I am happy to present to you with a special guest editorial by Brigid Lusk, PhD, RN, who is the Chair of Nursing & Health Studies at Northern Illinois University. – Medora S. McGinnis, Imprint Editor, 2011-2012

Brigid Lusk

NSNA IMPRINT® y www.nsna.org 5

professional education, some things haven’t changed. Nurses, including student nurses, have been giving compassionate and informed care for the past sixty years and for centuries before that. In that dimension, the best student nurses of sixty years ago are the same as the best student nurses of today.

As a nurse historian, I am particularly interested in the nursing care given to patients with cancer during the first half of the last century. Rose Chioni, who later became dean at the University of Virginia School of Nursing, was typical of nursing students in the 1950s, except perhaps she wrote better case studies! In 1951, Chioni wrote about one of her patients, a young woman dying of cancer. I used Chioni’s case study to introduce my chapter on nursing cancer patients in Patricia D’Antonio and Sandra Lewenson’s History as Evidence: Nursing Interventions through Time (2011). Here is an excerpt:

Chioni bathed her patient and noted her deep, labored breathing, her dry skin, and her pallor, and worried about her susceptibility to pressure ulcers. She rubbed her patient’s back and legs with lotion and placed warm cloths over her eyelids to moisten them because they were stuck together. The patient then “appeared much more comfortable.”… Chioni administered mouth care and taught the family how to lubricate the patient’s lips with oil. She understood that “…they seemed to feel better when they thought they were doing something to make her feel better.”(p. 124). “…after PM care on the last day of

her life, she opened her eyes, grasped my hand, and smiled. She immediately went into a deep sleep…that last smile has made an impact on my mind.” (p. 138).

Over the past few years, as a faculty member at Northern Illinois University, I have read hundreds of students’ case studies. I read them as part of the school’s assessment program—students submit a portfiolio of their best work which we, the faculty, review. These case studies demonstrate that students of today show just as much compassionate care, such patient advocacy, as Rose Chioni did sixty years ago. This central attribute of good nursing, the one we should all be so proud of, hasn’t changed.

My message to you is to keep advocating, for your fellow students, your patients, for your profession, and for humanity! G

ReferencesLusk, B. (2011). Nursing Patients with Cancer in the 1950s: New Issues and Old Challenges. In P. D’Antonio & S. Lewenson, (Eds.), History as Evidence: Nursing Interventions through Time, (123-138). New York: Springer.

Lynaugh J., & Brush, B. (1996). American Nursing: From Hospitals to Health Systems. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell

Registered Nurse Population, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2012, from http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/rnsurveys/rnsurveyinitial2008.pdf

US News and World Report, Best Jobs, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2012, from http://money.usnews.com/money/careers.

6 APRIL/MAY 2012

Margaret Ngai, Vice President2011-2012 Vice President and Chair, Membership [email protected]

60,000 Strong!We began the 2011-2012 year with an idea: could we hit the 60,000 membership mark in time to cel-ebrate the NSNA 60th Anniversary? The answer is a

resounding yes! The answer is yes, because of you. Because of you, our members, that we have been able to achieve this goal. But that doesn’t mean we should stop now. Now is the time to prepare your member-ship recruitment campaigns for the summer and fall. Whether we are planning a vacation, landing a summer job or internship, and spending time with our families, summers are often just as busy as the school year. Try to get your recruitment campaigns in place by August. The “Catch the Wave” membership recruitment campaign was a success again. We had 128 Project InTouch (PIT) recruiters who enlisted over 2,300 new members! Fantastic job! Students connecting with peers is crucial to the growth of NSNA membership. Congratulations goes out to the Project In-Touch Grand Prize Winner, Corinne MacEgan, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.

Here are some ideas to get your recruitment campaign going:1. Invite prospective members to your first meeting and have an exciting program, in addition to a business meeting. Be sure to greet prospective members and invite them to sit with the group.2. Use the recruitment DVD Catch the Wave with NSNA and supplement it with Nursing – The Career of a Lifetime, the DVD showcasing inspiring stories of accomplished nurses as they share their career journeys. Both can be downloaded from NSNA’s website. These are ideal for your first SNA meeting of the semester. 3. Use a scrapbook or online photo collection of your activities to show members in action. Make a list of your chapter’s accomplishments and awards available to your prospective members. 4. Involve faculty. Your dean and faculty advisor are your liaisons with many faculty members who are active in nursing organizations and can serve as a catalyst for NSNA involvement.

Reminders: • ProjectInTouchrecruitersmustobtainanewnumberforthe2012- 2013 year.• To request recruitment materials, please contact the NSNA headquarters at [email protected] and indicate the date you will need the materials by, allowing 4 weeks for delivery. • Newmembershipbrochuresforthe2012-2013schoolyearwillbe available in July. The current membership applications can still be used in states that have not had a dues increase. States with dues increases are notified of the new state dues.• TheonlineregistrationprocessmakesjoiningNSNAeasier.Makethis a selling point as you recruit new members. • If you need assistance in planning and implementing your membership recruitment campaign, contact Susan Wong, Director of Membership Development, at NSNA headquarters, (718) 210-0705, or send an e-mail to Susan’s attention at [email protected].

It has been a pleasure serving as your 2011-2012 Membership Commit-tee Chair. Good Luck with your projects and have a great summer! G

MEMBERSHIPNSNA Partnership ProgramOne of the main objectives of NSNA is to prepare students to play active and vital roles in the nursing profession. NSNA fosters professional identity and introduces students to the world of professional organizations. Members have many opportunities to gain invaluable skills and experiences that enhance professional development. NSNA strives to build and strengthen the bridge between education and practice. NSNA members are informed about professional organizations and encouraged to learn about them—even as students. Through a Partnership Program, NSNA members may join the following specialty nursing organizations at a reduced rate available only to NSNA members: Academy of Neonatal Nursing, American Assembly for Men in Nursing, American Holistic Nurses Association, American Organization of Nurse Executives, Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses, Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses, Dermatology Nurses’ Association, Emergency Nurses Association, National Association of Neonatal Nurses, and Oncology Nursing Society. For more information, and to join, please see the NSNA Partnership Program page under Membership at www.nsna.org.

NEW!


Professional Liability Insurance

Nurses Service Organization (NSO) is the official NSNA-endorsed provider of profes-sional liability insurance for nursing students. NSO offers students malpractice protection coverage up to $1 Million per occurrence up to $6 million annually, for only $35 a year!* After you graduate and begin to take on full nursing duties, you’ll be eligible for a 50% discount off the full-time nurse’s premium as a First-year Graduate (good for 12 months following gradu-ation date). *Rates may vary by state

www.nso.com/NSNA Tel: (800) 247-1500

Academic Credit for Leadership

NSNA members have an opportunity to maximize their leadership potential thus enhance their career development through NSNA’s Leadership U®, www.nsnalead-ershipu.org. NSNA members have access to a model that earns recognition – and in some cases academic credit – for partici-pation in NSNA activities. The leadership and management skills developed can be transferred to the work setting as well as to professional associations upon graduation from nursing school.

www.nsnaleadershipu.org

Health and Accident Insurance

NSNA members and their eligible spouse and dependents can purchase group injury and sickness insurance provided by United Healthcare Student Resources. The plan includes prescription drug coverage and continuation privilege for a period of up to nine months after graduation if eligible. It is affordable for students and their dependents. Also included UnitedHealth Allies® Discount Dental and Vision (save up to 50%). Available in most states.

www.uhcsr.com/NSNATel: (800) 505-5450

Critical Portfolio™

This first of its kind, web-based portfolio management solution provides nursing professionals and students with an automated and organized professional portfolio – accessible anytime, anywhere. The Critical Portfolio™ solution allows for personal, customized portfolios that include education case logs, papers, memberships, NSNA activities, resumes, and more! Additionally, it provides the owner with reminders of upcoming education, credential, and license renewal requirements. Free access for NSNA members.

www.nsnaleadershipu.orgLogin ID = your membership #. Default password (case sensitive): NSNA.

NSNA Credit Card Program

From breakfast on the run to buying school supplies – earn points for the purchases you normally make. You can treat yourself to a variety of rewards including cash rewards, air travel, unique adventures or cool merchandise. This card supports the mission of NSNA – at no additional cost to you – with every purchase you make. With the NSNA credit card you have secured online access to your account, around the clock fraud protection, and access to basic money management tips.

www.nsna.org/Membership/AlliancePartners.aspx#BoATel: (866) 438-6262

Life UniformLife Uniform provides NSNA members a 10% discount on all purchases made on lifeuniform.com. NSNA members are extended a special shipping cost of only $3.79 for any order, and orders over $100 are always FREE! To receive the 10% discount and special shipping, simply shop the online store at www.lifeuniform.com and enter the NSNA discount code in the promotional code field when you check out. The special code can be found in your weekly NSNA Update email. Please note that this discount is not valid on past purchases or on the purchase of Dansko, Littmann, Alegria, Timberland, Koi by Sanita or Laura Ashley.

www.lifeuniform.com

BENEFITS & HIGHLIGHTS

PEPIDNSNA has teamed up with PEPID to offer NSNA members a huge discount on the leading point of care, clinical and drug reference for nursing students. A requirement in 200 schools and clinicals, PEPID offers nursing students a complete “peripheral brain,” with a NANDA-I diagnosis wizard, drug database, drug interaction checker, interactive dosing calculator, nursing assessment, diagnosis, care plans and much more!

www.nsna.org/Membership/AlliancePartners.aspx#PEPID


8 APRIL/MAY 2012

Imprint Returns in the Fall!Imprint now begins its summer hiatus after this issue. We return in the fall with the 2012-2013 Board of Directors and Nominating and Elections Committee, elected during the 60th Anniversary Convention & Alumni Reunion. Get your name and study tip or idea featured in the September/October back-to-school issue. This popular annual feature shares the best study tips that have helped student nurses thrive. Share your everyday study routine, or tell us about something unique that personally helps you succeed. Materials for the September/October back-to-school issue are due June 22, 2012. If you have any study tips to share with the membership, email them to [email protected], attn: Study Tips 2012. We encourage faculty and advisors to send in their ideas to help students ace their exams!

N E W S : NSNA®

Important DeadlinesCall for Study Tips - Deadline June 22

Imprint Reporters Needed Imprint is seeking reporters for the 2012-2013 academic year. The Happenings and Up Close columns report on the activities of chapters and individuals who make NSNA and nursing stand out in the community. The Up Close reporter profiles an outstanding NSNA member who’s involved and who’s making a difference in her or his school, or even abroad! The Happenings reporter communicates with state and school chapters to learn about the activities they’ve taken on in their communities. Chapter fundraising events, headline-grabbing projects, and community health initiatives have all been featured. For more information and to apply, go to www.nsna.org and visit the Periodicals page under the Publications menu. Or write to [email protected], attn: Jonathan. Applications must be received by Monday, May 25, 2012.

Imprint’s Up Close reporter profiles outstanding

student nurses like these past Up Close students:

Kristie CarollFeb/March 2012

Cara JordanNov/Dec 2011

Russ HaightJanuary 2011

Electra AllenFeb/March 2011

Caren NitudaApril/May 2011

Jen SeegmillerSept/Oct 2011

Resolutions Committee Deadline - May 25 The Resolutions Committee plays a crucial role each year leading up to the Annual Convention, ensuring workable implementation of the resolutions. We send the chairperson to the MidYear Conference, November 8-11,2012 in San Diego, CA; and the entire committee to Annual Convention, April 3-7, 2013 in Charlotte, SC. Go to www.nsna.org under What’s New to read more about the qualifications necessary to fulfill the positions, and to download an application. Applications must be received at NSNA headquarters by May 25, 2012. G



10 APRIL/MAY 2012

12 APRIL/MAY 2012

Rebecca Patton Selected as ANA-Appointed Consultant to NSNA

N E W S : People

The National Student Nurses’ Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR, FAAN, as the American Nurses Association (ANA)-appointed consultant to NSNA. Ms. Patton steps into her new role as Dr. Cheryl Schmidt, PhD, RN, CAE, ANEF closes out her term on April 15, 2012, the closing day of the NSNA 60th Anniversary Convention & Alumni Reunion in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During her two-year appointment, Ms. Patton serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors during their business meetings. She fulfills this role alongside Cheryl Taylor, PhD, RN, FAAN, the National League for Nursing (NLN)-appointed consultant.

Patton, of Lakewood, Ohio, served as president of the American Nurses Association from 2006 to 2010. A nurse for over 30 years, Patton has proven to be an exemplary nursing leader. Prior to being elected ANA President, she held numerous ANA positions, including Board of Directors member (1994-1998),

treasurer (1998-2002), and delegate to the ANA House of Delegates (2003-2005). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

In January 2011, Patton returned to her alma mater as a nurse educator at Case Western Reserve University – Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing. As the Lucy Jo Atkinson Scholar in Perioperative Nursing, she was appointed to develop, instruct, and coordinate Perioperative nursing with the Bachelor of Science program. In addition to her faculty position, she currently holds the volunteer position of Lead Coordinator at the Nursing Organizations Alliance. Previously, she served as director of Perioperative Services for EMH Regional Healthcare System in Elyria, OH; and director of Nursing, director of Surgical Services and director of Ambulatory Operations for hospitals in the University Hospitals Health System.

As past president of ANA, Patton has participated in many events with the National Student Nurses’ Association. “I am excited about this opportunity to work with the next generation of nurses,” says Patton.

“In all of my experiences, I have been very proud of what has been accomplished by NSNA and the individual members.” In her role as educator, mentor and leader, her legacy is sure to continue as she helps guide our future of nurse leaders.

Patton

Schmidt

Taylor


IOWAMercy College of Health Sciences Discuss the Future of Nursing with GovernorIn response to the most recent report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on the future of the nursing profession, members of the Mercy College Association of Nursing Students (MCANS) in Des Moines, Iowa, rallied together to address the findings and present them to Iowa state governor Terry Branstad this past December.

After drafting a letter to the governor which gathered 200 students’ signatures addressing issues related to nursing faculty recruitment, transition to professional practice for new grads, advanced education opportunities and an overall forecast of the profession, several students met with Branstad to further discuss their position. In the memorandum and following discussion, students highlighted the need for comprehensive nursing residency programs to aid in the transition to practice for new grads as well as the support for nursing professionals who seek positions as academic leaders.

Armed with data from the IOM report, students took turns discussing their concerns and the

By Amy JulianHappenings reporter

The “Happenings” column highlights chapter activities and accomplishments. Submit your activities to [email protected] attn: Happenings.

H A P P E N I N G S

issues facing the nursing profession with Governor Branstad. “While preparing to meet with the governor, I discovered how important it is to bring attention to legislation about the topics we researched,” explained MCANS Vice President Jenna Boyle. Students were able to discuss openly the issues facing nursing and the climate of the profession with the governor. Their hard work in researching the issues and excellent delivery of their position got the attention of the governor, who urged the students to continue with their research and advocacy.

“Governor Branstad was very engaged in the discussion and was receptive to what the students had to say,” explains MCANS Publicity Chair Nicole Scar. “The governor challenged us to research some of the issues further and revisit him.” MCANS Treasurer Molly Murphy agrees: “I very much enjoyed talking with governor Branstad about the importance of nursing. He seemed to be very interested in the ideas we had.”

In addition to advocating for change, students gained experience in public speaking and the legislative process. “Speaking with the Governor has given me the ability to better communicate in front of a group alone,” says Samantha Studer, Breakthrough to Nursing Chair at Mercy College.

MCANS president ZacAhmann, who describes the meeting with the governor as “inspiring,” now looks forward to continuing being an active member in the nursing community after graduation. “[After meeting with the governor] I hope to be involved in nursing legislation when I become a registered nurse,” he says.

The students at Mercy College of Health Sciences were able to use their knowledge and strength in numbers to call attention to the issues facing new nurses as well as those who have been in the profession for some time. By remaining current on the issues, nursing students across the country can contribute to what has the potential to be a rich and fulfilling future for the nursing profession.

“By simply making the governor aware of these issues,” says MCANS Secretary Emily Holtmeier, “I felt like we made a difference.”

For more information and to view the IOM report that sparked Mercy College of Health Science nursing students into action, visit www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change-Advancing-Health.aspx. For more information on Mercy College of Health Sciences, visit www.mchs.edu/ or call (515) 643-3180. (Continued on page 19 2)

14 APRIL/MAY 2012

Don’t shake a baby.” This advice seems obviously simple and has been around for quite a while – yet SBS still oc-curs. The annual incidence is hard to measure but an esti-mated 29.7 infants per 100,000 infants are diagnosed with SBS each year in the United States alone (Keenan, 2003). Of the infants that survive, 85% require ongoing medi-cal care with some needing that kind of care throughout their lifetimes (King, 2003). It cannot be stated strongly enough: one child being diagnosed or killed by SBS is one child too many.

SBS is a form of abusive head trauma that occurs when a baby is violently shaken and suffers injuries such as subdural hematomas, retinal hemorrhages, and even dif-fuse axonal brain injury. Many times there is little to no evidence of outside trauma (Barr, 2006). So where does your role as a student nurse come in? You, as a student nurse, are responsible for being up to date on what the best possible options are for patients. You are working directly with patients and can offer valuable knowledge that could save their child’s life.

When you are educating your patient in the calm atmo-sphere of a doctor’s office and say such things as, “Now remember, don’t shake your baby” of course any normal person responds that they would never even consider shaking their baby. Would you? Perhaps better advice and counsel would be “Do you know what to do if your baby is crying inconsolably? Do you know that crying happens to be one of the most common proven triggers for Shaken

Not many things are 100% preventable in healthcare, but Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is 100% preventable in every single situation. Education is key. April in 2011, the NSNA House of Delegates passed the Resolution: In Support of the Period of the PURPLE Crying® Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Program to do just that— provide education about SBS. Brigham Young University student Célèste Wouden discusses as our guest author for April/May.

Shaken Baby Syndrome: Where You Fit InBy Célèste Wouden

Baby Syndrome (Lee, 2007)?” This question targets the real problem of why caregivers would shake their infant in the first place: crying.

The Period of PURPLE Crying® program is a program recently developed by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. It’s an evidence-based SBS prevention program that includes an 11-page booklet and 10-min DVD intend-ed to be given to parents of new infants. One of the main reason caregivers shake a baby is due to inconsolable crying. The Period of PURPLE Crying® program approaches SBS prevention by helping caregivers understand the frustrating features of crying in normal infants that can lead to shak-ing or abuse (National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, 2010). It’s critical that every parent knows this information. It is based on over 25 years of research conducted by pedia-trician Ronald G. Barr and other scientists worldwide.

The acronym “PURPLE” describes the characteristics of this type of crying:

• Peak of crying. The infant may cry more each week, the most at two months and then less at three-five months; • Unexpected. Crying can come and go for any reason; • Resists soothing. The infant may not stop crying no matter what the parent does; • Pain-like face. The baby may look like they are in pain; • Long-lasting. The crying can last as much as five hours per day and still be normal; • Evening. The infant may cry more in the late afternoon and evening (Runyan, 2009).

COMMUNITY HEALTHRhys Haydon,Director and Chair,Community Health/Disaster PreparednessCommittee


The program recommends three action steps for caregivers when their newborn is crying: 1, increase carry, comfort, walk and talk with their baby; 2, if it becomes too frustrat-ing, leave the baby in a safe place and walk away; 3, never shake or hurt a baby (Barr, 2006).

As a student nurse, you can help parents understand and be aware of this normal crying period that all infants go through in their first few months of life. You can teach parents and those you interact with about the three action steps they can take to protect their baby from SBS. Encour-age parents to share the PURPLE program with all who will be taking care of their baby. You can be involved in helping your hospital be a part of the Period of PURPLE Crying® program.

References

Barr, R. G. (2006). Age-related incidence curve of hospitalized shaken baby syndrome cases: Convergent evidence for crying as a trigger to shaking. Child Abuse and Neglect, 30(1), 7-16.

Keenan, H. R. (2003). A population-based study of in-flicted traumatic brain injury in young children. Journal of American Medical Association, 290(5), 621-626.

King, J. M. (2003). Shaken baby syndrome in Canada: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospital cases. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 168(2), 155-159.

Lee, C. B. (2007). Age-related incidence of publicly reported shaken baby syndrome cases: Is crying a trigger for shaking? Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 28(4), 288-293.

National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. (2010). The Period of PURPLE crying a new way to understand your baby’s crying. Retrieved March 7, 2012 from PURPLE crying: http://www.dontshake.org/sbs.php?topNavID=4&subNavID=32

National Student Nurses’ Association. (2011, April). Resolutions 2011. Retrieved 1 4, 2012, from National Student Nurses’ Association: http://www.nsna.org/Portals/0/Skins/NSNA/pdf/2011%20NSNA%20RESO-LUTIONS%20_final.pdf

Runyan, D. K.-K. (2009). Designing and testing a shaken baby syndrome prevention program--The period of PURPLE crying: Keeping babies safe in north carolina. Social Marketing Quarterly, 15(4), 2-24.

16 APRIL/MAY 2012


On October 6, 2010, President Obama signed Rosa’s Law, which requires federal statutes currently using the term “mental retardation” to refer instead to “intellectually disability.” Currently, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) continues to utilize the term “mental retardation” (First, 2000).

The goal of the NSNA Resolution is to create awareness within the nursing and student nursing community to join together in a common voice and clearly state to the American Psychiatric Association, publishers of the Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) to be released in May 2013, that language concerning individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) must be updated.

A major advocacy group for the ID population, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) formally presented recommendations to the DSM-V Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Developmental Disorders Subgroup on February 22, 2010. The recommendation from AAIDD noted that “intellectual disability” is

L E G I S L AT I O N E D U C AT I O N

The Legislation/Education column informs members of important legislative and education issues, healthcare policy, and political activism.

Student Nurses Spreading the Word to End the R-WordBy Toni Sugg

the preferred term “since it reflects the changed construction of disability, aligns better with current professional practices that focus on functional behaviors and contextual factors, provides a logical basis for individualized supports due to its basis in social-ecological framework, is less offensive to persons with the disability and is more consistent with the international terminology.”* In accordance with those efforts and that of the Resolution, there are several great projects that your chapters can do to promote the Resolution and the Special Olympics campaign. Contact publishers of nursing textbooks that still use the outdated terminology and request that they replace “the mentally retarded” with “individuals with intellectual disabilities.”

You can also go to www.r-word.org and sign a pledge to personally eliminate the use of this offensive word in daily practice, joining the national Special Olympics tally.

Student nurses are already making a difference! Regis University, Denver, Colorado, is hosting its third campus-wide awareness day sponsored by the Regis Office of Disability Student Services (ODS) with assistance from the

Jaclyn T. Coleman 2011-2012 Director and Chair, Legislation/Education Committee

Regis Student Nurses Association (RSNA). A signature table will be set up in the Student Union staffed by both representatives ODS and RSNA. Students sign a banner pledging to eliminate the r-word from daily use. Event t-shirts, posters, bracelets, and pencils are also be distributed. The bulletin board and door near the ODS office also promote the event. They also arranged a presentation with community leaders, nursing students and members of the ID community. This is an excellent example of an awareness event that you can model your own event after. Be sure to let the rest of NSNA know about your efforts to support this Resolution by emailing [email protected] with a summary of your event to be included in Imprint’s Happenings column.Since the Resolution passed, student leaders in several states including Ohio, Arkansas, and Utah have been working with Regis University event coordinators to learn more about creating Spread the Word to End the R-Word events on their campus (Continued on page 19 2)

This year, the Special Olympics is sponsoring the “Spread the Word to End the R-Word” awareness campaign to eliminate the use of the word “retarded.” We all heard it on the playground and still hear people throw it around. Sometimes we hear it used as an insult. Sometimes we hear it used as a joke. But this is no joke. Guest author Toni Sugg discusses the campaign and the 2011NSNA Resolution: In Support Of Increased Awareness of Rosa’s Law Which Changes the Term “Mentally Retarded” to “Intellectual Disability.”

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HAPPENINGS(Continued from page 14)

SOUTH CAROLINAThird Annual Nurses Care Walk Nursing students at the University of South Carolina laced up their tennis shoes and hit the pavement for the third annual Nurses Care Walk to benefit the South Carolina Nurses Foundation this past November. The statewide event attracted hundreds from across the state, including a group of SNA members from the university. Through dedication and fundraising, the students were able to raise over $300 for the SCNF.

“[The organization] supports the advancement of nursing through grants, scholarships, and research,” explains USC-SNA president Allison Wagenlander.

The decision to walk in the event came easily for the group of busy nursing students. “Because of our large numbers, we were able to make a difference,” Wagenlander explains. In fact, Wagenlander adds, “[The SNA] chapter at the University of South Carolina is the largest in the state.”

The event not only helped to raise money for the South Carolina Nurses Foundation, it was also a great way for SNA members to take a break from hitting the books and spend time among their peers. “The participants from our chapter loved this event,” Wagenlander says. “It allowed us to bond [with one another] and build a sense of community.”

The Nurses Care Walk for SCNF this past November was only the third annual walk, but Wagenlander

LEGISLATION(Continued from page 17)

Visit www.r-word.org and click on “events.” Look for the public service announcement promoting Spread the Word to End the R-word featuring actors from the television show Glee: www.r-word.org/r-word-not-acceptable-psa.aspx.

*Emphasis added by author.

ReferencesAmerican Association Of Intellectual And De-velopmental Disabilities. (2011). AAIDD 11th Edition Implementation Committee. Retrieved March 7, 2012, from http://www.aaidd.org/media/PDFs/DSMV.pdf.First, M. B. 2000. Diagnostic and Statisti-cal Manual of Mental Disorders. Wash-ington D.C.; American Psychiatric As-sociation. Retrieved March 7, 2012 from http://online.statref.com/document.aspx?fxid=37&docid=13.Rosa’s Law, Public Law 111–256, 124 Stat. 2643 (2010). Retrieved March 10, 2012 from: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ256/pdf/PLAW-111publ256.pdf

predicts a long partnership with the organization in future walks and events to come: “We hope to continue the tradition for many more years and watch the event grow.”

For more information on the South Carolina Nurses Foundation and for upcoming events, visit www.scnursesfoundation.org/. For more information on the University of South Carolina College of Nursing, visit the school’s website at www.sc.edu/nursing or call (803) 777-3861. G



20 APRIL/MAY 2012


The Journey of Spanning the DistanceWarm greetings, NSNA members and sustaining members! It is hard to believe that we have arrived. We made it! NSNA is proudly celebrating the 60th Diamond Anniversary during this season of nurses helping nurses, as we learn how to use our voices to advocate for our patients, ourselves, and our profession. Congratulations, NSNA!

The experience of serving our members on the Board of Directors has been a powerful one. As Chair of the Image of Nursing Committee, combined with my own experiences this past year as a senior nursing student learning to navigate the professional nursing world, I have spent a great deal of time ponder-ing the concept of professionalism: what it is, where it is, and if I project it in my daily life.

Through writing the Image columns, creating posts for the Board of Directors blog (The Central Line), and leading the MidYear Conference Image and Professional Dress Presentation and Fashion Show (in collaboration with NSNA Alliance Partner Life Uniform), I have come to have a new understand-ing of the word. In the last issue of Imprint, we focused on defining profes-sionalism. In my editorial, I stated the following, which bears repeating: “The Imprint theme for the year is, ‘It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.’ The things we do and choices we make to-day will affect our lives tomorrow. How we create our journey into professional nursing is really up to us.”

This past year, we explored the pros and cons of social media and how to utilize it in a thoughtful, professional manner; and we discussed the importance of a professional appearance, and how our first impression speaks volumes—not only to us as individuals, but also to the nursing profession itself. If we were to reflect on the image of nursing over the last 60 years, what themes would we find?

In the last 60 years, our “evolving nurses” have grown and blossomed as leaders. We have moved the profession forward through extensive nursing research and strong evidence-based practices. The profession has grown to include advance practice nurses in multiple areas of study, as well as nurse executives, nurse educators, and public policy makers. Our “evolving nurse” is not only at the bedside, but now sits in the boardroom:

Nurses, perhaps more than any other single occupation, stand at the forefront of major changes in the healthcare industry. But we are not just standing still wait-ing for changes to happen to us. We are moving toward change as never before, redefining and expanding our roles to be the champions of quality care improve-ments, research innovations and patient rights, and advancing our skills as leaders to assure our spot at the table with policy makers, hospital executives and other industry leaders (Lydor 2012).

If all of our NSNA founders from the early 1950s could see us today, I think they would be proud of our journey.

As a final thought, I’d like to invite you to imagine your ultimate future. Imagine your future nursing career, your path, and your possibilities—now imagine that vision is here, right now. You already have this future you desire. With an open mind, flexibility, and your professionalism thriving, you will help it to unfold. Life does not always make our path straight and flat. We discover all kinds of hurdles, potholes, and obstacles in our way! If we face them all with a kind heart, a professional demeanor and our heads held high, we will span that distance and reach that vision of being the profes-sional nurse our predecessors knew we would be capable of. And we will give way to the nurses of the next 60 years who will further evolve into the professionals that we, as their predecessors, will be proud of.

Congratulations to the 2012 graduates and congratulations to NSNA on its 60th Diamond Anniversary! G

I M A G E O F N U R S I N GThe Image of Nursing column explores and discusses issues relevant to projecting a positive image of nursing.

By Medora McGinnis2011-2012 Imprint® Editor and Chair,Image of Nursing

ReferenceLydor, Courtney H. (2012). Viewpoint: Why nurses will require a stronger back in 2012: Six key challenges facing the nursing community. American Nurse Today. Retrieved March 10, 2012 from: http://www.americannursetoday.com/Article.aspx?id=8742&fid=8714


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The “Up Close” column highlights outstanding stu-dent nurses. Send nominee ideas to [email protected] attn: Up Close.

By Terry Proffer2011-2012Up Close Reporter

U P C L O S E

MomentsMost life-changing decisions are not made impulsively. They are the result of deliberately weighing options and considering various consequences. The forces that guide this process are often desires within ourselves that we connect with in brief moments – moments that are so fleeting they might go unrecognized and unappreciated if it weren’t for the huge turns and benefits they produce in our lives.

Becky Ainsworth of Ocean Beach, California, was working for a title insurance company, closing real estate transactions when the real estate market crashed. Bank requirements became more stringent, the staff she worked with shrank, and Becky’s workload became almost unbearable. She realized that most of the people around her were driven solely by the desire for more money and that she felt that she was involved in a cut-throat industry.

“I came to realize that if I was going to spend 40 hours a week doing my job, for the next 30 years of my life, then I needed to be doing something I could be proud of. I wanted to be able to look back on my life and know that the work I did had a purpose and it was meaningful to someone.”

Then her moment came.

She sat in a salon chair one day talking to her hair stylist. She mentioned her unfulfilling job and her desire for something more. Other people chattered around them. The television droned in the background. Scissors snipped and water ran in sinks. Various smells hung in the air. Her stylist said: “You should be a nurse.”

Becky says, “It was so odd that I had never thought of that before, but when he said it, it made perfect sense. That was the beginning of my path toward a career in nursing.” Right away she enrolled in a local community college and started the prerequisite classes.

On another seemingly average day, Becky was working on the oncology floor during her preceptorship. One of her patients was a wonderful lady recovering from an invasive procedure.

“She was spunky, friendly and talkative, and I built a strong relationship with her and her son and daughter.”

Over the weeks, the patient’s condition worsened until she was hardly able to either move or talk. Becky continued to care for

her and speak with her and the family even though the patient was in terrible pain and unable to respond. At one point the daughter looked at Becky and told her, “You’re going to be a great nurse someday.”

Becky was touched as she processed those words. The patient, who had been silent all day, mustered the strength to say, “She already is.”

“I felt so rewarded that I had made an impact on this woman and that she would say those kind words when she hadn’t spoken all day. I did get to watch this patient get better and watched as she re-gained her spunk. It just served as confirmation that a career in nursing, though not an easy job, would never fail to make me feel proud of what I do, as long as I am able to provide a little comfort to patients in need.”

Becky knows that real life is made up of moments like the ones she’s experienced so far. We can’t force them to happen. We can only wait for them and then appreciate them when they happen. They can guide us, reward us, or reassure us. They are small, but so important.

“Right now I’m just proud that I took this leap of faith to change my career, which in turn will change my whole future.”

After graduating from San Diego State University, Becky would like to continue her education and earn a master’s degree or perhaps a doctorate. She says her professors have always encouraged her to “think bigger” and she is ready to do just that. She feels empowered hearing them talk about their experiences in their practice and also in their education.

She also mentions that she is interested in overseas medical work and creating a local program to help those who need health care but cannot afford it.

“I don’t know what my big life purpose is, but I believe that getting into the field of nursing is putting me one step closer to finding out. I believe my purpose has already been determined and I am just on the path to discovering what it is.”

I think she will, don’t you? G


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Selection Committee - General ProgramSitting left to right:Allison Vital, Nursing Student, Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, Adrianna Sikula, Nursing Student, Queensborough Community College, Bayside, NYJennifer Gil, Nursing Student, Villanova University, Villanova, PA

Standing left to right: Barbara Saur, Faculty Advisor, Queensborough Community College, Bayside, NYToni Ann Russotto, Nursing Student, Suffolk County Community College, Brentwood, NYKathleen Sebade, Nursing Student, Suffolk County Community College, Brentwood, NYJoy Borrero, Faculty Advisor, Suffolk County Community College, Brentwood, NY Lorraine Emeghebo, Faculty Advisor, Molloy College, Rockville Centre, NY

F O U N D AT I O N of the NSNA®

In Memory of Frances TompkinsThe Foundation was created

in honor of Frances Tompkins, NSNA’s® first Executive Director.

FNSNA® Committees SelectScholarship WinnersThe Scholarship Selection committees met at FNSNA headquarters in February 2012 to review scholarship applications submitted by hundreds of applicants. Scholarships are awarded for the 2012-2013 academic year. Winners are recognized at the 60th Anniversary Convention & Alumni Reunion in Pittsburgh, PA, April 11-15, 2012. For a list of scholarship winners, visit www.nsna.org.

Get a head start on next year’s scholarship season! Be on the lookout for the new scholarship application, posted to www.nsna.org in June 2012. Applications are due in January 2013 for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Selection Committee – Promise of NursingSitting left to right:Roberto Joaquin-Reyes, Nursing Student, Cochran School of Nursing, Yonkers, NY Lauren Fitzpatrick, Nursing Student, Farmingdale State College, Farmingdale, NY Annette Bispham, Nursing Student, Molloy College, Rockville Centre, NY

Standing left to right:Petrina McFarlane, Faculty Advisor, Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA Carol Toussie-Weingarten, Faculty Advisor, Villanova University, Villanova, PAJoanne Lapidus-Graham, Faculty Advisor, Farmingdale State College, Farmingdale, NY

26 APRIL/MAY 2012

Tell us briefly how and when you decided to join NSNA.

Betsy Vane: My involvement with NSNA began at the local and state level in 1983 while I was working on my Associate Degree in Nursing at the Western Wisconsin Technical Institute (now named the Western Technical College) in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. One of my nursing instructors, Elaine Baron, RN, encouraged us to become involved in NSNA to learn more about current issues, be exposed to career choices, and to take advantage of educational and leadership opportunities. Elaine and I still keep in contact through letters and cards after all of these years.

Sharon Brigner: During the orientation in the first week of nursing school at Texas Woman’s University (TWU), Dr. Lynn Wieck, our NSNA Faculty, spoke to the student body. Her energy and enthusiasm about the profession, especially the pre-professional and professional nursing organizations, was absolutely infectious. She left us with the message that it was not only an honor to join and belong to NSNA, it was our obligation to our profession, our coworkers, and even our patients. She explained the benefits that we would receive (e.g., exposure to interesting career paths, mentors in our future fields of practice, long lasting friendships that we would develop, sound leadership training that would translate into our workplace). All of those things, and more, rang true but it was the passion and the way that she explained the importance of what our organizations do in turn for us, to advocate for what we want our profession to be, that grabbed me. The entire room joined on the spot and never regretted it.

N S N A A L U M N I

To celebrate the upcoming NSNA 60th Anniversary & Alumni Reunion in April 2012, Imprint is highlighting past NSNA Board members in this special alumni column for each issue.

Catching up with…

Colonel Elizabeth “Betsy” Vane, RN, MS, CNOR, CRCST,

CHL, CRCSM NSNA President, 1985-1986NSNA President, 1986-1987

Sharon Brigner, MN, RN

NSNA Ex-officio Director and COSP Chair, 1995-1996NSNA President,

1996-1997

Describe your leadership experience in the beginning. How did you progress toward running for NSNA President in 1985?

BV: I had really enjoyed my time as Wisconsin (state) President from 1984-1985 and had great opportunities to interact with many of the other state presidents. Running for national president was a natural progression of leadership roles from the local and state levels. I was excited to run for this position and had a great team helping to campaign on my behalf. We had made a full size cut out of me from the waist up with a spring and battery controlled waving hand that sat on our campaign table that attracted a lot of attention. We were also faced with tough Bylaw decisions, unifying issues revolving around entry into practice issues, and other politically charged items to discuss and vote on.

SB: Dr. Wieck was one of my mentors and encouraged me to run for President of the Texas Nursing Student Association, which had more than 5,000 students at the time. The preparation and learning experiences that I had in the state chapter helped prepare me to run at the same time for Council of State Presidents Chair for NSNA. During that year, I observed, participated, learned and absorbed every minute and decided that I should run for President during the next year, my senior year in nursing school. The campaigning and election/debate process was intimidating for me; however I was more concerned with whether I could adequately balance my time so that I could do more than just pass nursing school, learn the material that I needed to know for NCLEX and beyond, and do an important job in representing the nursing students of

Right: Betsy Vane after her election at the 1985 NSNA

Annual Convention


Texas and later for the nation. The responsibility was great but a complete honor and I realized quickly that resources and support for me in this role were abundant. I also witnessed the benefits of the membership and leadership opportunities that other student alums had from NSNA and that was even more motivating. My family support was instrumental as well. During my first year of nursing school, my grandmother was dying of pancreatic cancer. She knew about my elections and that I was so excited to be in nursing school, something she experienced 55 years prior at Hahnemann Hospital out of Philadelphia. She passed on her nursing school books to me, literally, on her death bed at the hospital, and gave me the motivation.

“Win your election, do a good job for nursing students….they are the future.” That was enough for me to feel invincible, or at least empowered to give it my 110%!

Betsy, you were a president of “firsts.” You were elected president for Dr. Robert Piemonte’s first year as NSNA Executive Director. Dr. Piemonte is the first nurse to be appointed Executive Director. Did you feel intimidated working with this new nursing leader, or was it exciting?

BV: Working with Dr. Bob Piemonte was very exciting for the entire Board of Directors. He was a superb role model, expected great work from us, and always had time to listen and help us shape our vision. Dr. Piemonte ensured NSNA was well represented at professional nursing conferences and meetings in the USA and overseas. I was fortunate to be able to attend the International Council of Nurses in Tel Aviv, Israel and the Helene Fuld Fund International Cancer Meeting in Budapest, Hungary. It was during the national professional nursing conferences that I was able to see first- hand how professional the military nurses were, and also how exciting the AORN staff and board of directors made perioperative nursing sound.

Sharon, out of the many people who served two consecutive years on the Board of Directors, you have the unique distinction of being the only person in NSNA history to work with one NSNA Executive Director the first year, and a new Executive Director the following year. Not only that, but you worked with the only two registered nurses to be appointed Executive Director. How did it feel to have the opportunity to work with these two distinguished nursing leaders?

SB: My unique opportunity to serve on the NSNA Board of Directors for two years did indeed prepare me and expose me to multiple leadership styles. As COSP Chair, I had the privilege of serving under Dr. Piemonte for the last year of his executive directorship and Dr. Mancino’s first year as ED for NSNA, not to mention serving with

wonderful students from around the country for two consecutive years. Dr. Mancino and I were able to develop some unique concepts and initiatives, such as launching the first website for NSNA!

Betsy, another one of your “firsts” is that you were the first person (out of two) in the history of NSNA to be elected President twice, two years in a row. How did your peers respond? Did you feel more or less pressure during your second year to “deliver” a solid term of leadership?

BV: I had the opportunity to run for a second term as national president when I chose to continue my education and pursue a BSN degree. I actually ran unopposed in 1986 and again had a great Board of Directors to work with. My peers were very supportive and encouraging during my second term and we continued to work issues that were important to us. My experiences had allowed me to see first-hand how issues affected nursing students at the local, state, and national level and it was exciting to have a national Board of Directors and professional NSNA staff to assist me in representing NSNA to other organizations. Dr. Diane Mancino was always very supportive of what the NSNA Board of Directors hoped to accomplish, and she had a great way of focusing our energies in the right direction.

(Continued on page 28) 2

28 APRIL/MAY 2012

(Continued from page 27)

The second year was a great time to continue working on important issues and I was fortunate to have a lot of support from many levels.

Sharon, your term as President immediately started with a bit of controversy. The 1996 Annual Convention, during which you were elected, saw the passage of the Resolution: “In Support of NSNA Developing Strategies to Facilitate Nursing Students’ Attainment of BSN Education.” Many students (particularly diploma and associate degree students) were left with the misconception that NSNA was not being supportive of all nursing students; a misconception that you immediately began working to correct. As far back as 1977, NSNA has been working to facilitate career mobility, and it has continued to do so throughout the years. Why do you think the intent to promote continued education frequently seems to be so misunderstood?

SB: As a pre-professional organization, I strongly believe that NSNA should continue to support the need for advanced certifications and education within our profession. Nursing is one of the few professions that has multiple ways to enter into practice, which is quite different from physical therapy, pharmacy or medical schools that have a set standard for entry into their profession. I think that is what makes nursing so very special because for some students, who may have life circumstances that would not allow them to immediately commit to a bachelor’s degree, a two-year associate’s degree may make immediate sense due to family or financial circumstances. I have worked with many associate degree prepared nurses who are just as competent and talented as their bachelors prepared counterparts. However, it is incumbent on our professional organizations (and institutions) to encourage and help facilitate higher learning and advancement within our profession, whether it is through scholarships, programs with more flexible hours, online capabilities where possible, etc. It is also important that NSNA clearly outline the benefits for advanced degrees from an employer’s perspective related to career advancement and leadership positions. The student can then make an informed decision on their career path if they understand all perspectives and that is an important responsibility that NSNA has for their membership.

Take yourself back to the day you graduated from the nursing program you attended. What path did you think your career would take you in? Did that differ from how your career has actually unfolded, and how so?

BV: Dr. Bob Piemonte was a Colonel in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and strongly encouraged me to consider following that career path.* I had been impressed with the military services represented at state and national nursing conferences, and was intrigued with the thought of “service to others, service to country,” along with the educational opportunities and other benefits offered by the U.S. military. The General of the Army Nurse Corps in 1987, BG Connie Slewitzke, was from Wisconsin, and she also encouraged me to pursue a perioperative nursing path within the Army Nurse Corps. It was a great honor to have her participate in my promotion to the rank of Colonel in 2009. My career in the Army Nurse Corps has taken me to assignments in Washington, D.C., Berlin, Denver, El Paso, Iraq, Kaiserslautern (Germany) and Bethesda, Maryland. I have worked in medical centers, community hospitals, and had an assignment as an Assistant Professor at Uniformed Services University, with the Perioperative Clinical Nurse Specialist Graduate level Program. I am proud to say most of my career has been spent with “stainless steel and steam” within the operating room and sterile processing department in both peacetime and combat situations.

SB: Because of my NSNA experience, I did envision that I would eventually be working in public policy one day. I have diary entries that are fun to read where I expressed my hopes and desire to pursue public policy as a lobbyist after having some clinical experience. I have been blessed to have mentors like Dr. Lynn Wieck and Dr. Diane Mancino who directed me and introduced me to others who helped make my dream a reality. I was also lucky to have experience with NSNA to see the conferences and meet the nursing leaders and entrepreneurs who started their own businesses, were lobbysits on the Hill, and were doing the things that I wanted to do. I learned through my organization how to exchange contact information, follow up and offer to help them with their projects in “exchange” for mentoring. I learned the importance of building my resume and experience based in the policy field if I wanted to enter it through internships, volunteering at campaigns, getting involved in local politics, attending town halls, getting my voice heard through State Capital Nurse Lobby Day, etc. It didn’t seem so insurmountable when I had leaders before me at NSNA conferences and in the Imprint talking about how to reach your career goals in policy. All of those experiences helped me to create a roadmap that I followed.

What advice can you give to new students who might be curious about getting involved (on the school, state, or national level) but don’t know what to expect, or might be intimidated?


BV: My advice is the sooner you start networking with your peers and other professionals within the field of nursing, the sooner you will learn the issues facing nursing today and how that may affect your career path. The profession of nursing has many opportunities: from pediatrics to geriatrics, from ambulatory surgery to medical center surgery, to advanced practice areas and beyond! NSNA has a job for you at the local, state, or national level when you take the initiative to become involved. The time you invest in volunteering with NSNA can be very rewarding and can lead to lifelong friendships.

SB: I would advise that new students sign up ASAP. Even if they decide not to get involved beyond receiving their membership card, they, in turn, receive so much more through the association with IMPRINT guidance, ability to get discounts, the networking opportunity should they want to pursue it, and above all, it shows future employers or scholarship committees or potential internship evaluators that the student takes their professional development and responsibility seriously

and they are committed to the profession. Membership literally speaks volumes and can mean the difference when candidates are neck and neck. Finally, it is the right thing to do. If we want to make improvements or policy changes to our profession, we should have a say in it. If we aren’t at the table or in the room when it’s being discussed, shame on us and it is indeed our fault. Being a member of a professional organization like NSNA opens up so many doors that it is a shame for a student to miss out on this golden opportunity.

Lastly, describe your experience with NSNA leadership using just three words

BV: Patient Advocacy, Visionary, Proactive.

SB: “Formula for success.” G

*Military Disclaimer: The views expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Army, the Department of the Defense, nor the U.S. Government.

Speaking for her generation, Sharon Brigner, 1996-1997 NSNA President, made a poignant and urgent plea in support of Social Security during her introduc-tion of President Bill Clinton at a forum held at the White House on February 17, 1999.

30 APRIL/MAY 2012

First, President of NSNA, Then President of ANA By Mary Foley, NSNA President 1974-1975

I got to nursing through a route that once was common to many young people and one that I wish would happen more often now.

When I was a young girl in New Hampshire, I lived in a single head of household family where my mom was the only wage earner. I loved science and I loved people and I thought at that time – not ever having been exposed to any nurses – that I wanted to be a doctor. I was a boundary-pushing young person, never shy, and being a doctor seemed like a good idea.

As a teenager, I was at the head of my class and always very comfortable taking on new challenges. But the reality at that time was that my family certainly couldn’t have afforded that kind of a commitment.

However, I had a very good friend, a few years older than me, who had just started nursing school. Observing her life as a nursing student, I realized that nursing would be just terrific. Then, at a high school job fair, I was recruited by the Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Boston. They were able to offer me full financial support through my full three years of school, which was very attractive to my family and myself.

I have never looked back.

And it was the right choice for me. I fell in love with the profession and it has been very good to me. One of the beauties of nursing is how it allows me to exercise my interests in both science and people. For those students who are looking for high tech or scientifically exciting fields, we’ve got it, and the people part too.

Mary Foley and Pamela Cipriano (the NSNA 60th Anniversary Convention & Alumni Reunion keynote speaker and endnote speaker, respectively) share their personal reflections of their experience as student leaders in

NSNA (reprinted from 50 Years of the National Student Nurses’ Association by Diane J. Mancino).

Above: Mary Foley, at the nation’s capital in 1974, reinvigorated interest in the nursing student Bill of Rights and helped push it to passage.


I was in nursing school in Boston from 1970 through 1973. During that time, I became a member of the Massachusetts student group and quickly found myself embroiled in legislative stuff. Even back then I was politically inclined. I was interested in learning how to advocate for more funding in nursing and working on other issues. I drifted into the legislative policy arena pretty quickly.

In Massachusetts, in 1973, the governor decided to save some money by deregulating all of the professions. If that had happened, he would have abolished the state boards for nursing. For those of us who were graduating and looking for employment as nurses, this was not good. It meant we would not have access to an exam to pass the equivalent of a state board and thus we would not have licenses. Outside of Massachusetts, we would not be recognized as registered nurses.

Out of self-interest and a unity with the entire nursing community, I got to be the student working with the Massachusetts team of nurses to change the mind of the governor. Using the legislative process, we were able to gain support so that the initiative never went into effect. I found it exciting to participate with these great leaders in nursing to effect change.

There was nothing like that kind of success to convince me that this was an approach or avenue that could help the profession. If nursing can stay together and speak in a unified voice, look what we can do! I had always been inclined to be active in the democratic process and to use that approach to effect change, and this experience cemented it for me.

Evolving from my Massachusetts experience, I went to an NSNA convention where I decided to run for legislative director for NSNA. I was elected and had a wonderful opportunity to be involved in a national organization. Those were my first trips ever on a plane and to cities outside New England. What a way to see the world!

I was on the NSNA board for a year as a student. At the same time, since I was in transition from being a diploma student to baccalaureate, I had the advantage of having a little extra time to discover NSNA – plus I had the opportunity to be involved in it.

Looking back, I think that one factor influencing my election as president of NSNA was my involvement with the Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. I had the opportunity to work with the other students to express our desire for quality education. We actually worked on a document the student body adopted. We wanted to be able to participate in evaluations, have a role in curriculum planning, and be more than just passive recipients of our education.

This is not unlike many of our beliefs about nursing today: that when we participate in the provision of care and in the planning for that care, the care is much improved. This is because we are actually hearing from the person who understands the needs and problems and then will have the responsibility to follow through with what’s decided.

How did I get into nursing? I was actually in college pursuing a degree in medical technology, but I really did not like where I was going to school. It was a terrible experience and I was looking for some transition that would allow me to use the biology and chemistry studies in which I had already invested two years.

I ended up talking with the daughter of my mother’s best friend from high school, who was a nursing instructor at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania diploma school. In talking with her, I learned more about nursing and was able to confirm that in nursing I could certainly use the education I had already received.

In 1973, I entered the diploma program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Immediately, I became familiar with NSNA because as diploma students, membership was mandatory. Those were the good old days when everyone belonged and you had meetings within your school as well as your district. There was an expectation that students would be involved in their professional organizations even if only as a captive audience.

Membership in NSNA: An Unparalleled ExperienceBy Pamela Cipriano, NSNA President 1975-1976

Above: Pamela Cipriano during her days as NSNA President.

(Continued on page 32 2)

32 APRIL/MAY 2012



I really enjoyed being able to address issues with other students, and I was attracted to helping with the Breakthrough to Nursing Project, which is NSNA’s program for recruitment of minority students in nursing. So I became a local Breakthrough to Nursing volunteer working with recruiters from our diploma school and the Philadelphia district of the Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania.

In 1974, at the end of my first year, another student and I were partly funded by our school to attend the national convention in Salt Lake City. Somehow I was persuaded to run from the floor for election to first vice president of NSNA – and I was elected.

The next year, in Philadelphia, I decided to run for president and ran against the person who was the second vice president, which was how the organization was structured at the time. The second vice president and I were good friends so it was a very healthy competition. I ended up entering my third year of diploma school at the same time that I was president of NSNA.

The most significant event of my years with NSNA was the passage of the Student Bill of Rights, which happened during my first year. The following year, NSNA adopted its chapter structure. So the total revision of NSNA bylaws occurred during the time that I presided as president. NSNA’s landscape was entirely changed as it evolved from a state and district organization to one based on school chapters.

Looking back, I would say that my involvement in NSNA was one of the most important steps that I ever took in my career. Being actively involved solidified my interest in being part of nursing organizations and enabled my rapid ascent to national leadership roles. It never occurred to me not to choose to be active both politically as well as in all types of volunteerism within nursing. To this day, people I meet at nursing conferences will tell me they remember me and have followed my career since I was active as a student and NSNA president.

The other opportunity that NSNA offered was exposure to some of the great leaders in nursing. These were people who were all very supportive of students who were coming up in the ranks and who, to this day, continue to be people that I can call upon or who have helped me grow in my career and been very supportive. Even today, they are the people who say that “we have to continue to support the next generations coming up behind us.” These pioneering leaders include: Jo Eleanor Elliott, Jessie Scott, Norma Lang, Thelma Schorr, Lucille Joel, Jean Steel, Vernice Ferguson, Clifford Jordan, and Mary Ann Tuft. Someone who is no longer with us but for whom I always had great admiration was Duane Walker.

As far as advice for today’s nursing student, I think it’s vitally important that everyone be an NSNA member and learn from the association’s resources as much as possible. It is also a great way to be involved and learn the ropes of nursing politics and organizations.

So much of what we do now in health care is team oriented, and I think the opportunity to work together and address issues beyond just patient care is very important. There is no real training ground for that outside of nursing organizations. Once you go into an employment situation, you’re dealing with your employer’s issues as well as professional ones. There is no better place to acquire the tools you need to address today’s challenges than being in a situation where you learn from peers as well as advisors and nursing leaders. I think that participation in NSNA offered – and continues to do so – an unparalleled experience. G

Mary Foley, MS, RN, is the keynote speaker of the NSNA 60th Anniversary Convention & Alumni Reunion. Ms. Foley was President of the American Nurses Association in 2002 at the time this article was written.

Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, is the endnote speaker of the NSNA 60th Anniversary Convention & Alumni Reunion.

These personal reflections are reprinted from “50 Years of the National Student Nurses’ Association” by Diane J. Mancino, EdD, RN, CAE, FAAN. ©2002 National Student Nurses’ Association, Inc.

Look for the September/October issue of Imprint this fall for a recap and photo spread

from the 60th Anniversary Convention & Alumni Reunion in Pittsburgh, PA!

Foley

Cipriano

34 APRIL/MAY 2012

How it GrewThe First 25 Years

By Dorothy Nayer

History was made in 1952 by nurses and nursing students. The American Nurses’ Association was reorganized; the National

League for Nursing was founded; the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses the Association of Collegiate Schools of Nursing, and the National Organization for Public Health Nursing were dissolved; and the National Council of Student Nurses – the

forerunner of the National Student Nurses’ Association - was formed.


Meetings, debates, and study of organization and reorganization by the six national nursing began in 1944 and continued until 1952. Did this nationwide discussion of nursing organizations, their purposes and activities, stimulate students to organize? Whatever the stimulus, by 1951 there were 40 state student nurses’ associations and an unknown number of local associations.

For years, students had attended the conventions of the American Nurses’ Association and the Nation-al League of Nursing Education. Most of the students were sent by their schools or alumnae associa-tions; a few went on their own. The conventions were an opportunity to hear and meet leaders in nursing as well, as to have face-to-face discus-sion with students from schools all over the country. Beginning in 1948, luncheons for students with a speaker, and sometimes a meeting afterward, were held at each con-vention. Did the idea of a national association of their own come out of these meetings?

In 1922, The American Journal of Nursing launched a “Student Page.” By 1940, regular news of student activities in various states and at the national conventions was carried. Did these news items help to stimu-late students to form a national stu-dent nurse organization? The exact stimuli are not known, but in 1952 a new bylaw for ANA which pro-vided for an ANA student council was not adopted. Thus, if students wished to meet together, learn from each other, and carry out common objectives, an independent national student organization was a logical movement.

During the 1952 ANA and the Na-tional League of Nursing Education Convention, over 1,000 students from 43 states and two territories convened and agreed that the vot-ing body for the meeting would consist of the presidents of the state student nurses’ associations, temporary chairmen from states without a student organization, and a representative of each of the two territories. Carolyn Kuesher, a student at the Presbyterian Hospi-tal School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, presided. The voting body agreed to form a National Council of Student Nurses “to function inde-pendently under the sponsorship of the coordinating council of the American Nurses’ Association and the National League for Nursing.” Fortunately, the boards of ANA and the new NLN voted to accept the students’ recommendation for sponsorship. The students also sent four resolutions to ANA:

1. That the Board of the American Nurses’ Association be empowered to establish an official channel in accord with the constitution and bylaws of the organization through which nursing student representatives may have their suggestions presented to the house of delegates for consideration at future conventions.

2. That the American Nurses’ Association promote the formulation of such organizations in those states where such organizations do not exist and stimulate full participation of all schools of nursing without regard to race, color, or creed, and that the American Nurses’ Association be urged to provide some means through which student

representatives may actively participate in committees of the state or local nursing associations in matters pertaining to such issues as: (a) ethical standards, b) publications, (c) counseling and placement, and (d) curriculum studies.


Opposite page: Nursing Student luncheon in Atlantic City, NJ, during the ANA convention in 1952 - the birthplace of NSNA! Above, top to bottom: Three mili-tary nurses walk the boardwalk in Atlantic City at the ANA convention in 1952; Students from NSNA state associations in the 1950s

36 APRIL/MAY 2012


3. That the American Nurses’ Association accept for the present the responsibility of publicizing nursing student organization activities through the American Journal of Nursing and other professional journals.

4. That the American Nurses’ Association be urged to continue to promote a vigorous plan for the recruitment of desirable candidates for nursing, and that the American Nurses’ Association has a responsibility for making available to all prospective nursing students accurate information on the accreditation of schools by the National Nursing Accreditation Service and other appropriate accreditation agencies.”

The students agreed that a meeting would be held in 1953 during the NLN convention, and they voted as temporary chairman the president of the state student nurses’ associa-tion in the state selected by NLN for its convention. This temporary chairman was empowered to select a temporary secretary and a chairman of a committee on constitution and bylaws who, in turn, would select a committee from students in six nearby states.

An organization was formed, and plans for a constitution and bylaws to make it “official” were made.

But how was it to become viable? This beginning organization had no money to employ a staff or pro-vide an office but the students had boundless enthusiasm and trust that ANA and NLN would provide. And provide they did. Prior to the 1952 convention, the ANA staff member responsible for bylaws, Jeanette Campbell, agreed to be available to students who wished to form state organizations. She communicated with students not only about bylaws, but a variety of student concerns. Letters from students also arrived at NLNE, where Frances Tompkins, one of the staff members, was asked to handle the correspondence. It was natural for the two staff members to confer since their offices were in the same building. During the 1952 convention, they combined efforts to assist in the formation of the new national student organization.

After the 1952 convention, joint ANA-NLN staff conferences were held to decide how best to assist the new student council. ANA and NLN contributed money to circu-late announcements about the 1953 convention and tell students about the resolutions passed in 1952. The American Journal of Nursing agreed to publicize the new organization and had, in fact, published mate-rial about the organizing meeting of the National Council of Student Nurses. The Journal also agreed to publish the proposed bylaws prior to the 1953 convention. The two ANA and NLN staff mem-bers continued to handle student correspondence, and worked with the student committee on constitu-tion and bylaws to prepare for the 1953 meeting. A one-day meeting of the committee and several state student nurse association advisers was held in early December 1952

to review bylaws of several state student associations and draft the bylaws to be presented in 1953. The proposed bylaws were published by the Journal and notices were sent to state nurses’ associations about the coming convention.

The chairman of the committee on constitution and bylaws thus went to the 1953 NLN convention in Cleveland and meeting of the National Council of Student Nurses with bylaws ready for adoption. An editorial in the August 1953 issue of AJN vividly describes the scene:

“Student nurses, more than one thousand strong, stormed the heights at the NLN biennial in Cleveland and emerged triumphantly with a brand new National Student Nurse Association complete with constitution and bylaws - under the sponsorship of the Coordinating Council of the American Nurses’ Association and the National League for Nursing. From morning to night they sparkled and glowed, they caucused and convened, and all with a boundless energy that fairly exhausted the oldsters who watched them ... but sparkle and en-ergy were only incidental; the students were thoughtful, they had planned carefully, they knew what the job was, and they worked unstintingly to get it done.”

Carole Hoover, president of the Student Nurses’ Association of Ohio, presided. The speakers were Ruth Sleeper, president of NLN and director of the School of Nursing of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and Elizabeth Porter, president of ANA and director of advanced programs, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Western Re-serve University. Dues for the new association were set at “$5 per

The first professional display commemorating NSNA’s “Ten Tall Years,” unveiled at the 1963

Annual Convention.


representative per state (and) dues for each delegate are to be paid even if a delegate is unable to at-tend a meeting.” The new officers were: president, Mary Smith, Los Angeles County General Hospital School of Nursing, California; first vice-president, Phyllis Halverson, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis; second vice-president, Marinel Morrison, Florida State University School of Nursing, Tallahassee; corresponding secretary. Patsy Dutton, University of Nebraska School of Nursing, Omaha; recording secretary, Joseph Barry, Mills School of Nursing for Men, Bellevue Schools of Nursing, New York City; treasurer, Lucie Schultz, Santa Rosa Division of Nursing, Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Texas; and adviser Betty Hilton, Philadelphia General Hospital School of Nursing, Penn-sylvania, who was graduated two months after the convention.

Setting AgendasEquipped with constitution and bylaws (Incorporation came in 1959), NSNA set out to fulfill its many goals, such as to: “aid in the development and growth of the in-dividual student by fostering good citizenship ... promote professional and social unity among the stu-dent nurses of the United States of America ... introduce professional organization on a national level to student nurses and to encour-age participation in meetings and activities ... stimulate an interest and understanding in the programs of the graduate professional nurses’ organizations of the United States ... encourage and assist individual states in the formation of student associations ... provide a closer bond and a more unified spirit among the student nurses through group and national activities ..”

Developing and building the organization so it could accomplish the purposes were the first tasks. At first, the office work associated with any organization—planning meetings, keeping minutes, answer-ing mail—was shared by ANA and NLN. The ANA staff member would do the work during the year prior to the ANA convention and the NLN staff member the year before the NLN convention. It soon became apparent that divided files and divided responsibility just wouldn’t work. ANA and NLN had each contributed $500 to the new organization and two schools in Cleveland each contributed $50. On that meager amount plus the expected dues, a part-time coor-dinator was appointed to handle NSNA affairs in 1954. That coordi-nator was Frances Tompkins, who in 1958 became NSNA’s full time executive director, a position she held for 17 years.

Ms. Tompkins generously contrib-uted endless hours to NSNA as she guided the organization. She learned to walk a tightrope between student board decisions and the realities of the budget and staff time. She guided students without dominating them. She also had to be a diplomat and keep relations between ANA, NLN, and NSNA smooth. Naturally, not all that stu-dents planned met with approval, and it was Tompkins who mediated in delicate situations. Each year, Ms. Tompkins oriented new students about how NSNA and national as-sociations worked. Students learned that volunteers can make policy but cannot carry out or direct the day-by-day activities to implement that policy. They had to learn to trust the staff. By the time Ms. Tompkins retired, she had left a great legacy:

the association was in the “black” fi-nancially; annual conventions drew up to 3,000 students; there were active associations in each state; and nursing students were respected throughout the country.

Nurses, faculty, and program directors respected NSNA and knew that it was not a social club. The “stunt” nights and uniform nights of NSNA’s early days soon disappeared from the conventions. Instead, the late night sessions were devoted to the issues. From 1974 to 1977, to organization was the focus. Students learned to conduct meetings and to use parliamentary procedure. They showed concern about their education and their future practice, and concern for others.

Two major projects which demon-strated student outreach were: the raising of funds for a dormitory for the School of Nursing at the National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan in the early 1960’s; and 2. the establishment of “Break-through to Nursing,” a project to re-cruit students from minority groups into nursing. The Taiwan project mobilized students nationwide to help their peers in a foreign land. The Breakthrough Project continues to mobilize students to help their fellow persons here at home.


Above: The 1958-1959 officers of NSNA .

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An issue still is discussed at conven-tions and at meetings of students in the various states, is student rights. During student meetings even before there was an NSNA, the question was: “How can student organiza-tions in the schools be improved?” The question is the same in 1977.

In 1959, membership was 79,482. Compulsory membership was required by many schools. A $1,000 scholarship was established to be administered by Nurses Educational Funds, later named the” Laura D. Smith Scholarship,” in memory of the Journal editor who assisted in organizing the association and who provided, through the “Student Page, “ the only source of news to students nationwide.

In 1961, NSNA sent the president to the International Council of Nurses’ meeting in Australia, along with the executive director. By 1962, NSNA was exploring relationships with other health and student as-sociations. It is no coincidence that today, students are represented on ANA committees and commissions of ANA, NLN council, and at meet-ings of the Association of Operating Room Nurses.

NSNA is a member agency of the National Health Council and the Coalition for Health Funding. An NSNA member serves on the board of N-CAP, ANA’s political action arm. NSNA is also a leading force in the National Student Health Alliance, an interdisciplinary health group.

Issues of the day have been debated and voted upon at NSNA conven-tions, and guidelines issued to state association and members to make these decisions meaningful. NSNA supported, for example, ANA’s

$6,500 salary minimum in 1967, and urged new graduates not to accept positions offering less. They supported ANA’s First Position on Nursing Education and, in the face of some faculty ire, reaffirmed that position in 1976. They supported mandatory licensure and national health insurance in principle. They have sought the assistance of mem-bers in support of federal legislation which affected nurses, nursing, and health care, and they have issued guidelines for legislative activity by state associations. They have secured federal grants from the Division of Nursing for the Breakthrough to Nursing Project, the only national project devoted to the recruitment of students from minority groups into schools of nursing.

All programs are planned by stu-dents and carried out by them with the assistance of a headquarters staff of 18, a staff as enthusiastic as the students. After Miss Tomp-kins retired, NSNA was fortunate in obtaining as executive director another individual who knew how to help students make their own de-cisions: Mary Ann Tuft. Each year, the House of Delegates at NSNA’s annual convention and NSNA’s Board of Directors seem to make the “right” decisions, decisions students see as important to nursing, to pa-tients, and to them. Each year, they also ask for programs of substance at their conventions.

Program areas of the association in-clude: community health, legislation, communications, such as Imprint and NSNA News (the former goes to all members); and organizational activities, which include workshops for officers at each convention and meetings for state presidents twice a year. The association relies on dues for basic operating expenses, which

includes any field work performed by board or staff members to assist state associations. Other income is from exhibitors, sponsors, and regis-tration fees for convention expenses, advertisers for Imprint and NSNA News; and for grants for such proj-ects as Breakthrough to Nursing.

Members make NSNA possible. In 1977, the goal of the association will be to take NSNA’s mission to every part of the country; to inspire nurs-ing students to take an active role in their education and their profes-sional lives as nurses. G

Reprinted from Imprint Vol 24, No 2, April/May 1977.

Dorothy Nayer, MA, RN, was an associate editor at the American Journal of Nursing, and served as a consultant to NSNA on Imprint magazine for many years.

References Minutes, Board of Directors, National Student Nurses’ Association 1953-1977. Proceedings, annual conven-tions, National Student Nurses’ Association 1953-1976.

Report of organizing meeting, National Council of Student Nurses 1952. Student Page and News, American Jour-nal of Nursing 1922- 1977. Publications of the National Student Nurses’ Association. Roberts, Mary M., American Nursing, History and Interpre-tation, New York, Macmillan, 1954, pp. 575-594.



In January of 1960, I was the recording secretary of the Student Nurses Association of Illinois, and a candidate for president of NSNA. Over the next ten years, as president, board advisor, and assistant director, I had a front-row seat to one of the most dramatic decades for NSNA – and indeed for the United States.

I was elected president at the Miami Beach convention and I met Frances Tompkins, NSNA Executive Director. It seems inconceivable to me now that an association of 80,000 students, that held annual conventions for 4,000 students, could be staffed by one professional director and two secretaries. Of course, in the 1950s, when NSNA was inventing itself, it relied solely on the talent and wisdom of Frances Tompkins, who brought to the job a unique background as an educator, an organizational specialist, a classical formal education, and a brilliant, well-read mind. In some ways, I think it was inevitable that a nursing student organization of this caliber would have come into being thanks to the unique qualities of its first executive director.

Because of her recognition of, and ability to articulate, the importance of the experience of a student organization for the future of the profession of nursing, Frances was able to attract the support of leaders of nursing, government, and other professions. Many individuals supported NSNA in the 1960’s through their participation in board meetings and conventions, as well as day-by-day support, including staff and advisors from the American Nurses Association, the National League for Nursing, and the American Journal of Nursing. (Continued on page 40 2)

by Mary Dennesaites Morgan

in the 1960s

Florence Huey, NSNA President 1968-69(left), and Barbara Mickelson (right), NSNA President 1967-68 (right), at NSNA Headquarters in New York City

40 APRIL/MAY 2012


Laura Smith was the senior editor of the American Journal of Nursing when I was elected president and I remember vividly being interviewed by her hours after my election. She asked very difficult questions. She had listened carefully to my campaign speech and quoted back portions of it to me. She was a first-rate journalist, paid attention to every word I said, and took me seriously. I’m not sure Laura Smith would have known how to talk down to anyone, but the fact that she treated NSNA as an important matter meant that the actions of NSNA published over the years in the American Journal of Nursing became not only a record of its history, but actually shaped its history. NSNA was not ignored. By 1960, everyone who was anyone knew that this was a grown-up organization with potential to shape not just its future, but the future of nursing.

If you look back at the keynote speakers for NSNA during the 60s, you will see reflected the concerns of nursing students and indeed the entire country. Our speakers came from the Peace Corps, the Senate, and universities. NSNA started a new project,

“Breakthrough to Nursing.” We were concerned with service and civil rights and international nursing and education. Our presidents and staff went to International Council of Nursing meetings around the world. The Berlin Wall was built in the 60s, and was still new when the ICN met in Frankfurt. The decade began with a sense of hope, idealism, and “vigor” (to use a favorite word of the youthful President John Kennedy). We watched with horror the assassinations and attempted assassinations. We mourned John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Robert Kennedy. NSNA was assembled in convention when the Kent State shootings occurred and they sparked a debate on the floor of the House of Delegates concerning Vietnam. NSNA members were a part of the world no longer isolated, and we struggled to do the right thing along with all of America.

Almost every health care issue facing us today was apparent in the discussions of the 1960s. The issues of health care for the elderly, for rural America, inner cities, drug addiction, and children’s rights were discussed. Nursing education reflected the growing complexity of clinical demands on nurses. As knowledge continued, and continues today to increase exponentially, nursing students faced the need for graduate study. Always the


ensuing years allowed thousands of nursing students to make an imprint on the future and the nursing.

I have on my desk a copy of a telegram dated April 3, 1961. It is addressed to me as NSNA president. It extends greetings on the occasion of our annual convention and says in part: “There is much a young health corps such as yours can do to prepare for the larger health needs of our nation. I wish you every success in your present endeavors and your future careers of service to the health of the American people.” Signed, John F. Kennedy, The White House.

I was thrilled in 1961 to think of all we could do as young soon-to-be professionals. I still am. If I have one wish for NSNA and its members today, it is that they be proud of their history. I hope they know that the nursing students who went before them made some pretty good decisions, and that the decisions and choices being made by NSNA members today will have a profound effect on the kind of organization NSNA will be forty years from now, in 2023.* G

* Reprinted from Imprint, Vol 39, No 3, April/May 1992.

Mary Dennesaites Morgan was the 1961-1962 NSNA President

balancing act was there between the art and science of nursing. The first time I ever heard the phrase “high tech-high touch,” was at an NSNA convention in the 1960s.

While all the accomplishments of NSNA in the 60s were important – the programs it started that continue today, the stands it took in convention, the education it provided, the beginning of Imprint – I think the one thing which most contributed to its survival and success is a rather mundane, but critical process. NSNA grew through its organizational adolescence without self-destructing, and actually laid sound precedents for dealing with authority and bureaucracy. In the early 60s when NSNA boards of directors were dealing with only one professional staff person, their executive director, Frances Tompkins, taught each new board what it meant to be an employer, what their responsibilities were to their members, and the importance of establishing policies which would lead to NSNA’s growth. Frances taught each successive board how to use experts, how to review pertinent material, how to become educated in a particular matter so that an informed decision could be made. One of the criticisms of NSNA, especially during the early 60s was that since each year was practically like starting over, NSNA could never really be a force for change. It would forever remain a wonderful learning experience for the few students who sat on the Board each year. We began to direct our efforts to meet this challenge. Taking the NSNA Newsletter and developing it into Imprint was one way to extend the communication and experience to a greater number of students. Up to that time, the NSNA Newsletter was mailed to schools that had members. Individual membership, and all the challenges and rewards that it implied, was a major step. The goal was to have a national membership mailing list. In order to do this, NSNA had to raise its dues and the Board of Directors took the courageous step of doubling the dues – from fifty cents to one dollar.

NSNA also recognized the need to add an additional professional staff member, and the Board authorized hiring an assistant director. The significance of this decision was not just that NSNA now had four staff members, an executive director, an assistant, and two secretaries; but that it had opted for the kind of professional and support services that would permit the organization to pursue programs. NSNA was able to move to a new level of sophistication that has in the

Civil rights in the nursing profession – and in society generally – attracted NSNA supporters in the 1960s. At the 1962 convention in Detroit, the

theme was “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

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During my tenure as executive director of NSNA, from 1970 to 1985, the organization grew and developed in many ways. When I began at NSNA, it was affiliated with the American Nurses Association and the National League for Nursing. When I left, NSNA was an independent association, making its own decisions, holding its own conventions, and raising its own money.

There was a dramatic change in our recruitment efforts. As more nursing schools moved from a hospital environment to a collegiate environment, NSNA had to work harder to attract students because nursing students had so many more options on college campuses. The makeup of the organization itself also changed: in the 1970s, NSNA made an effort to recruit more minority students and more men became involved in nursing, too. But perhaps the most significant change of all was in the focus of nursing students in general. In the 1970s many nursing students were liberal activists involved in a broad range of political and social concerns; by the mid-80s, students were far more career-oriented, competitive, and conservative. This change, of course, did not happen in a vacuum, but reflected a change in society at large. For nursing students, moreover, there were specific forces that led to this change. Expenses were going up, the academic environment was becoming more competitive, and many people were going into nursing at a later age, when they had greater economic and family responsibilities. One thing I can say from my experience is that nursing students have always been driven; it’s just that their direction changed as their environment changed.

NSNA’s move toward independence occurred in the early seventies. In 1972, the American Nurses Association moved its headquarters from New York City to Kansas City, and NSNA decided not to go along. First of all, we couldn’t afford the expense of moving. Secondly, and more significantly, the timing was right for NSNA to go its own way. Nursing students were ready to be more independent, to make their own decisions. This was a period of rebellion; unlike their parents’

Challenges of the seventies

andearly eighties

by Mary Ann Tuft

Above: Mary Ann Tuft (left) with 1974-1975 NSNA President, Mary Foley (right)

Below: Students campaigning for Cleo Doster, who was elected NSNA President 1976-1977 and became the first African American elected as NSNA President.


generation, students in the seventies resented being told what to wear and how to behave.

Another change that was happening at the time and affecting NSNA’s desire for independence was the shift in student nursing programs from hospitals to college campuses. This was a gradual change, and is still happening today. One impetus behind the shift was the desire on the part of people in nursing to make their field more of a profession. Also, as science and technology advanced, nurses were learning more about the nature of illnesses, thus becoming more competent in care and knowledgeable about cure. And nursing was becoming a more diversified career; many nurses were choosing to become clinical specialists in nursing. The concept of nurse as the doctor’s handmaiden was vanishing and being replaced with the image of the nurse as a competent, accountable professional. Nurses began to take on a much larger role, and NSNA followed suit. The organization changed to meet students’ changing needs and ambitions.

The shift to college campuses brought new challenges to NSNA. When nursing programs were exclusively in hospitals, we had little trouble recruiting students, because they were in an enclosed environment that was completely absorbed with health care. But college campuses were another story altogether. Here, students had a much wider range of activities and organizations to choose from and recruiting became much more difficult.

One of the things NSNA did to meet this challenge was to create a program called “Breakthrough to Nursing,” a national recruitment project aimed at minority students. The program was started in the late sixties, but got a boost in the early seventies when NSNA received a $1 million government grant to invest in the program. Breakthrough became a very active and significant program for NSNA. A slot was created on the Board of Directors for a Breakthrough representative, and special issues of Imprint and other publications were devoted to the program. The actual number of minority students involved in NSNA increased modestly during my tenure; more dramatic was the increase in the role of minorities in leadership positions. In 1976, NSNA elected its first black president, Cleo Doster, and minority students in general were represented at all levels of leadership.

Another way that NSNA responded to changing times was by aggressively recruiting men. In fact, recruiting men was part of the Breakthrough program. We went about this in several ways, from meeting with high school students and informing them about opportunities in nursing to seeking out retired Army medical corps personnel. Again, the increase in the actual numbers of men in nursing was perhaps not as noteworthy as was men’s increasing role in the organization’s leadership. NSNA worked hard to dispel the idea that nursing was a profession solely for women, and I think quite effectively.

In the early seventies, NSNA members were involved in all kinds of liberal social and political activities. For example, the theme for the 1970 NSNA convention, which was held in Miami, Florida, was “Give a Damn.” The issues discussed at the convention included caring for the hungry, the poor, and the disadvantaged, as well as protesting social and economic injustice. The keynote speaker was George McGovern, who at the time was very involved in health care issues. One day of the convention was devoted to peaceful protest marches against hunger. Also, a number of students resolved to live for one day on the same amount of money that welfare recipients in their home states were allotted; the maximum was twenty-eight cents. The idea was to encourage students to become more active in their home communities – to become more involved citizens. (Continued on page 44 2)

A student addresses the House of Delegates during the Annual Convention in 1970.

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Mary Ann Tuft, MS, CAE, was NSNA’s second executive director, from 1970 to 1985. During her years as executive director, she was responsible for human resources, programs, administration, publishing, continuing education, and management.

(Continued from page 43)In contrast, the focus of the 1984 convention, held in Oklahoma City, was money. The issues discussed were vastly different from those discussed fourteen years earlier. They included a voluntary increase in dues, raising money for NSNA’s scholarship fund, nursing students’ involvement in cost containment in hospitals, and support for increased federal money for nursing education. But if students in the mid-eighties had become more self-involved, they had also become more sophisticated. The rapid development in computer technology, and the increased use of computers both in schools and in hospitals forced students to improve their technological training.

Students became more involved with international issues. For example, in 1973 NSNA members laid plans for the first international assembly of student nurses, which was then held in Japan in 1977. One of the things the NSNA group discovered was that student nursing organizations in the U.S. were far more developed and active than most of their counterparts around the world. In some non-democratic, third-world countries, the picture was quite bleak. Their governments were adamantly opposed to any kind of student groups. But these international exchanges were still a great way for students of different countries to share their experiences.

There are several factors that contributed to nursing students’ increasing concern about money and their careers. During my tenure, expenses for nursing students rose dramatically, and so students had to worry more about meeting tuition costs or paying off loans once they got out of school. Furthermore, older students were becoming attracted to nursing, and these students, with some work experience behind them, were perhaps more focused and competitive. Many people began to see nursing as an excellent opportunity for a second career.

The women’s movement also affected the climate of nursing schools. More women were entering the workplace after having raised children, and these women were naturally more concerned about financial matters than a twenty-year-old would be. Nursing, then, became a more competitive field.

As far as nursing students’ political and social awareness goes, the shift toward conservatism was part of a broader trend throughout the country. The idealistic

values of the sixties were not exactly replaced by new values but, rather, modified by practical concerns about survival in a competitive economy. I don’t think that nursing students became less caring or more cynical. To a large extent, their political and social views were shaped by the changing times. G

Reprinted from Imprint Vol 39, No 3, April/May 1992.

Above, from top to bottom: During the conventions of the 1970s, students took an active role, making sure their opinions were heard, and providing services like free blood pressure screenings.


1952 Atlantic City, NJ Attendees: 1,000

1953 “Prescription for Progress-Unity” Cleveland, OH Attendees:1,000

1954 “Calling American Nurses to Action” Chicago, IL Attendees:1,173

1955 “Together We Work, Together We Grow” St. Louis, MO Attendees: 1,906Keynote Speaker: Clarissa Start, writer for Everday Magazine of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

1956 “Look To The Future” Chicago, IL Attendees: 3,185

1957 “Unity Broadens Tomorrow’s Horizons” Chicago, IL Attendees: 3,009

1958 “Accent on You” Atlantic City, NJ Attendees: 2,548Keynote Speaker: Mrs. Oswald B. Lord, U.S. Representative on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

1959 “Ideas to Grow By, Ideals to Live By” Philadelphia, PA Attendees: 2,837Keynote Speaker: Agnes Ohlson, President of the International Congress of Nurses, and past President of the American Nurses Association.

1960 “The Promise of Tomorrow” Miami Beach, FL Attendees: 2,501Keynote Speaker: Lillian M. Gilbreth.Please Note: Keynote speaker information listed reflects

credentials and positions at that time and may no longer be current.

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1961 “Today’s Challenges - Tomorrow’s Opportunities” Cleveland, OH Attendees: 3,265Keynote Speaker: Mary Dennesaites, NSNA President.

1962

1963 “Ten Tall Years” Atlantic City, NJ Attendees: 4,258Keynote Speaker: Warren W. Wiggins, assistant director, Program Planning and Operation, The Peace Corps

1964 “Forward with Purpose” Atlantic City, NJ Attendees: 4,178Keynote Speaker: Ethel J. Alpenfels

1965 “Today - the Bridge to Tomorrow” San Francisco, CA Attendees: 2,416Keynote Speaker: Esther Lucile Brown, Author of Nursing for the future and Newer Dimensions of Patient Care.

1966 “Focus on the - Problems and Promise” San Francisco, CA Attendees: 2,263Keynote Speaker: Judith G. Whitaker, Executive Director of the American Nurses’ Association.

1967 “Right Now” New York, NY Attendees: 4,342Keynote Speaker: Sen. Jacob K. Javits.

1968 “One Score and Eleven Years from Now” Dallas, TX Attendees: 2,692Keynote Speaker: Ellen Fahy, Associate Professor, Cornell University - New York Hospital School of Nursing

1969 “Student Power” Detroit, MI Attendees: 2,168Keynote Speaker: Sheila Quinn, Executive Director, International Council of Nurses

1971 “Doing It Now! - March to a Different Drummer” Dallas, TX Attendees: 1,789Keynote Speaker: Ashley Montagu, British born Anthropologist.

1972 “You Can Breakthrough - You Can!” Detroit, MI Attendees: 1,676Keynote Speaker: Dr. James Kimmey, Executive Director, American Public Health Association.

1973 “You’ve Got What?” Minneapolis, MN Attendees: 2,000Keynote Speaker: Congressman William Roy

1975 “Rights with Responsibility” Philadelphia, PA Attendees: Over 2,000Keynote Speaker: Wilma Scott Heide, a feminist, registered nurse, and former president of the National Organization for Women.

“Non nobis sed aliis - Not for ourselves but for others” Detroit, MI Attendees: 3,574

1970Miami Beach, FLAttendees:1,700Sen. George McGovern

“Give A Damn”

“If You Care Enough …”Salt Lake City, UTAttendees: 2,300

1974

Keynote Speakers: Susie Yellowtail, RN, Crow Indian.Thomas Yellowtail, Medicine Man.


1976 “Nursing: Person to Person” Kansas City, MO Attendees: 2,500Keynote Speaker: Laurel Cappa, president, American Medical Student Association.Max H. Parrott, M.D, president, American Medical Association.

1977 “NSNA: 25 Years Young and Growing” Miami Beach, FL Attendees: 2,000

1978 “Mandates for Tomorrow” St. Louis, MO Attendees: 2,300Keynote Speaker: Marlene Kramer, RN, PhD.

1979 “Reflections of Futures Now” San Antonio, TX Attendees: 2,300Keynote Speaker: Delores Kreiger, RN, PhD, Professor New York University.

1980 “Reaching Out, Reaching In, Reaching Through” Salt Lake City, UT Attendees: 2,000Keynote Speaker: Jean Steel, RN, M.S., Assistant Professor of Nursing, Boston University, Project Director in Primary Care Graduate School of Nursing Boston University, Nurse Practitioner at Boston City Hospital.

1981 “Cycles of Change: Ecology, Environment, Energy” Cleveland, OH Attendees: 1,200Keynote Speaker: Larry Gordon, President of the American Public Health Association.

1982 “50’s to 80’s: Three Decades Towards Excellence” Minneapolis, MN Attendees: Over 1,200Keynote Speaker: Faye Abdellah, RN, EdD,, Assistant surgeon general, acting director, Office of the Deputy Surgeon General and Chief Nurse Officer, U.S. Public Health System.

1983 “Breakthrough to the Future” Baltimore, MD Over 1,510Keynote Speaker: Sheila P. Burke, MPA, RN, Professionalstaff member, U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

1984 “New Directions New Frontiers” Oklahoma City, OK Attendees: Over 1,500Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lucille Joel, Professor at Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey.

1985 “NSNA Setting the Pace” Indianapolis, IN Attendees: 1,300Keynote Speaker: Gloria Smith, RN, PhD, FAAN, Director, Michigan Department of Public Health.

1986 “NSNA Hitting the High Notes” New Orleans, LA Attendees: Over 2,300Keynote Speaker: Margretta Styles, RN, EdD, FAAN, Professor and Dean, School of Nursing, University of California at San Francisco, Associate director of Nursing Service, University of California Hospital and Clinics.

1987

Keynote Speaker: Thelma Schorr, RN, President and Publisher, American Journal of Nursing Company.

1988 “Forging the Way” Pittsburgh, PA Attendees: Over 1,800Keynote Speaker: Sister Rosemary Donley, RN, PhD, FAAN

1989 “Full Steam Ahead” Cincinnati, OH Attendees: 1,600Keynote Speaker: Brigadier General Clara Adams-Ender, Chief, U.S. Army Nurse Corps.

“Sleeping to the Beat of Nursing’s Future”Chicago, IL · Attendees: 2,300

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1990 “NSNA: Setting the Stage” Nashville, TN Attendee Total: 3,038Keynote Speaker: Kathryn Mershon, RN, MSN, CNAA, Senior Vice President of Humana, Inc.

1991 “Saddle Up for Success” San Antonio, TX Attendees: 2,295Keynote Speaker: O. Marie Henry, DNSC, RN, Deputy Surgeon General U.S. Public Health Service.

1992 “40 Years - NSNA Your Professional Connection” Phoenix, AZ Attendees: 2,175Keynote Speaker: Gloria Smith, Coordinator of Health Programs and Program Director of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

1993 “Plug into the Future - the Power” Kansas City, MO Attendees: 2,812Keynote Speaker: Duane D. Walker, RN, MS, FAAN, Vice President for Patient Services, the Queens Medical Center, Honolulu, HI.

1996 “Jazz Up the Future of Nursing with NSNA” New Orleans, LA Attendees: 3,810Keynote Speaker: Margaret L. McClure, RN, EdD, FAAN, Vice President for Hospital Operations and Executive director of Nursing, New York University Medical Center.

1997 “NSNA: Expand Your Horizon” Phoenix, AZ Attendees: 3,024Keynote Speaker: Margretta Madden Styles, RN, EdD, FAAN, President, International Council of Nurses (ICN) President, American Nurses Credentialing Center.

1998 “Building Bridges Together” Cincinnati, OH Attendees: 2,496Keynote Speaker: Sheila Burke, RN, MPA, FAAN, Executive Dean, John F. Kennedy School of Goverment, Harvard University, and former NSNA staff member as well as staff member to former Senator Bob Dole.

1999 “Molding Your Future with NSNA” Pittsburgh, PA Attendees: Over 2,638Keynote Speaker: RADM Carolyn Beth Mazella, RN, an Assistant Surgeon General and Chief Nurse Officer, U S Public Health Service.

2000 “NSNA 2000 - Reaching New Heights, Achieving Success” Salt Lake City, UT Attendees: 2,446Keynote Speaker: Stephanie Ferguson, RN, PhD, FAAN, a former White House fellow and currently, professor of nursing at George Mason University.

2001 “Tuning Into Professionalism” Nashville, TN Attendees: 3,336Keynote Speaker: Dr. Robert V. Piemonte, president-elect, New York State Nurses Association, and retired NSNA Executive Director.

1995 “The Bridge to New Opportunities” Charlotte, NC Attendees: 3,178Keynote Speaker: Hazel Johnson-Brown, RN, PhD, FAAN, Professor and Director, Center for Health Policy, College of Nursing and Health Science.

“NSNA - History in the Making”Philadelphia, PA

Attendees: 3,545

Keynote Speaker:Geraldine Bednash,

RN, PhD, FAAN, Executive Director,

American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

1994


2002 “Embracing the Past Envisioning the Future” Philadelphia, PA Attendees: 4,000Keynote Speaker: Sheila P. Burke, MPA, RN, FAAN, Under secretary for American Museums and National Programs, Smithsonian Institution.

2003 “Nursing: The Hottest Profession You’ll Ever Love” Phoenix, AZ Attendees: 2,847Tom Smith, MS, RN, Senior Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services at Mount Sinai Hospital.

2004 “NSNA: We Make the Path by Walking It” Nashville, TN Attendees: 3,320Keynote Speaker: Barbara Blakeney, MS, APRN, BC, ANP, President of American Nurses Association.

2005 “Breaking the Mold: Breakthrough to Nursing” Salt Lake City, UT Attendees: 3,182Keynote Speaker: Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, US Surgeon General.

2006

2007 “The Wonderful World of Nursing” Anaheim, CA Attendees: 3,462Keynote Speaker: Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, Chief Executive Officer of National League for Nursing.

2008 “Blazing Trails: The New Age of Nursing” Grapevine, TX Attendees: over 2,888Keynote Speaker: Major General Gale Pollack, Deputy Surgeon General for Force Management and the 22nd Chief, Army Nurse Corps.

2009 “Making it Big: Nursing Students Stepping Up and Stepping Out” Nashville, TN Attendees: 3,185Keynote Speaker: Rear Admiral Carol A. Romano, PhD, RN, FAAN, Assistant Surgeon General, Chief Nurse Officer, US Public Health Service.

2010 “Experience the Magic of Nursing” Orlando, FL Attendees: 3,233Keynote Speaker: Jennie Chin Hansen, MS, RN, FAAN, President of AARP, Senior Fellow at University of California.

2011 “Defy Gravity: Reach New Nursing Summits!” Salt Lake City, UT Attendees: 2,481Patrick Hickey, DrPH, RN, CNOR, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of South Carolina.

2012 “Spanning the Distance: 60 Years of the Evolving Nurse” Pittsburgh, PAKeynote Speaker: Mary Foley, MS, RN, Past NSNA President and Past American Nurses Association President, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of California.

“Setting Sail for a World of Wellness”Baltimore, MarylandAttendees: 3,550Keynote Speaker: Barbara Dossey, PhD, RN, FAAN, Director, Holistic Nursing Consultants

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1952 – 1953Betty Hilton (chair pro tem)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1953 – 1954Mary Smith

Los Angeles, California

1954 – 1955Phyllis Halverson Johnson

Minneapolis, Minnesota

1955 – 1956Marguerite Lampirez Meaux

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

1956 – 1957Mary Louise Steinke

VivierOakland, California

1957 – 1958Janet Corcoran O’Neil

Boston, Massachusetts

1958 – 1959Lynda Goodier LaCoco

New Orleans, Louisiana

1959 – 1960Mary KuntzColumbus, Ohio

1960 – 1961Mary Dennesaites Morgan

Waukegan, Illinois

1961 – 1962Sally Schnur Foster

Tucson, Arizona

1962 – 1963Britt Gantt FinleyMemphis, Tennessee

1963 – 1964Judy PetersonMadison, Wisconsin

1964 – 1965Pat Roy Thomas

Portland, Maine

1965 – 1966Nancy Johnson Sorensen

Reno, Nevada

1966 – 1967Janet Sollenberger

Denver, Colorado

1967 – 1968Barbara MickelsonSioux Falls, South Dakota

1968 – 1969Florence Huey

New Orleans, Louisiana

1969 – 1970 Frank Lang

Greeley, Colorado

1970 – 1971Beth Peal Lee

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The PresidenTs of The naTional sTudenT nurses’ associaTion1952 – 2012

1971 – 1972Marilyn Maxfield Brown

Provo, Utah

1972 – 1973Susan McNeil

San Francisco, California

1973 – 1974Martha ClintonKnoxville, Tennessee

1974 – 1975Mary Foley

Boston, Massachusetts

1975 – 1976Pamela Cipriano

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1976 – 1977Cleo Doster

Sonoma, California

1977 – 1978Helen Archer (April – October)

New York, New York

1977 – 1978Lori Sumner (October – April)

Birmingham, Alabama

1978 – 1979Michael Kuczek

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1979 – 1980Larry Alley

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

1980 – 1981Valisa Friedman Saunders

Lost Angeles, California

1981 – 1982Margaret Ann Chop

Dallas, Texas

1982 – 1983Mary Hale

Lost Angeles, California

1983 – 1984Hendrik MoedArcata, California

1984 – 1985Theresa TuckTulsa, Oklahoma

1985 – 1986Betsy Motschenbacher

Onalaska, Wisconsin

1986 – 1987Betsy Page Vane

(formerly Motschenbacher)Onalaska, Wisconsin

PhyllisHalverson Johnson

Florence Huey

Frank Lang

Martha Clinton

Mary Foley

Cleo Doster


1987 – 1988Monica Gessner

Jersey City, New Jersey

1988 – 1989Cynthia Rich

Villanova, Pennsylvania

1989 – 1990Mariann Johnson

(April- March)Zanesville, Ohio

1989 – 1990Patricia Chezem

(March-April)West Lafayette, Indiana

1990 – 1991Ruth Knutson

Corpus Christi, Texas

1991 – 1992Carol A. FettersDes Moines, Iowa

1992 – 1993Julie A. McGeeHelena, Montana

1993 – 1994Julie A. McGeeHelena, Montana

1994 – 1995Bill L. Lightfoot

Lakewood, California

The eXecuTiVe

direcTors of

1954 – 1970Frances Tompkins

1970 - 1985Mary Ann Tuft

1985 – 1996Robert V. Piemonte

1996 – present Diane J. Mancino

1995 – 1996Kathryn E. Sexson

Anchorage, Alaska

1996 – 1997Sharon Brigner

Houston, Texas

1997 – 1998Jennifer KeckConrad, Montana

1998 – 1999Sharon Sweeney Fee

Prescott, Arizona

1999 – 2000Kristen Liane Hiscox

Athens, Georgia

2000 – 2001Aurora Hernandez

Fairfax, Virginia

2001 – 2002Michael Desjardins

Salt Lake City, Utah

2002 – 2003Tom Quinn

Toms River, New Jersey

2003 – 2004 Matthew ArantCorbin, Kentucky

2004 – 2005John D. Arce

Charleston, South Carolina

2005 – 2006Rebecca Wheeler

Atlanta, Georgia

2006 – 2007D. Todd UhlmanJacksonville, Florida

2007 – 2008Jennifer Davis

Akron, Ohio

2008 – 2009Jenna SandersFort Wayne, Indiana

2009 – 2010Kenya D. HaneySt Louis, Missouri

2010 – 2011Carylin M. Holsey

Arlington, Texas

2011 – 2012Joe Twitchell

Great Falls, Montana

Carilyn M. HolseyMonica Gessner

Julie McGee

Sharon Brigner

Sharon Sweeney Fee

Aurora Hernandez

Michael Desjardins

Todd Uhlman


52 APRIL/MAY 2012

Imprint®

through the YearsWhen NSNA was founded, the NSNA News Letter was created to publicize the association’s activities. It spoke to nursing students, but it was not the voice of nursing students. When Mary Dennesaites, NSNA President (1960-1961) joined the staff at NSNA, she had a vision to turn the NSNA News Letter into a magazine produced by and for the member.

Thus, Imprint was born in January 1968. In January 2013, Imprint celebrates its 45th Anniversary. Be on the watch for the November/December 2012 issue of Imprint, which commemorates this occasion, marking the conclusion of Imprint’s 45th year.

January 1968…

the first issue of Imprint!January/February 1971 April 1976

February/March 1985September/October 1996 February/March 2005

September/October 2009


NSNA HONORARY MEMBERSReceiving Honorary Membership is NSNA’s highest honor!

1976 - Mary Foley1977 - Alice Robinson1977 - Frances Tompkins1978 - Dorothy Nayer1980 - Thelma Schorr1980 - Mary Ann Tuft1981 - Philip Day1982 - Jeannette Collins1982 - Cleo Doster1982 - Joan Guy1983 - Tony Jannetti1983 - B.J. Nerone1984 - Gray Springfield1985 - Sylvia Edge1985 - Robin Kriegel1988 - Florence Huey1989 - Cheryl Schmidt1990 - Eileen Jacobi1991 - Alan Trench1992 - Sr. Rosemary Donley1993 - Deborah Fuller1994 - BG Clara Adams-Ender1995 - Deborah S. Smith1996 - Robert V. Piemonte1999 - Erline McGriff2000 - Eunice Cole2001 - Jean Logan2002 - Lynn Wieck2003 - Stephanie Ferguson2004 - Twila Sheskey2005 - Joseph Duffy2006 - Kenneth Dion2007 - Barbara Goldberg Chamberlain2008 - Anne Manton2009 - Andrea Hingham2010 - Beverly Malone2011 - Patrick Hickey

1978Dorothy Nayer

1980Thelma Schorr

1996Robert Piemonte

1992Sr. Rosemary

Donley

2006Kenneth Dion

2009Andrea Hingham

54 APRIL/MAY 2012


56 APRIL/MAY 2012

Imprint - April/May 2012

Documents

Transcript of Imprint - April/May 2012