May 28, 2024
Through their passion for advocacy and service, members of the Capital University Student Nurses Association are not just future leaders, but also compassionate change-makers committed to making meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.
The mission of CUSNA echoes that of Capital’s Nursing Program: To educate professional nurse leaders for lives of service, promoting health and healing within a diverse community.
Mentored by Nursing professors Katheryn Fernandez, Ph.D., R.N.-BC, AHN-BC, Annie Whitcraft, M.S.N., R.N., CPN, CNE, and Christine Heckler, M.S.N., R.N., CPN, CUSNA provides its 40 members with experiences throughout the year to grow both individually and professionally.
“Our student nursing organization is a powerhouse of unlimited talent, dedication, and innovation, poised to lead the way in the future of nursing. With a strong emphasis on holistic and professional development, our CUSNA members are constantly refining their leadership skills and learning how to advance the discipline of nursing,” said Heather Janiszewski Goodin, Ph.D., R.N., dean of the School of Nursing.
In January 2024, CUSNA board members hosted a small event for several local Girl Scout troops to learn about the nursing field. Junior Troop #6487 and Brownie Troop #6750 came to campus, rotated through skills stations, and earned their nurse exploration badge.
“A couple of CUSNA board members were at each station to teach the Girl Scouts how to take a person’s blood pressure and temperature, listen to heart and lung sounds, and more. Another station included coloring pages. This was an excellent opportunity for the Girl Scouts to ask board members questions about what college is like or what nursing school entails,” said Victoria Bennett ’24, nursing.
“For the last station, we utilized Capital’s realistic newborn mannequin, where the Girl Scouts were able to listen to the mannequin’s heart sounds, learn how to wear and use a stethoscope properly, and how to swaddle a baby, along with educating the girls about the appropriate environment for safe sleep for newborns,” Bennett said.
As president of CUSNA, Bennett has collaborated with other members to represent Capital at several national conferences, including the 73rd National Student Nurses Association Conference in Orlando, Fla.
“Six CUSNA members attended NSNA and presented their evidence-based research posters at the conference. The attendees were also granted opportunities to attend various sessions over a variety of topics, including correctional nursing and opioid overdose awareness,” said Bennett. “[Gursimran Kaur ’24, nursing] also won the ‘Most Successful Breakthrough to Nursing Project’ for Scrub Cam, and I placed first place for the International Photo Contest for a photo from Capital’s Mexico Immersion Trip.”