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The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Student Nurses Association (SNA) has more than tripled to become one of SIUE’s largest student organizations.

The Student Nurses Association is a pre-professional organization for the American Nurses Association (ANA). SIUE member students participate in the 10th District Illinois Nurses Association.

“In previous years, membership was typically around 100,” said Jean LaFollette, instructor in the SIUE School of Nursing, who has served as SNA’s faculty advisor for the last three years and seen steady growth. “We currently have more than 500 members, 350 of whom joined at the annual barbecue in September.”

SNA membership enables students to belong to the National and Illinois Student Nurses Association. Membership is open to students who are considering nursing as their major area of concentration or who have been accepted into the School of Nursing.

The Student Nurses Association provides an environment in which to connect with fellow nursing students, whether for support or to complete volunteer hours.

LaFollette attributes some of the growth to class representatives. In addition to having elected officers, LaFollette began asking for student representatives from each class, and the result has been exponential growth not only in terms of membership, but also involvement.

“The class representatives talk up the chapter and get more people involved,” LaFollette said. “We also can delegate more, particularly because the officers and representatives truly want to help.”

Brad Marcum, a junior and traditional nursing student, was appointed SNA president in May 2015, and is in his second year as an SNA member

While SNA gives nursing students an opportunity to serve, volunteer, learn, mentor, connect socially and build valuable career skills, it was the opportunity to hone leadership skills that most appealed to Marcum.

“Getting involved in SNA provided a venue to be more of a leader,” he said. “You need those leadership skills in the field of nursing. It builds a foundation for making a great nurse.”

LaFollette sees the mentor relationships as another important facet to SNA membership.

“It helps to have opportunities for students at different levels to interact,” said LaFollette. “Students further along in the program reach out to help or mentor newer students. Our SNA students even stay connected after graduation, sometimes sharing job postings or information that’s helpful to current students.”

SNA holds monthly meetings held at rotating times so that various members have the opportunity to attend, as well as social activities, events, volunteer opportunities and more throughout the year.

Photo:  SIUE Student Nurses Association members at their November monthly meeting.