Volume 10. Issue 3.

February-May 2014
Join us in this issue as we follow
CNSA Fresno State Nursing Students in their
journey towards outstanding leadership at
Local, State and National levels!
CNSA Fresno State Students attending NSNA 62
nd
Annual
Convention in Nashville, TN in April 2014.
Together We Learn. Together We Care. Together We Grow.
Table of Contents
HAPPY NURSES WEEK! P1.
Spring T-Shirt Contest. P2.
Hello from Nashville! P3.
A look inside NSNA
Annual Convention.
Running for Nationals: P6.
FromLocaltoNational
BoardofDirectors.
ImNotJustAStudent. P8.
Add Me To Your Resume! P11.
Keeping in touch with CNSA P12.
Fresno State
RN Formation is a publication of CNSA Fresno State School of Nursing.
2345 E. San Ramon Ave. M/S MH Fresno, CA 93740
Phone: (559) 278_2041 Fax: (559) 278-6360
Tuesday, May 6
th
- Monday May 12
th
We kick off National Nurses Week by celebrating National RN
Recognition Day on May 6
th
and end on the birthday of Florence
Nightingale on May 12
th
! Join us for a week dedicated to honoring
those who have served in the past, appreciating those who care
for us now and encouraging those who will be the future of
nursing tomorrow!
National Student Nurses Day is celebrated
this year on Thursday May 8
th
.
Page 1
Spring T-Shirt Contest
Last month CNSA Fresno State held a T-Shirt Contest for our Spring apparel.
We challenged all of our members to get their creative juices flowing and
design a T-shirt for our Nursing students and faculty. We had several
outstanding submissions, making it a tough choice to pick just one! We would
like to congratulate 4
th
semester student Vanesa Vidal for winning the top-
voted shirt in this contest We cant wait to wear them! We will be printing on
navy blue Next Level Apparel V-neck 60/40 Cotton/Polyester tees. Sizes S-
2XL.Contact Hannah Ilano for details hannahilano23@mail.fresnostate.edu
Final orders will be collected Wednesday May 7
th
, 2014.
Order forms can be completed and paid for in the NRC
Cash/Check Only. Checks Payable to CNSA
Mon-Wed 9:00am-4:00pm
Page 2
Front
Back
$20ea.
Contest Winner: Vanesa Vidal
Page 3
This past April, 24 CNSA Fresno State students from all cohorts traveled to
Nashville, TN for the 62
nd
Annual NSNA Convention. While there, students had
the opportunity to listen to influential speakers in the field of nursing from
around the country, attend focused-session lectures, meet with recruiters
nation-wide and expand their horizons both personally as well as professionally.
RN Formation asks First Semester
student Tara McCombs about her experience
at NSNA Annual Convention in Nashville, TN
Page 4
The NSNA National Convention was an amazing experience that I
would highly recommend to others in the program to attend. I
believe the highlight of the convention was the organized focus
groups that we were able to attend each day. These groups
opened my eyes to new fields of nursing that I had never
considered before. Attending convention allowed me to create
bonds with other students in the program and it definitely
reinforced the positive feelings I have towards the field of nursing.
- Tara McCombs
NSNA Opening Night Party
Mark Your Calendars:
2015 Annual Convention
April 8
th
12
th
2015
Phoenix, AZ
Page 5
learning
leading
caring
growing
building
Running for a position on the
National Student Nurses Association
Board of Directors was a new, fun,
exciting, and even nerve-racking
experience. Before deciding to run, I
asked myself these questions: Why
do I want to do this? What can I do
for NSNA? Do I have the time and
motivation? These three questions
were important because this is not
something you do lightheartedly.
More likely than not the answers to
these questions would become the
core of mine and others campaigns.
Campaign and Goals.
The first thing I had to do was
piece together my campaign. This
included determining what I wanted
my goals as Director to be. Each
candidate at NSNA Convention had
a list of goals they stood behind and
presented. Yours goals should be
pertinent to NSNA & its Constituents.
These are the goals people will see
your campaign and candidacy as.
They want to know how it will benefit
them. It is also important to factor in
your own personal experience and
background as people tend to ask
why you are qualified.
Campaign Materials.
Determining what campaign
materials I used was extremely
important. This material could be the
deciding factor of a persons vote.
You want people to remember you
when they see your campaign
materials. Because of this I chose to
pass out postcards with a brief
description of myself and my
campaign, including a picture, along
with campaign buttons. People like
to show support to candidates by
wearing these promotional items. It
helps if you can be creative in a way
that people can distinguish the
button/sticker from a distance.
(Continued)
Page 6
Insight into the nominations and elections process at the
National level with current CNSA Fresno State President,
Zack Huddleston
(Continued) Page 7
Putting It All Together.
Finally, at convention I put all the
pieces of my campaign together
hoping to make a lasting positive
impression. However, it is not all
about the goals and materials, but
being able to present yourself and
your goals. Every day, the other
candidates and I found ourselves
running from one place to another,
from State caucus meetings to House
of Delegates. We gave at least a
dozen speeches each day trying to
rally votes and show people we were
a strong choice for the position. It is
recommended that you have a
Campaign Manager who is able to
help you with candidate schedules
and presentations. I strongly agree.
Without my Campaign managers
advice and support I would not have
been able to accomplish all of my
goals for this campaign.
I cannot fully explain the feelings
behind being an NSNA candidate, but
I can say that if you have a drive to do
something more and make a
difference, this is a great way to go.
Best of luck to those that are
considering NSNA candidacy, and
always remember you can make a
difference.
Page 8
CNSA Fresno State would like to extend special recognition to one
of our 6
th
semester students, Desiree Pimentel, for having been the first
student in our association to have attended each state and national
convention since joining CNSA her first semester. Desiree, you inspire
others to get involved, take advantage of opportunities and truly make
the most out of their experience in CNSA as well as in nursing school.
Your endless contributions to your faculty and peers are not only
recognized but immensely appreciated. We wish you the best of luck in
your future as a soon-to-be new graduate from Fresno State School of
Nursing!
Read on to find out more about Desirees experiences as well
as advice on how to thrive in your short few years as a nursing student.
To contact Desiree, email desbball5@mail.fresnostate.edu
Page 9
Join CNSA, go to convention, and
have fun with us learning and improving the
profession! Im sure that youve heard
someone tell you those words or a similar
version since you started nursing school.
Especially in your first semester (although it
really applies to all the semesters), you
wonder how people even find the time to do
anything else other than care plans,
medication homework, and study for that
weeks upcoming test (or three!). I heard
those same words from my mentors in my
first semester, and I swore to myself that
they were crazy and that this was a level of
involvement that I would never be able to
take on, at least in my first semester. If you
have ever been in my shoes, you may want
to take a moment and listen to what I have
to share.
Fall 2011, I made the decision and took
the plunge to attend the CNSA state
convention in Sacramento. I did everything
that a good nursing student would do, and
packed my patho, fundamentals, skills, and
health assessment books with me. I knew
that I was going to be able to utilize the
time and study between sessions, read
during the evenings, and it would at least
be a quiet weekend, if nothing else. I had
no idea what to expect, I figured that this
would just be some typical group of
meetings and something like what I saw at
the local CNSA meetings. I couldnt tell you
how absolutely wrong I was.
I had one of the most amazing
experiences my first time at convention,
because I was able to meet dozens if not
hundreds of other nursing students who
were going through the exact same
experiences I was in school and life. Many
of us struggled with finding the balance
between nursing school and life outside of
nursing school. It was empowering to listen
to new graduates and experienced nurse
leaders encouraging us to explore the
various pathways of nursing, and
reassuring us that we were in the right
place in life, even though we might not
always feel it! I was able to meet with
recruiters from hospital systems across the
state, and even other parts of the nation. I
watched students passing through the
nursing programs and become accepted
into highly competitive new graduate RN
programs, graduate school, and land those
amazing, dream jobs!
(Continued)
Author: Desiree Pimentel
6
th
Semester Nursing Student
(Continued) Page 10
The National Convention was everything
that happened at State Convention, and
then a hundred times more! I was so
fortunate to be able to attend both of the
conventions in my first year, and I made
the decision to attend these events in the
future as it was so clear how important
they are to the development of a
professional and empowered nursing
student. I networked with students from
across the state and nation, many of them
are still my long distance friends, and
soon to be colleagues in the profession.
Seeing students from our school stand up
and accept the challenge to serve on state
committees, state boards, and even the
national boards inspired me to believe in
myself and run for a position on the
Fresno State Board of Directors. I was
able to use that position and network with
others across the state within CNSA, and
it has been a direct enrichment in my
nursing education.
What is the payoff of all of this? I have
amazing experiences as an extern, part of
which was most likely related to my ability
to juggle nursing school, life, and CNSA. If
you can manage these time management
tasks as a student, it reflects the type of
nurse you will be on the floor with multiple
patients having different sets of problems.
I could really talk about convention all the
way until the state convention in the fall,
but we have to end somewhere. If I could
give you one message, it would be to find
ways to empower yourself. Dont look at
CNSA as something that will push you to
have more on your plate, but as rich soil
for you to grow and thrive as a blossoming
nurse. My mentors encouraged and
pushed me to be more than what I thought
I could be, and it was worth the
experience and then some! To the best of
the knowledge of my mentors and myself,
I was the first student to attend all six
conventions. I do not want to be the last!
I hope that all of you who have
attended conventions, or even considered
it, make that commitment to yourself and
the profession. Your nursing friends will
carry you through the program. Your
network will grow in ways you could never
imagine, and these new connections that
you make could be the benefit that helps
your career turn into more than what you
ever imagined it could become. The
American Nurses Association President,
Karen Daley, made a statement that I feel
is the perfect closing thought for this
article. In calling us to be encouraged to
engage in lifelong learning, we need to
start somewhere. CNSA is the perfect
launching pad, and the pinnacle of CNSA
and NSNA is attending convention. The
power of lifelong learning is that it informs
and enriches the caring aspect of what we
do every day for patients. Karen Daley,
ANA President
Page 11
Throughout the year Fresno state
nursing stays actively involved in our
local community through student
success events. Major events we
participate in and put on are S.A.F.E
Balance clinics along with Blood
pressure screenings at the Sunny Side
and Madera Swap meet. At these
events there are many low income
families that attend that dont have
insurance. We as nursing students
target different aspects of health
through educating the community on
the effects of hypertension and
diabetes along with any questions or
concerns about medications people
may be taking. Not only do students
who participate have a wonderful time
giving back to their community but we
have a very positive feedback from the
community members as well. There is
an overwhelming need for more
education and resources available in
healthcare that we as students should
be willing to provide.
As the new Community Health
Director I am planning to expand our
reach even further out in the
community to people in need. I will be
working with our faculty and some
organizations to get in the Povarello
House, local farmers markets as well as
in other community events to educate
people about their health and the
opportunities available with the
Affordable Health Care Act. We have
made great strides in the community
service we provide as a program in the
last few years and I would like to
continue to expand upon this great
success. I would love to see more
members participate and give back in
these local events and have fun as well!
Serving the underserved, building
relationships with our communities,
& growing as professionals
Author: Vilaya Kang
2014-2015 Community Health Director
Editor: Jacquelyn Yerian
Publications & Media Director
CNSA Fresno State Chapter
Publications/Media Committee:
Jireh Somera, Kati Chaffin, Desiree
Pimentel, Noah Morales, Jordan
Burns, Vilaya Kang, Tara McCombs,
Zack Huddleston, Melisa Sanders
Mission: CNSA Fresno State Chapter
Our mission is to provide our Nursing and Pre-Nursing students with
opportunities that increase awareness of professional organizations ,
promote education and knowledge of Nursing, and encourage
involvement on local, state, and national levels. Furthermore, CNSA
Fresno State seeks to optimize student exposure to the diversity
existing within Nursing, and establish bidirectional communication
between its members, non-members, advisors, faculty and the
community.
RN Formation Editor: Jacquelyn Yerian
I hope that you have enjoyed this issue of RN Formation! As
the last issue of my term as Publications & Media Director I
hope that I have done my job to keep you informed with up-
to-date and interesting information throughout the past year.
Feel free to use my contact information below to reach me.
Questions & Comments
Yerian@mail.fresnostate.edu
Page 12
If this issue has you excited for upcoming ways to get
involved, we want to hear about it! We are always anxious
to see how our Fresno State Nursing Students are doing
their part to get involved, expand their horizons, and give
back to our community
RN Formation is a publication of CNSA Fresno State School of Nursing.
2345 E. San Ramon Ave. M/S MH Fresno, CA 93740
Phone: (559) 278-2041 Fax: (559) 278-6360