Greetings from your new WSNA President: Caroline Wagner

Greetings everyone,

My name is Caroline Wagner. I am a senior nursing student at Bellin College, and I have been given the wonderful opportunity of being your WSNA President for the 2019-2020 year. I was the Projects Director for WSNA last year, and I loved every minute of being on the board that I decided to take on a bigger role. I am very excited to see what this next year has in store for myself and the student nurses of Wisconsin.

This past year’s Wisconsin Student Nurses’ Association convention theme revolved around our superhero pediatric cancer patients. We had roughly 300 pre-nursing and nursing students attend the convention at the Wilderness Resort and Convention Center in February. We appreciate the Wilderness for catering to all of our needs. Katie Schurk, our keynote speaker from WIXX, graciously shared information about her family’s journey through childhood cancer, nurse advocacy, and her trials of motherhood. On Friday night, we gave our students the option of participating in nursing olympics, playing nursing trivia, making blanket capes for pediatric cancer patients and/or #BeaniesforNat with the help of Love Your Melon. Our 16 breakout session speakers throughout the weekend spoke on a variety of topics including organ donation, violence in the workforce, NCLEX prep, perinatal mental health, and the opioid crisis just to name a few. We were also able to provide students with over 40 exhibitors to make connections with. Exhibitors included nursing schools, healthcare job sites, and many more.

I was also given the opportunity to attend the National Student Nurses’ Association convention in Salt Lake City, Utah in April with three other WSNA board members. I experienced so many wonderful things and absorbed a lot of information that I am excited to bring back to Wisconsin. Aliece Kerscher, the 2018-2019 President, and myself joined together with other state presidents to share information and network. I attended a three-day NCLEX review course as well as a scholarship reception exclusive to those whom received FNSNA scholarships. I served as a state delegate participating in formal business meetings and voting on amendments and resolutions on a national level. I attended breakout and plenary sessions on nurse innovation, making studying for NCLEX easy, and many more. Through the American Red Cross I participated in a course for Disaster Certification in Sheltering and Disaster Health.

I have so many goals for WSNA this year, and I am motivated to accomplish them all. I am also very excited to work with the new board of directors. We are representing nursing colleges and students from all across Wisconsin, and I couldn’t be happier with the amazing group that I have the pleasure of collaborating with.

Sincerely,

Caroline Wagner, 2019-2020 WSNA President