THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE OKLAHOMA NURSING STUDENT ASSOCIATION Pulse point May 2010 Congrats 2010 Grads!! Spring Breakout Photos Inside! Your journey was long and hard; filled with sleepless nights, stress, high blood pressure, weight gain, anxiety, and brain overload to say the least. Your friends and family saw you seldom, and sometimes you wondered if you would make it through. But now, after walking across that stage to receive THE pin, you know it was worth it all! Just one more step (the NCLEX) stands between you and a career that is beyond rewarding and will give you multiple opportunities for excellence and diversity. Best wishes to all of you and your pursuits. -Whitney Wilson Newsletter Editor
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PULSE POINT The faces of Oklahoma s future RN s!
P A G E 6 The Oklahoma Nursing Student Association invites YOU to our annual Fall Convention! We know that even super heroes need a break. Soar in with National Kaplan Speaker, Rhonda Lawes, who will simplify Pharmacology and ABGs. There will be current Registered Nurses to talk about their specialties of Nursing... YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS OUT! This event will take place in Norman, OK on October 14th and 15th. Join hundreds of Oklahoma nursing students for an unforgettable weekend of education and fun! Accommodations will take place at the Embassy Suites in Norman. Check our website oknsa.org in June for details on how to sign up. To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse. -Anonymous
A Visual Approach to Studying P A G E 7 As you dive into your fall courses keep in mind that visual study strategies can come in many different forms. One visual strategy is to create a highlighter system that would have you using one color for Assessment and one for Implementation. Some would say that Assessment and Implementation are the two most important parts of the nursing process. As you highlight these different concepts, be sure to ask yourself two important questions. Do I have enough information to act safely? and What is the priority action for this client? Keeping these two colored highlighters handy throughout your study and class time will pay off during exams. Another strategy involves artwork. Using visual memory tools (found in the Memory Notebooks of Nursing) gives your brain an image to associate with complex topics (See Warfarin and Cushing s Syndrome). Whether the image is funny, gross, clever, or cute, it helps you make mental connections. The next part of this strategy is your artwork. Note: no artistic talent required. What is required is colored pencils and thinking out of the box. Print a copy of the image and start sketching (I recommend you bring your print out to class and draw there). Give the characters names. Add notes from class. Draw additional pictures. These are just 2 strategies you can use to help conquer content this fall. For more visuals, visit NursingEd.com. You will find the Memory Notebooks of Nursing and NCLEX Review Programs with interactive and visual tools to guarantee your success. NursingEd.com
Summer has finally arrived and for most students that means a three-month break from school. Some individuals will spend this time taking summer classes, doing an externship, or working. No matter what activities you have planned, here are a few tips to help you best take advantage of this extra time. 1) Practice NCLEX questions Go online to find practice tests or buy 1 or 2 books and start going through the questions. If new books are too expensive, check a used book store or a website like www.half.com. Call your peers and set up NCLEX get-togethers. Hearing each other's input on why a question would be right or wrong helps everyone to think outside the box. Practicing NCLEX questions will also help on class exams. 2) Apply for scholarships During the school year it is hard to spend a lot of time filling out scholarship applications. This is the perfect time to search for ways to pay for the following semesters. Make a list of all the scholarships that you would like to apply for with their deadlines. Also find out what the requirements are. The majority of people turn away from scholarships that need recommendation letters because they feel like it is a burden for the professor. I asked several professors if it truly was a burden and they could not disagree more. The want to see us succeed. 3) Volunteer There are always opportunities available in the community for volunteering. Gather a group of your peers and contact local community sites that are in need of helping hands. In the end it will make you feel good, it will make your school look good, and most importantly it will make someone else s day a little better. Not to mention, you can add it to your resume! 4) Plan a Fundraiser Summer is the perfect time to have a car wash, raffle, or bake sale to raise funds for your local SNA or nursing organization. Brainstorm ideas that will make it possible for everyone to attend the state convention in October. Funds should always be available to those individuals who want to attend conventions, but do not have the money to do so. 5) Perfect your resume When you are in your final year of nursing school, you will want to begin applying for jobs early. Start perfecting your resume over the summer so that you do not have to worry about during the busy semester. Use the internet to find templates that will make it look classy and also have someone else proofread it.
P A G E 9 The ONSA Board of Directors was privileged to attend the NSNA Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida for a week in April. Nursing students from around the country joined together to attend break-out sessions and focus groups, where ideas were exchanged to strengthen state boards and local school chapters. Students could also take part in the House of Delegates, which enabled individuals to voice their concerns on national healthcare issues. Hundreds of vendors and specialty nursing schools shared valuable information pertaining to opportunities for students after graduation. All of the activities took place on Disney s Coronado Spring s resort, which was a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere. It was truly an experience to remember. Joe Cooper shares the following: This was my first experience attending National Convention. I attended a focus session that discussed Community Health projects. During the session I was given many ideas to implement at the state and local level, such as NSNA s Get Fit, Stay Fit program, Biggest Loser contests, disaster preparedness, and HIV education and screenings. I also attended both the House of Delegates meetings and Resolution hearings as a delegate for my school, ITT Tech. During the House of Delegates I was nominated from the floor to run for National office for the position of Director-South. Although I did not win the election, it was a very enlightening and humbling experience, giving me the knowledge and confidence to run for National office again next year. I look forward to hearing from all of you regarding concerns and ideas to develop my platform for next year s campaign. onsacommunity@gmail.com