Posted: 5/13/2009
A Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON) instructor and a stellar group of JHUSON students have impressed members of the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) with their passion for nursing.
At the NSNA annual convention April 15-19 in Nashville, TN, instructor Rosemary Mortimer, MEd, MSN, RN, received the 2009 NSNA Leader of Leaders Award. Students Amy Hoffman, Gyasi Moscou-Jackson, Kellyn Hickey, Jessica Hancock, Katherine Woodward, and Darcie Stem submitted a resolution that was approved by an overwhelming 96 percent of the NSNA House of Delegates, the highest percentage of all resolutions submitted.
“I am honored and very touched to have been nominated by my students as the NSNA 2009 Leader of Leaders,” Mortimer said. “I so enjoy being with students and seeing them grow in their abilities. Teaching students is my passion and I love seeing them expand their skills with the support of their professional organization. I know many nursing educators do this work for the same reason that I do the knowledge that we really are touching the future.”
The Leader of Leaders Award is presented to an outstanding dean, faculty advisor, or state consultant who demonstrates distinguished support and service to nursing students.
The resolution that was passed by the delegates is titled “In Support of Interdisciplinary Education as a means to Improve Patient Outcomes.” A resolution is a written statement that, when adopted by the NSNA, becomes the basis for the policies and actions of the NSNA.
In this resolution, the students focus on interdisciplinary education due to the growing emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. Moscou-Jackson notes that nursing students, like other health and medical students, rarely have contact with each other during their formal education. The resolution also seeks to promote government involvement among nursing students and the need for nursing schools to be more politically active.
“We must be ready to support or oppose legislative and regulatory activities in an informed manner and writing resolutions gives nursing students a better understanding of the legislative and political process, and how it affects nursing and health care,” Moscou-Jackson said.
Hoffman stated that JHUSON Dean Martha N. Hill, PhD, RN, FAAN, “was incredibly supportive, providing examples and contacts to help shape the resolution.”
With a membership of approximately 50,000 nationwide, the National Student Nurses’ Association mentors the professional development of future nurses and facilitates their entrance into the profession by providing educational resources, leadership opportunities, and career guidance.