STAT NEWSLETTER

FALL 2017 ISSUE

To all STAT Readers, In this issue...

I would like to thank you all for visiting the NSANYS web- NSANYS 66th 2
site and taking a look at 2017’s Fall STAT issue. Please Cosl Experience 3
enjoy and read through the articles submitted by your Community Health 4-6
board members and nursing students from all over New
Global Initiatives 7
York State.
Nurse Specialty 8
In this issue, nursing students describe their experience
Contact Us 9
at COSL, discuss their involvement in community events,
BoD 10
global initiatives, and explore a unique nurse specialty.

If you would like to be featured in our next issue, please

continue to submit articles to [Link]@[Link].
We would love to hear what you are doing in your
school!

Thank you and happy holidays!

Sincerely,

Katy Chen, STAT Editor 2017-2018

Hunter Bellevue School of Nursing
 SAVE
THE DATE

NSANYS 66th ANNUAL CONVENTION

TOMORROW BEGINS WITH US

February 24th, 2018

The Wyndham New Yorker

481 8th Ave, New York, NY, 10001

2
 COSL Experience

Written By Paige Denney

Suny Plattsburgh

The 2017 Council of Student Leaders in Albany, New York, proved to be

an amazing opportunity to network with students and nursing professionals by using
open dialogue and interactive activities. As a student, it can be difficult to gain pro-
fessional confidence and autonomy in one’s education. For me, this conference gave
me the tools to better carry myself as a student and as a nurse. This conference
pushed me to present myself and my position on the NSANYS board in front of oth-
er colleagues, giving me pride in my work.

Through round table discussions, I learned how other schools are successful
within their organizations and how I could improve within my own organization.
The ideas that other student leaders came up with at the conference helped me to be
more efficient and productive in my organization. Aside from learning valuable
leadership skills, my favorite part of these conventions is getting to meet new people
from different types of programs and schools from all over the state. These confer-
ences are not only empowering and uplifting, but also provide a strong motivation
for me as a student nurse.

3
 COMMUNITY HEALTH

Getting Involved With The Community

Written By Helen Pham
Molloy College
As the 2017-2018 Community Health Director, volunteering has always been an
important aspect of my life. Volunteering is an opportunity for all to get involved
with new experiences and to make new friends all the while, giving back and
helping others. It’s a win-win! From little to big gestures, it all counts. When vol-
unteers unite together, we are creating healthier communities for all. Isn’t that
what we, as nursing students, want?

Nursing school is definitely stressful. I get it. You’re probably asking yourself, “If I
can’t have a social life (because I have ATIs to do, tests to study for, etc), how
can I make time to volunteer?” I have asked myself that question too. But the
benefits do outweigh the “risks,” trust me. Here are a few reasons why you
should volunteer today:

1) Volunteering is a fun way to give back to your community. My tip

would be to identify what you are really passionate about. Find an
organization that you can help out that’s related to your passion and
make it an event on your campus. Your local non-profit organiza-
tions need more hands to help out than you think. For example, if
you are passionate about raising money and awareness of child-
hood cancers, you can chair a lemonade sale at your school and
donate the proceeds to “Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.”

2) Networking is essential for getting a job. When you volunteer, you

meet people and make new friends and can possibly meet a future
employer. Employers want to see that you are giving back to the
community outside of work. The professional relationships you cre-
ate when you volunteer could lead you to your dream job. For exam-
ple, when you participate at awareness walks, you can meet future
employers.

3) Last but not least, there are no risks! If you are managing your
time well, there should be more than enough time to study and vol-
unteer on occasion!

Whether it’s just inviting your friends to participate in an awareness walk with you
to just making cards for veterans, giving time to your community is fun! When
others see you taking the initiative, they will follow. It’s important to take the lead
and guide others to give back, too!

4
 Wagner College—SNA is Making
Strides Against Breast Cancer
Written By Samantha Goon
Wagner College
The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event was held on October 15th,
2017 at South Beach on Staten Island. This event is held in areas throughout the na-
tion, and is focused on celebrating survivors, having fun, and raising funds and
awareness for the American Cancer Society’s efforts in saving lives from breast can-
cer. The events raise money to fund innovative research, provide free information and
support, and to help people reduce their breast cancer risk or find it early when it is
most treatable.
Team Wagner College Nursing had over 50 participants walking in the event
this year. Weeks before the event occurred, the team leaders prepared ideas to fund-
raise money for the school. After creating and successfully selling over 130 T-shirts
to Wagner College nursing students and families, and over one hundred $1 flyer
cards, the total amount raised for Team Wagner College Nursing was $1,517. Addi-
tionally, the event on Staten Island raised a total of $258,836 this year from fundrais-
ing!
The Making Strides against Breast Cancer event is a great foundation and
benefits future nurses to get involved in the community. The Wagner College Nurs-
ing program has made it an annual tradition to participate in fundraising, and walking
in this event. Staten Island has the highest incidence of breast cancer in New York
City, so it is imperative that we continue to contribute our time and efforts in helping

5
 COMMUNITY HEALTH

Written By Aska Sherpa & McKenzie Beck-Esmay

Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing

Several Hunter nursing students had the privilege of working as medical volunteers at the
TCS marathon--an event that is second to only the Olympics as having the largest medical team for
an athletic event in the world. Throughout the day, the medical team helped to treat everything
from blisters and cramping muscles, to patients with hyponatremia, dehydration, hypothermia,
hypovolemia, and shortness of breath.
Most of Hunter’s nursing students were placed at the first of five medical tents at the fin-
ish line, which meant they saw the most acute conditions in medical tent P1. While many students
were assigned to one of the five medical teams within the tent (named for each borough of New
York), some were also instructed to assist with triage and transport of patients as they arrived. At
triage, nurses quickly assessed patients to determine if their condition was either critical (requiring
immediate critical assistance), medical (sent to one of the rotating five teams), or fast track
(needing ice or a PT massage for cramping and expected to be discharged quickly). If sent to med-
ical, the patient was seen by one of the five teams. Each team had an attending as a team leader,
and each team included resident physicians, nurses, physical therapist students, and nursing stu-
dents. The students helped with taking history, taking vital signs and charting while the residents
assessed and diagnosed the patients. Every team member played a role and worked simultaneously-
-while physical therapists massaged patients, students took vitals and charted, and nurses set up IVs
when needed. The goal with each patient was to address their diagnosis with interventions and con-
sistent evaluations. It demonstrated in a small scale of what happens in a real life setting as patients
were admitted, treated, and discharged. It was a learning experience for all nursing students in-
volved, and an amazing opportunity to take part in an elite athletic event.
6
 GLOBAL INITIATIVES
Volunteers Around the World:
Dominican Republic
Written By Juliet Kim
Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing

This past summer, I went on a

medical outreach trip in Jaraba-
coa, Dominican Republic with
Volunteers Around the World.
The experience was incredibly
rewarding and really cemented
my desire to join the Peace
Corps after I graduate nursing
school. Many of the volunteers
were nursing students from
Hunter-Bellevue School of
Nursing, pre-med students from
University of Central Florida,
and pre-med students from
Stony Brook University.
We set up the clinics in various
locations in Jarabacoa such as a
classroom of an elementary
school, a church, and even out-
side a local’s front lawn. Each
volunteer was able to learn how
to properly take a patient’s
history (in Spanish!), measure vital
signs, monitor blood glucose levels,
shadow licensed physicians, and give
prescribed medications to patients un-
der the supervision of a licensed phar-
macist. We saw at least 500 patients in
total and each person was so apprecia-
tive and grateful for our time.

I think this experience was more valua-

ble than any of us could have ever im-
agined. It is very different from seeing
a picture of a town that is visibly poor
and actually being immersed in a com-
munity that is in need of adequate
health care. To truly and experience the
culture and lifestyle of the Dominican
Republic was one of my favorite things about the trip. The trip was not only humbling, but it
also made me consciously thankful to this day. I miss seeing at least 70 patients a day.
7
 NURSE SPECIALITY
Forensic Nursing
Written By Cassandra (Riley) Butler
Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing

Forensic nursing is currently the most exponentially growing subspecialty of nursing. Those who have
experienced trauma or abuse require specialized care, which forensic nurses can provide. Some tasks of
a forensic nurse include evaluating and documenting wounds; collecting blood, tissue, or semen samples;
and managing trauma.

There are different types of forensic nursing, such as working with victims of abuse or assault, death in-
vestigations, human trafficking, or even the aftermath of a natural disaster. They are an important link
between the medical field and the justice system, and must be adept at identifying signs of a crime and
gathering evidence to use in court. These nurses most often work in emergency rooms or urgent care
centers.

Forensic nursing is an extremely holistic field of

nursing. Not only will you be focusing on the
physical and mental health of your patients, but
also on consultation with legal authorities, safety
planning, and community partnerships to make
sure the patients are able to recover and get the
justice they deserve. If you yearn for getting to
know your patients on a deeper level, this field is
for you. You will be a voice for your patients, and
may even help them regain control over their
lives.

Health needs include not only the physical, but

the psychological as well. Forensic nursing rec-
ognizes the importance of both. Some wise
words from a current forensic nurse: “Violence is
International Association of Forensic Nursing:
a healthcare issue, and forensic nurses are one
way that we can address that within our [Link]
healthcare System.”

8
Do you or your school want to be fea-
tured in the next STAT newsletter?
Let us know and email
[Link]@[Link]
Let us know what your students or
school is up to!

9
NSANYS 2017-2018 Board of Directors
Annie Nelson, President
Erica DeBobes, Vice President
Paige Denney, Vice President
Alexa Vines, Treasurer
Kezia Varughese, Secretary
Juliet Kim, Communications Director
Helen Pham, Community Health Director
Patrick Wlodkowski, Breakthrough to Nursing Director
Katy Chen, STAT Editor
Elizabeth Gambo, Policy and Education Director
Lindsay Roblyer, Nominations and Elections Chair

Giselle Melendez, MS, RN, Presidential Advisor

Larry Z. Slater, PhD, RN-BC, CCRN, Professional Advisor