That is what the members at the National Student Nurses Association meeting in Charlotte, N.C., were told to never forget in their careers. I have just had the most awesome two days in my time as president. To be among these bright, articulate nursing students was so inspiring. They are our future, and I think we are in good hands.
I had the opportunity to do two presentations on emergency nursing during this conference. In both presentations, the room was packed – I am talking more than 300 students in each session. They all want or think they want to be emergency nurses. It was so inspiring to hear them talk about their excitement about starting their careers in nursing.
How many of us feel that way about our careers? When we think back to the days before we actually graduated from nursing school, what were our aspirations? Where did we think we would be when we grew up? How far away are we from those goals?
If you wonder what the next generation of nurses will look like, just go to NSNA.org and look at the resolutions these students are bringing to their House of Delegates. We need to support their energy and enthusiasm to make positive changes to health care. I suggest we all go “hug a student nurse today.”
Have a wonderful weekend,
JoAnn
ENA President JoAnn Lazarus, MSN, RN, CEN, met with students Taylor Harrison and Marlee Flynt following her presentation at the National Student Nurses Association conference April 4. Harrison and Flynt attend James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va.
Welcome to the 2013 ENA President's Blog 
Happy to Hear! Just talked to one of my most inspirational professors from Avila College to hear her perspective after 30 years. Being a student nurse was awesome in a school that was proactive and had true nursing leaders as instructors.
When will the good nurses of Mecklenburg County join the ranks with a lot of NC medical doctors and stand up against North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory who will be signing into law a bill requiring that all NC teens seeking health department treatment for STDs bring a signed and notarized note from their parents before they can receive treatment? Really good things are in store for the state of North Carolina unless some of you Conservative Nurses with some common sense cross the line and help us remove these mad people from their North Carolina elected postions including KING MCCRORY.