Student Org Features: Student Nurses Association

SNA Students Share Their Skills and Make aDifference in the Community

Submitted by Pamela J. Dumke

Ask any nursing student what it takes to be successful and many will tell you it’s all about managing priorities. It’s about figuring out how to get more hours in the day and deciding how to use the time you have to make a difference for others. The Student Nurses Association (SNA) at FVTC has been taking on this challenge and participating in many school and community events since classes began back in August.

Kicking off the school year, several students participated in selling concessions at the drivein movie night sponsored by FVTC each fall to raise money for the club.

In September, many nursing students signed up to spend the day volunteering with the annual Community First Fox Cities Marathon, Students were involved with assisting race participants as they crossed the finish line by providing thermal blankets, escorting individuals to the medical pavilion, taking vital signs, assisting with first aid, triaging patients, and providing basic medical care to those in need.

Volunteering to provide medical assistance at the marathon gave FVTC students an opportunity to practice using some of the skills they had learned in class to help provide care to others. For many, this was the second year of participation at this event and the weather was perfect for everyone involved.

In October, SNA members helped out with the FVTC Annual Open House. They provided tours of FVTC, answered questions for prospective nursing students, promoted the FVTC Nursing programs, and gave tours of the nursing lab and simulation suites. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped to make this night successful!

Less than a week later, nursing students were back out in the community volunteering again for another annual event. The Special Olympics Flag Football game held in September at Neenah High School gave SNA members a chance to share their skills with the community by providing first aid to the participants. It also allowed the nursing students to meet the Special Olympic athletes and share in cheering on their favorite players.

Students also participated in an evening 5K fun run activity in Oshkosh called Run With The Cops to raise money for Special Olympics of Wisconsin.

But wait, October wasn’t over yet. The SNA decided to sponsor the BE THE MATCH program campaign for another year. BE THE MATCH is the organization responsible for recruiting bone marrow donors to help people battling diseases including blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. According to the BE THE MATCH website, “Each hour, more than six people die from a blood cancer.” On October 31 st , SNA members recruited students and staff from the FVTC Appleton

SNA Students Share Their Skills and Make aDifference in the Community campus to sign up to be on the National Bone Marrow Donation Registry. The Registry is then used to match potential donors with transplant recipients. Being listed on the registry does not guarantee that you will be called upon to make a bone marrow donation, but it does provide recipients another chance that someone will be the life-saving match they need to survive.

As November, December, and the end of the semester approach, there are still several upcoming activities and ways to become involded with SNA. A group will be traveling to Chicogo on November 9-10 to view You! The Experience, a health exibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. This promises to be an exciting and educational experience for all involved! SNA will also be participating in the “Adopt-a Family” program as the holiday season approaches and there are plans underway to be a part of the Polar Plunge again this year.

Come and join the SNA and have fun making a difference in the lives of others!

18 Nov/Dec 2018 | Student Run Publication @fox_times @fvtcfoxtimes