BTS
2014
It’s Back to school!
It’s that time again, students! The fall semester has
begun or will be beginning shortly and it’s time to get
back into the swing of things! Remember to take it one
day at a time, plan ahead, and always be sure to take
care of yourself! We future nurses can’t take care for
others and set positive examples if we aren’t practicing
good self care!
Convention is just a few weeks away! More details
and information will be emerging so be sure to follow up
on our website and Facebook page! We have a great few
days planned and are very excited to see you there!
Radhika Kadakia
Publications Director
Gans.ekg@gmail.com
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Convention 2014
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COSL 2014
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Mercer on Mission
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Emory News
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Treasurer Update
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Nursing School Tips
CONVENTION 2014
The Georgia Association of Nursing Students 62nd Annual Convention is just
a few short weeks away! This years convention will be held at the Wyndham
Peachtree Conference and Hotel Center in Peachtree City, Georgia. Students from
across the state are encouraged to attend as the convention will offer several
focus sessions, Resumania, Dance Marathon, Hurst NCLEX review, NCLEX bowl, and
the election of the 2014-2015 GANS board members. To register, please visit
www.eventbee.com/v/gans2014convention. Your registration fee includes all
meals, parking, internet, NCLEX bowl, and the Saturday night banquet if you wish
to attend.
Wyndham Peachtree Hotel and Conference Center
2443 Highway 54 West
Peachtree City, GA 30269
770-487-2000
Summary of events
62nd Annual GANS Convention
In addition to daily focus sessions, the blood drive, and the meeting of House of
Delegates, students are welcome to participate in the following events:
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Resumania: learn the ins and outs of what employers
are looking for in a resume. Learn the essentials and
the not-so-essentials to include.
NCLEX Bowl: The NCLEX Bowl is a fun, competitive
event similar to trivia that includes NCLEX style
questions. Please select this as an option under the
ticketing information to ensure an accurate count of
attendance.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Hurst Review: An NCLEX review that includes must
know core content, provides brand new nurse critical
thinking skills, provides specific testing strategies, and
NCLEX style practice exams.
Dance Marathon: Take a load off and enjoy an
opportunity to join other nursing students and children
as we raise money for Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
NCLEX Practice Exam: Have the opportunity to test the
knowledge and use your critical thinking skills to the
ultimate test.
Closing ceremonies an Banquet: Find out who will be
the next leaders of the 2014-2015 GANS board and
enjoy a final dinner with all attendees.
COSL 2014 was held this summer from May 15-17 at
Camp Twin Lakes in Winder Georgia. COSL brings nursing
students from throughout the state to connect, network,
and build lifelong leadership skills. At COSL,students
engage in team building activities, discussions, and guest
speaker presentations. Speakers this year included Rebecca
Wheeler, Georgia Nurses Association President, Stuart
Misner, HURST review representative, Out of Darkness
advocate, Lisa Kjar, and several veterans and family
members of those in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Aside from the guest speakers, students were kept
busy with several leadership activities and games such as
Captains Coming (a hilarious ice breaker!), Ropes courses,
a scavenger hunt, Students worked together as groups and
individuals to accomplish an objective and common goal.
Everybody’s favorite activity seemed to have been
COSLympics! Students got down and dirty with soapy water
balloons, shaving cream, donuts, and a messy slip and
slide, which made it an event to remember! Everyone was
able to wind down that night and enjoy some smores by the
lake and bonfire. COSL 2014 was quite and success and we
cant wait for next year!
Mercer on mission: Honduras
This past summer, students of Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer
University, along with other students of pre-professional and health professional
schools. took traveled abroad to Honduras. The goal of “Mercer on Mission” is to serve
disadvantaged individuals by providing education and healthcare. Students took part
in every aspect of the healthcare process, including clinic set-up, vital patients,
diagnosis/treatment, pharmacy distribution, and education. This is a wonderful
opportunities for students as they are able to become more aware of healthcare
treatment and knowledge as they return back to their surroundings and practice.
While in Honduras, the team partnered up with an organization called Honduras
Outreach, Inc (HOI), in which they hosted the serving team and assisted during their
time.
Mercer students arrived tin
Tegucigalpa and traveled by
bus to Juticalpa to serve the
people of the Agatta Valley
in Central Honduras.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first Mercer on Mission experience in Honduras.
I can truly say it was the best inter-professional experience I have ever had. It
was rewarding to see how all our professions work together in a patient care
setting.I felt like I was able to provide patient care for many diseases states I
probably would not have had the chance to see during my clinical experiences
in the states. Of the many things my patients taught me, I must say that
patience was the most important one. I witnessed many people wait in long
lines to be seen, but were still able to come in with a smile on their faces and
were genuinely thankful that we were there to help them. I also have a greater
appreciation for the opportunities I have been given in life. It was a wonderful
experience that I will never forget and always be thankful for. I made long
lasting friends with my team. Overall, I would not trade this opportunity for
anything in the world.
It was rewarding to see how all
our professions work together in
a patient care setting.
What is the National Parkinson
Foundation?
Parkinson’s Disease is the second most
common neurodegenerative disease and
14th leading cause of death in the United
States. Currently affecting about 1
million people in the United States and
approximately 4 million throughout the
world, the prevalence of this disease is
expected to increase over the next few
years. With the increasing demand,
research, and cost in treating this disease,
NPF has funded over 180 million dollars in
support. There are currently 39 Centers of
Excellence at medical centers with 24
being in the U.S. As well as support groups
for over 100,000 people diagnosed along
with their families. They deliver care to
over 50,000 Parkinson’s patients and
continue providing and improving clinical
care.
www.parkinson.org
Way to go
emory!!
Emory university receives a
parkinson foundation grant!
Last year, a fellow student Tigest
Teshome, a student within the Nell Hodgson
Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory
University, initiated a relationship with the
Parkinson's Foundation. Through her efforts,
Georgia nursing students came together during
Moving-Day Atlanta, a fund raising walk for
Parkinson's Disease. The Georgia Nursing
Student's team successfully fund raised to help
further Parkinson's research, as well as spread
awareness of this disease to their community.
Through further partnership with the
Parkinson's Foundation, ESNA initiated lunchand-learn seminars at four universities in the
Atlanta area to further increase awareness of
Parkinson's Disease.
This summer, the Emory Student Nursing
Association of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff
School of Nursing received a grant from the
Parkinson's Foundation. This grant allows ESNA
to expand educational lunch-and-learn
opportunities to more universities in the
Atlanta area. We hope that through these
educational opportunities future nursing
students and even students from different
disciplines will better understand the impact
that this disease has on the life of individual's
living with this condition and will inspire
students to apply what they learned
Written by Ashley Anderson, Emory Student Nursing Association's
Parkinson's Grant Coordinator
Familiar with amazone smile?
Are you an online shopper? If not, why not
become one? Online shopping is so easy and
convenient and as if Amazon wasn't already easy
enough, they’ve added more to help give back and
help charities of your choice! Amazon has created a
non-profit organization, Amazon Smile, to help
organizations receive donations from purchases made
by you! The non-profit organization of your choice
will receive 0.5% of each purchase you make. All you
have to do is purchase your items through Amazon
Smile and choose the non-profit organization of your
choice. How great is that? You get your shopping
done AND help out the organization of your choice
without even leaving your home! It’s perfect for us
busy nursing students! Show your support for Georgia
Association of Nursing Students by purchasing
textbooks and other items through Amazon Smile.
Just follow this link:
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/58-2066628
Your contributions will allow GANS to continue
providing you with knowledge, leadership skills,, and
accessibility to help you get the most out of not only
your nursing school
journey, but you life and career as an RN!
Don’t Forget!
Bravelets are Always on Sale!
Passionate about nursing
and the opportunities presented
with the involvement with GANS?
Bravelets is a non-profit
organization that sells custom
made jewelry, donating a portion
of proceeds. For every piece
bought, $10 is donated to GANS.
GANS takes that money to provide
opportunities for current and
future nursing stuents to grow as
leaders and future professional
nurses. GANS would not would not
be able to provide these
opportunities without the
involvement of wonderful
students like you, and your
Continue Supporting Your
#1
GANS!!
New to
Don’t stress! GANS has some advice for you!
Be prepared for class. Read assigned pages and take notes
Find a good study buddy or a small group of friends you can count on. They will become family
Break things down into smaller pieces. Focus on one thing at a time. Don’t move ahead until you
understand material clearly
Turn off social media- those Instagram pictures and Facebook statuses will be there when
you’re done studying
Coffee: BID-TID PRN (Seriously though, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and staying
hydrated!)
Review before class so you can keep up. Starting out confused never ends well
GO TO CLASS! If your professors can make it through the traffic at 8 am and lecture for four hours,
you can be sure to be there and listen
Plan ahead and keep a planner. Realizing last minute that
you have two tests in the same week will only stress you
out more
Ask questions. If there’s something you’re unsure of, there’s a
good chance someone else is in the same boat
Get enough sleep the night before clinical. Bed baths and
dressing changes are easier when you’re prepared
Record y our lectures. Professors tend to talk fast
Don gloves
Don’t ever cross your sterile field. Ever
If you didn’t document it, you didn’t do it
Naps are nice. Fit them in if you can
Invest in DVR. You may be missing you weekly episodes of Grey’s Anatomy or Pretty Little Liars
Take study breaks. Your brain needs a breather every now and then
Learn what methods work best for you. Not everybody studies the same way
Don’t let go of yourself. Make time for yourself- eat well, exercise, and sleep plenty
Be open to new experiences and allow yourself to grow. You’ve made it to nursing school, you have
what it takes to survive an succeed