GNSA Bulletin - August 2021 Edition

Preparing for the Academic Year Ahead

As we near the start of another school year, I am sure that there many things on your mind. On top of the stress and excitement that comes along with a new school year, we are also still in the midst of a pandemic. So, in light of these two events coinciding with one another, I have compiled some of my own thoughts and practices that may help other graduate nursing students as well.

Getting Organized (and staying sane!)

• I like to make sure I have my calendar ready to go (I am old-school and prefer my paper and pen-based calendar) with room to write in and make note of specific dates. I put Zoom meetings, vacations, weekly reminders, due dates of assignments, and even loved one’s birthdays on this calendar.
• If I have any long-term goals I am working towards (such as a dissertation proposal or manuscript submission), I may give myself some personal deadlines and write them in my calendar. This can help me stay on track for my personal and academic goals.
• I also like to write down the fun/self-care items I have planned for the semester. It gives me something to look forward to when I look on my weekly to-do list and often gives me that extra boost of endurance I need to get through the difficult weeks (something fun is coming!).
• As you progress in your program, you may be getting to a place where you are applying for jobs or other opportunities while simultaneously completing graduate program requirements. It helps me to start the semester by updating my resume/CV and having a cover letter draft. By doing this, I have most of the hard work out of the way and can quickly apply to new opportunities (should the opportunity arise) without taking too much time from my work week. Just remember to edit your cover letters before submission (i.e., changing the addressee and altering some of the language to be suitable for the opportunity you are applying for).

Staying Safe

• Universities across the country are going to have very different responses to the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., when masks are required, if students will go back online, etc.). I am preparing for change to occur. I am not sure what will happen, but I am trying to stay flexible. Knowing that change could occur may be helpful moving forward.
• If your university or college of nursing implements a policy regarding the COVID-19 pandemic that you think could be problematic, speak up and use your nursing voice. We need to use our nursing voice, but we can also do so in respectful ways. At your university, identify who is the person you would contact regarding COVID policies/procedures and craft a respectful, evidence-based email or script regarding the policy you think is problematic, where you think it falls short, and what you would propose. Universities and colleges of nursing typically consider a multitude of stakeholder perspectives prior to making a decision, so do bear that in mind. It also may be a good idea to reach out to your school's graduate student senate.
• I would encourage all graduate nursing students to get vaccinated if you are safely able to do so and follow leading heath guidelines (WHO, CDC, NIAID, etc.) to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

I hope everyone has a great start to the Fall semester!

Marissa Bartmess, BSN, RN GNSA Leadership Council Member University of Tennessee, Knoxville

How Do You Prepare for the Academic Year?