Back-to-School September Issue Fall 2016

September Issue
In this Issue
Introduction of the
Board of Directors
3
MaSNA Membership
5
MaSNA Events: Fall
Conference on October 2
6-8
Board of Directors
Summer Experiences

10
Advice Column: How to
get back into the groove
of Nursing School
Best Regards,
Yvonne Shih
MaSNA President 2014-2015
Letter from the President
2
Greetings fellow nursing students!
It is my pleasure to be the President of the Massachusetts Student Nurses'
Association for the 2014-2015 academic year. My fellow MaSNA Board of Directors
and I believe that MaSNA will serve its purpose. We want to provide nursing
students with resources to further develop their professionalism and to support their
education.
For our September 2014 Newsletter, we would like to welcome all of you back to
school. Whether you travel across the country to attend school in Massachusetts or
from the state, we wish you a smooth transition from summer vacation to Fall classes.
We want to introduce our 2014-2015 MaSNA Board of Directors and to share with
everyone about our diverse summer activities.
Furthermore, as a board, we are interested in your nursing school life. We want to
hear about your experiences at your first clinical, your interests in the field of nursing,
and your advice to other nursing students. The MaSNA Board of Directors operates
MaSNA with an ideal that it is an organization "for students by students." We would
like to partner with all of you to create an organization that helps connect all students
together.
Lastly, if anyone has interest in contributing to our newsletter, please stay in contact
with Lena Kim (masna.breakthrough@gmail.com) and she will love to help you
make that possible.


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How to Start your own
MaSNA Chapter

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Introduction to the Board of Directors

Every year, MaSNA elects a fresh brigade of board members in the month of April. Although not every
board member attends the same school, they are united by their passion for nursing and for nursing
advancement.
Board of Directors 2014-2015








Yvonne Shih, President
Laura Mata, President-Elect

Carmella Kurriss, Vice President

Halie Kevghas, Secretary

Kellie Chiou, Treasurer

Jessica Therien, Media Chair

Jane Kim, Region 2 Chair

Jared Ballard, Region 3 Chair

Shelby Creamer, Region 4 Chair

Courtney Carr, Fundraising Chair

Lena Kim, Breakthrough to Nursing
Chair

If you want to learn more about each individual board member, please read
their biographies at:
http://www.mastudentnurses.com/board-of-directors.html
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MaSNA Fall 2014


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MaSNA Fall 2014

Upcoming MaSNA Events: MNA Fall
Conference



















Note: There is a FREE NCLEX review for students who plan on
coming to MaSNAs conference on October 3, 2014! Please check out
http://www.mastudentnurses.com/ under events for more
information
STANDING STRONG FOR
PATIENT SAFETY
HOSTEDBY:
MASTUDENT NURSES ASSOCIATION&MASS NURSES ASSOCIATION



FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2014 @7:30AM-12PM

LOCATION: DCU CENTER (50 FOSTER STREET, WORCESTER, MA)

SIGN-UP BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 TOSECURE ASPOT:
VISIT MASNA'S HOMEPAGE FORINSTRUCTIONS (MASTUDENTNURSES.COM)

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
7:30AM-8:00AM: BREAKFAST
8:00AM-9:00AM: FREE HURST NCLEXREVIEW
9:00AM-9:15AM: BREAK
9:15AM-10:45 AM: SESSION1 (SITUATIONAL CRITICAL: THE MASSACHUSETTS DRUG
EPIDEMIC)
10:45AM-11:00AMBREAK
11:00AM-12:00PM: SESSION2 (EXPERIENCES OF ANARMY NURSE: WHENI DIE I'M
GOINGTOHEAVEN'CAUSE I SPENT MY TIME INHELL)









FREE NCLEX REVIEWWITHNURSES FREE SIGN-UP FOR CONFERENCE
FREE BREAKFAST PROVIDED NETWORKINGOPPORTUNITY



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Back-to-School September Issue
MaSNA Fall 2014

Join MaSNA

The Massachusetts Student Nurses Association is
an organization dedicated to the nursing students in the
state of Massachusetts. As one of the branches of the
NSNA, MaSNA is proud to be one of the professional
student nursing organizations in the nation.
As part of MaSNAs mission, we are dedicated to
helping current and future nursing students in their future
careers as nurses. With that being said, not only do we
provide a wide range of resources, such as career fairs and
networking opportunities, but also a wealth of information
regarding the latest nursing news available, whether it
regards the NCLEX or nursing practice. These benefits,
and more, can be accessible through an active
membership. However, regardless of your level or
involvement or participation within MaSNA, we still have
a wealth information that we make available for non-
members.
Because we believe in the value of reaching out to
the community, MaSNA has made it a goal to partner with
various service-related organizations within the Boston
area, so that our members can get involved with the
nursing related opportunities that are outside of the
classroom. Even though MaSNA is an organization on its
own, members we want to give members the opportunity
of creating their own chapter (which will be explained on
the next page).
While what was aforementioned is not an
exhaustive list, we encourage interested nursing students
to join us and become part of our growing brigade. To join,
make sure to visit our website at
www.mastudentnurses.com to sign up!


Benefits
Resume Workshop
Networking Opportunities
Partnership with other Professional
Nursing Organizations and
Community Organizations
Community Involvement
Nursing Apparel Discount
Ability to make a student chapter of
MaSNA
Ability to join MaSNAs Board of
Directors
Hosting of Career Fair
Scholarship Programs
Discounted NCLEX Review Classes


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Back-to-School September Issue
MaSNA Fall 2014

How to Start Your Own MaSNA Chapter
To start a MASNA chapter at your nursing school you need:

1. A MINIMUM OF 10 NSNA MEMBER STUDENTS + 1 FACULTY ADVISOR
NSNA application deadline for constituency status is
(Feb. 6, 2013,
look at their website for 2014 dates)

TIP: When you register check the box that allows NSNA to share your e-address with
MASNA to get the MA Chapter updates and announcements!

TIP: Assign one of your officers the task of submitting the NSNA Application.

NSNA votes to grant constituency status to new chapters once per year at the annual
spring conference. You can join MASNA/NSNA online: go to
www.nsnamembership.org
to register and pay dues ($32 new member)


2. Ask Nursing Students to join your Board


3. Recruit members for State Chapter
Click on
http://www.mastudentnurses.com/uploads/2/3/6/1/23617290/membershiprecruitment
.pdf for more information

4. Get in contact with MaSNA and let us know about your progress.


Connect with us on Facebook or e-mail us at info.masna@gmail.com



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Stretching Helping Hands to Villages of Africa
By: Halie Kevghas
This summer I was given the opportunity to travel to Western Kenya to aid International Medical Relief (IMR) in
providing health care to people in need. The majority of citizens never get the chance to see a doctor due to the cost and
if they do it is because of a serious problem. This August IMR sent a team of 57 to western Kenya where we saw and
provided care for 2,250 people over the course of 5 days. We saw cases of leprosy, scabies, elephantitis, behcets,
hydrocephalus and turgiasis among others. Some of these we can see in the United States, but others are rare.
One rare disease we saw is Turgiasis, locally known as Jiggers. This is a parasitic infection usually of the hands
and feet. The worms bury themselves into the skin and deposit their eggs. The parasite is transmitted through contact
with an infected soil, usually the floors of houses. This was one of the most interesting cases as it was something none of
the team had ever seen before. In order to remove them, a provider has to
cut around the worm and carefully pull back the skin to remove the worm
fully without releasing the eggs. We were lucky to have a very strong patient
who tolerated the removal of them unbelievably well despite the lack of
available pain medication.
Another disease uncommon to the United States is Behcets. This
autoimmune disease causes ulcers to form in the mouth and genitalia. We
were able to diagnose this client but unfortunately were unable to provide
treatment as this disease needs to be managed long-term.
One final story I want to share with you is of a 70 year old we had
carried into our examination room. He lived in the local village about 2
miles from where we were set up, and was carried in by his grandson. We
were told that he had not been able to work for some time due to pain in the
hips and an inability to walk. We did a musculoskeletal examination focusing
on the hips and realized he had almost no movement. Due to long term
arthritis, his hips had fused at the joint. This eliminated his ability to walk.
Despite this, the man had an optimistic outlook on life, and planned on
continuing to live for years to come. He wore a huge smile across his face and
loved to tell stories. We got the chance to sit with him for about 20 minutes
while his grandson was looked at next door. His grandson then came over
and picked him back up and they started the walk back home. I just could not
believe the love this family had. I cannot imagine ever seeing an American
carrying their grandparent 2 miles for help. It is a story that will stick with me
forever as a true example of the meaning of family.
Although I have many more stories there is not enough time for me
to share them all. Kenya was a completely different world from the United
States, and the people were their crown jewel. The trip taught one very
valuable lesson though: Be grateful for what you do have. The people we saw
had it a lot worse than any of us on the team, but they showed an optimistic
outlook on life despite the troubles they had. They didnt try to steal or cheat
us, they just wanted our help. Theres a lot that we could learn from them if
given the opportunity, and I hope that one day all will have that opportunity.

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Costa Rica Luxuries arent the same for each Culture
By: Jessica Therien













Traveling to Costa Rica unquestionably was the best decision I have ever made, but that does not mean every aspect of my
experience was a luxurious one. Sure, it was best time of my life, but interning at Hospital Nacional de los Nios (Costa Ricas
national childrens hospital, like any hospital, called for seeing many sick patients, who do not have the option of receiving the
same medical care as patients in the United States. As I grew attached to many of the young patients, I couldnt help but feel
guilty at times. From being aware of how the medical treatment is in the US, seeing the patients in Costa Rica- who were
receiving the best care they possibly could in their country, and knowing that the technology and knowledge of the hospital
here is several years behind that of the US- was very saddening.

One patient in particular had a rare gastrointestinal disease, and the only procedure for the cure is in the U.S. Her mother
was doing everything she could to save up money, while still spending countless hours by her daughters side, to be able to
send her sick baby to the U.S. for the proper treatment. Seeing these cultural differences made me realize first and foremost,
how grateful I am to come from a country where the knowledge we have about healthcare is so advanced, and also how lucky I
am to be healthy enough to travel and gain this familiarity. So many of the patients I dealt with were in the hospital with
terminal illnesses or others simply because they did not have a good home to go to.

The healthcare system in Costa Rica is very different from the U.S, and since it is included in citizen taxes, there are
people take advantage of the system, using it as free daycare, which in return, permits for some of those who are in dire need
of medical attention, to not be able to receive the proper care. The differences I witnessed on this trip were incredible, and
keeping the children company while their parents were at work or even gone for just a few hours, made many of their days
cooped up in the hospital bed (where they do not change sheets daily, or even weekly) much more amusing than being alone.

As sad as it was to see the helpless patients, many of them had the most confident, inspiring attitude, and the littlest things
seemed to make them the happiest. Playing cards, listening to music, and giving them clean sheets on their bed made them
smile ear-to-ear. The warm welcome I received from almost every one of the Costa Ricans I encountered definitely made my
two-month stay worthwhile.

Costa Rica is a stunning country, with its ecofriendly cities, tropical rainforests and breathtaking beaches, but it makes one
appreciate living in a first-world country, and makes apparent, the things we happen to take for granted. Living in this
incredible country was the greatest experience of my life, and I can promise I will be returning in the future, optimistically as a
registered nurse this time.


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Mayo Clinic Summer III Externship 2014
By: Shelby E. Creamer
I spent the most incredible ten weeks of my life at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota this summer.
My journey started when a professor recommended that I apply for the Mayo Clinic Summer III Externship. The
application consisted of two essays and a combination of other documents including a resume and transcripts. I
sent the application in hoping to earn a spot, but working at Mayo Clinic was really a dream. In February, much to
my delight, I found out that I was one of fifty chosen to spend ten weeks during the
summer in Rochester. I was so grateful and still am to have had such an amazing
opportunity.
I arrived in Rochester on the first of June and I was introduced to 49 other
nursing students from across the country. We were told that the friendships we would
make that summer would last a lifetime and all of us were unsure, but they were
right. I met some of the most amazing people in my time at Rochester. We were
placed in different units and I
was placed in the Post-
Anesthesia Care Unit at the
Rochester Methodist
Campus. We were each
assigned 2-4 clinical coaches
who were RNs that we
would shadow and work
with for the ten weeks. The
coaches were so eager to
teach us everything they
could and to build our
confidence in the nursing profession. I was able to fully
immerse myself in the role of a recovery room nurse. Although I was unable to perform some clinical skills without
a license, my critical thinking skills were challenged and I was constantly thinking on my feet. Aside from the
clinical experience, we also visited some of the most exclusive locations including the Mayo Foundation House and
toured the Mayo One med flight.
I learned a multitude of skills at the Mayo Clinic this summer, but there are some core values that really
have stayed with me. The first value is teamwork. The whole healthcare team works together as a unit and this then
provides optimal patient care. The communication among different disciplines is unlike any facility I have
witnessed and it is evident in the patient care of what a difference it makes. Another core value I witnessed was
education. All of my co-workers were willing to stop and take the time to teach me something. From nurses to
Patient Care Assistants to Anesthesiologists to Surgeons; it was obvious that as a whole, they value teaching future
healthcare workers to increase the care of patients for the future. The most important value that was evident to me
was that everything they do is patient-centered. The needs of the patient always come first. Not only did they speak
to these values, it was shown through the actions of employees at the Mayo Clinic every day. These values truly
impacted me because I saw how it directly benefited the patients and I believe that these are some of the most
important lessons I took away from the Mayo Clinic. I plan to incorporate these into my own nursing practice and
wherever my future career takes me, I will be bringing little pieces of the Mayo along the way.
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Advice Column: How to get back into the
groove of Nursing School
With the Fall Semester back into gear, we often complain that the three months of
summer was too short. It is not uncommon to have the feeling that our bodies are physically
present in school with our minds wandering back and forthto the all-too-comfortable
summer days that we can no longer return to. With all the brain fog and lingering summer
laziness, how can we as nursing students get back into the business of nursing school? Here
are some tips:

1. Practice the organization skills that worked for you before. If you were
traveling overseas or were doing something completely non-nursing related during the summer, its
not uncommon to feel overwhelmed and even a little awkward to known what it is like to be a full-
time student again. To ease your transition back into school, get back into the habit of organizing
your notes, assignments, and handouts in a way that worked for you before. When you keep
reinforcing these as the semester rolls on, the task will come naturally to you, and you will find that
you are staying on top of things without forcing yourself.
2. Do not procrastinate. As silly and self-explanatory as this sounds, you would be surprised
with the number of students who still practice this old habit. While it is understandable that the
semester has just begun and that your brain is still on summer vacation mode, it will become even
more difficult for you to get your act together if you dont train yourself to know what it feels like
to be a busy nursing student again. If you get back into the idea of prioritizing your tasks early on
in the semester, the rest will become easier.
3. Go at your own pace. By all means, please go at your own pace. While the first two points
make it seem like you need to get back into your habits early on in the semester, it is not to say that
you will be unsuccessful this year if you dont do these pronto. Everyone has their own pace and
timing in which they like to do things. As long as you know your limits in differentiating between
knowing how to manage your time vs. being sluggish, you will start yourself off on the right foot.

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Back-to-School September Issue
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