Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) 66^th Annual Convention. It was great to get back to Nashville – such a cool city – but even more impressive to see over 3,000 nursing students from around the country come together to learn, network, and share their work and experiences.

Opening & Educational Sessions
The Opening Ceremony, Awards, and Keynote Address kicked off with local student and musician, Trevor Martin, performing the National Anthem and then entertaining us with his rendition of Country Road. Then the NSNA officers, along with special guests, recognized the many sponsors and supporters of the organization and our profession, and presented several distinguished awards. Dr. Pamela Cipriano, President of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and past NSNA president, gave the Keynote Address, focusing on the conference theme of using insights, inspiration, and ingenuity in one’s education and career. Throughout the days of the convention, there were focus sessions and plenary sessions for both students and faculty. Also, each morning, our colleagues from Lippincott PassPoint hosted the NCLEX® Mini Review, which was a hit with the students, many of whom will be taking the NCLEX in the coming months!

Exhibit Hall
Most of my time was spent in the Exhibit Hall with Wolters Kluwer colleagues sharing information about NursingCenter, and Lippincott’s books and nursing education products. Many schools of nursing and health systems were also exhibiting, and it was refreshing to see such interest in the nursing students of today. Colleges and universities had information on advanced degree programs and opportunities, while the health system representatives that I spoke with were highlighting their innovative orientation and preceptor programs.

While many of the students who approached us at our booth came to learn about NursingCenter, there were quite a few who also came to tell us about themselves! Regional, state, and school student leaders told us about the work they were doing and the upcoming events they would be hosting.

Swag
I am guilty of having a strong attraction to nurse swag and I know I am not the only one! Our Nursing Pocket Cards were a hit and it was great to share that we have a growing collection of these online.
      
Student groups were selling apparel & accessories to fundraise and there were some very clever t-shirt captions, like these:  Posters
My favorite part of this experience was viewing the posters. The sheer number of posters being presented amazed me! Also, students stood by their posters, poised and ready to discuss the work they had done. From sharing experiences studying abroad and the importance of understanding global issues in health care and nursing, to tackling clinical topics such as sepsis and veteran suicide, the future of these students is bright and promising! Tomorrow’s nursing leaders are on their way!