A quick summary on the Student Affairs portion of the College of Nursing web page provides the following description: “Student Nurses Association of URI (SNA): The Student Nurse Association (SNA) is a professional nursing club that represents students preparing for the future as professional nurses. The association engages in a shared governance approach that encourages health related discussions, health advocacy and interdisciplinary collaboration among students across the university. Please contact the SNA by email at rhodysna@gmail.com for more information.”
What it doesn’t tell you is that over 300 nursing students belong and over 100 actively participate in monthly meetings at the Memorial Union Atrium. The meetings besides dealing with normal organizational subjects also have lectures, Power Point presentations and event planning sessions. They pack a lot into a few minutes. With all of last year’s officers graduating, a new slate consists of a mixture of juniors and sophomores: Brooke Graham – President; Jessica Shaw-Vice President; Courtney Berado-Secretary; Courtney Kiener-Treasuerer; Isabel Sidoli-SNRI Representative; Bryce Lahaie-Event Planner and Philanthropy Chair and Jackie Agranat-Web Master.
SNA fosters professional development that will help students form associations to move up the chain or nursing in their careers and academics. It also strives “to promote leadership traits from bedside to boardroom.” SNA is affiliated with the Rhode Island Student Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association. The basic concept is that the contacts made while attending URI College of Nursing will continue throughout a student’s nursing career and that they will continue to belong to state and national Nursing Associations.
In addition to monthly meetings, SNA members are involved in a wide variety of events that help promote nursing at URI as well as the local area, Rhode Island and even internationally. There is a trip each winter involving RN to BSN students to provide services in another country like the Dominican Republic. SNA collects medical supplies that are needed in that country. SNA also sponsors an annual Blood Drive; participates in the Breast Cancer Walk in Providence each October; Volunteers at Scallop Shell Nursing Home; collect clothing for the Welcome House in Peace Dale; sponsors a team in the Cancer Relay for Life and hold a Senior Citizen’s Prom at Hopkins Manor in North Providence involving dinner and dancing. SNA members are required to participate in two events or one if they attend monthly meeting. The group does however, recognize that it is virtually impossible for a student to participate in all events or meeting because of clinical requirement being different for every student. What they do request is an honest effort to do your best in supporting SNA activities. Anyone student at any level of nursing education is invited to join. Meeting and events can be viewed on the web site: http://rhodysna.yolasite.com/
