DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY

NURSING STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

 

Welcome to DSU!!  You all have enrolled in an outstanding nursing program and have chosen to be part of an excellent profession!

 

 

What exactly is NSA? 

·        NSA is a pre-professional organization designed for pre-nursing and nursing students who want to get a head start and become involved in nursing activities as well as many learning challenges.

 

What does NSA do?

·        Each year NSA plans a fall picnic for all pre-nursing and nursing students.  The picnic is to welcome everyone to DSU and encourage involvement in NSA.  Friends and family are welcome to come!

·        NSA sponsors two blood drives a year.  One is usually slated for the fall and one for the spring, and they take place in the student center ballroom of the DSU campus.  The blood drives are directed by United Blood Services with the help of NSA members.

·        NSA is active in community activities.  We help with Herberger’s Community Day Sale, car washes at Walmart, telthons, Alzheimer’s walks, and DSU NSA Nurse’s Camp.  Nurses’ camp is for 5th and 6th grade children from Dickinson and surrounding areas to experience being a nurse for a day.

·        NSA also provides monthly health screenings for the faculty members at DSU.  Blood pressure and cholesterol screenings are provided, as well as blood sugar testing and flu vaccines.  The faculty really appreciate this service!

·        NSA also tries to plan many fun activities for all pre-nursing and nursing students to attend.  Everyone is welcome to come to these!!  NSA also enters a float in the Homecoming parade.  NSA members get together and decorate the float and then ride on the float in the parade and throw candy  during the DSU Homecoming parade. 

·        NSA is a local, state, and national organization.  There are many opportunities to attend state and national conventions for NSA; In 2004 the mid-year state convention was held at DSU.  The DSU NSA set up and planned the entire convention!  Conventions are great times for all the NSA members to get together and have fun with other nursing students from all over the state and even the nation!

How does NSA benefit me?

·        NSA provides many opportunities to become involved in nursing at the state and national levels.  NSA gives you, as a nursing student, a voice in the nursing profession.  NSA also teaches you the importance of taking a stand for your profession.  The greatest benefit is being able to meet, network, and get to know other nursing students. 

 

How can I get involved?

·        NSA membership forms will be passed out to the classes by our DSU NSA Director of Membership, or there will be some posted on the NSA bulletin board.  The bulletin board, labeled NSA, is on the 4th floor of Klinefelter Hall, across form the nursing lab.  New members are being offered a $5 discount for joining; the $5 will be paid for by DSU NSA.  All membership forms must be turned into Director of Membership by October 1st to receive the $5 discount.

 

BONUS!!!

·        There is also opportunity to obtain college credits for being involved in NSA!!  Pre-professional Activities is a “class” that all nursing students and pre-nursing students can enroll in and receive credit for being in NSA.  However, it isn’t really a class.  This is how it works:  Attending meetings and participating in NSA activitites will allow you to receive “points’.  One point is equal to one hour of participation. Once you have collected 10 points you can then receive a credit.  Pre-professional activities is listed in the semester catalogs; however you can only enroll during the spring semester.  But you can collect points throughout the entire year.  When signing up for Pre-professional activities, make sure you are signing up for the correct course:

Freshman               NURS188

Sophomores NURS288

Juniors                   NURS388

Seniors                  NURS488

 

*********Once again, NSA holds meetings once a month.  Regular meetings are scheduled for the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 12pm downstairs at the student center.  Executive meetings, which are for officers only, are scheduled for the 1st Wednesday of every month.

 

*********If you have ANY questions at all about NSA, don’t hesitate to ask a nursing student or talk to one of the 2 NSA advisors, Judy Bock or Janis Neumann.  We hope you all will consider joining NSA.  It is a wonderful organization. 

 

Another side note--- participation in NSA looks great on job resumes!!!