GNSA Bulletin - March 2023 Edition Thursday, March 2, 2023 Emerging Leaders Tracie W. Kirkland, DNP, ANP-BC, CPNP PhD Program Texas Woman's University Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2023 Clinical Associate Professor, University of Southern California I enrolled in the PhD program with aims to acquire new knowledge to address gaps in health related to the social determinants of health (SDOH). My preparation as a PhD prepared nurse will allow me to generate new knowledge and to combine previously acquired skills as a Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) graduate to not only synthesize evidence for quality improvement and health outcomes but to methodically employ the ability to collect data, analyze data, and disseminate findings at the local, state, and national level. My research is titled "Social Support and Loneliness in Black Women Experiencing COVID-19 Food Insecurity." I’m uniquely prepared to interface with patients, students, and community members across the continuum of life explaining the perils of food insecurity and its link to chronic disease. Moreover, as an early adopter I will be intentional in recommending screening practices related to food insecurity that not only benefits individuals, families, and communities but aligns with emerging national mandates to include measurement as a quality indicator associated with incentives as a part of value-based care. My experience in the program has been rewarding and fulfilling as a lifelong learner. I'm better prepared to continue my endeavors as an educator, clinician, and researcher. Are you our next emerging leader? Do you excel in your graduate program, demonstrate excitement for your nursing work, and/or have potential to greatly contribute to health care? If so, submit an emerging leader nomination form today for yourself or a fellow student. The emerging leader will be selected from the applicants and notified when they will be profiled. Help us recognize future nursing leaders! Celebrate the GNSA on Social Media! Join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as we share updates from members of the GNSA Leadership Council. Learn about their current roles in the nursing profession and what they have accomplished since serving on the GNSA! This week we featured Dr. Michaela Lewis, a member of the inaugural Leadership Council (2013-2015) and current associate professor at the University of Colorado and a pediatric nurse practitioner. Join us on Twitter and Facebook to learn more about what her experience on the Leadership Council was like. Noteworthy Publication: On February 14, 2023, the National Academies of Medicine, Science and Engineering released a new report titled Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations. To effectively increase DEI in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) fields, higher education institutions and organizations must change their cultures. Removing barriers to entry and participation, while also implementing practices that convey belonging, will allow organizations to move from broadening participation by the numbers to fostering a culture of inclusion, thriving, and success. The report identifies policies and practices that can be implemented at both the leadership and individual levels. Explore AACN Career Center for Faculty Opportunities Looking for a faculty position? Explore AACN's Career Center where you can filter by job type, city, and state. Featured Faculty Positions: Adjunct Faculty in APRN, University of California Los Angeles Clinical Professor, University of Tennessee Clinical Instructor/Clinical Assistant Professor, Stony Brook University To view more positions, click here. Join the GNSA! Take advantage of the various benefits that are free to you as a graduate student! Tell your fellow students and make sure they join today. Click here to complete the online application. Focusing on Wellness as a Graduate Nursing Student For the past eight years, I have done a tremendous amount of work in mental health and wellness. I had the opportunity to launch the United States Navy's first telemental health program in 2016, and I served on the Caregiver Occupational Stress Control Team. As we know, nurses are givers, not takers. And, like many, nurses are often pulled in several directions at work and home. With the 24/7 nature of a nurse's life, it's understandable that personal health and wellness can fall behind other demands. From my experience and expertise serving in this capacity, I am here to tell you that for ultimate success in all facets of life – family, work, relationships, and more – nurses should prioritize health and wellness. Focusing on personal health and wellness helps maintain positive energy. Igniting and preserving your energy can help you stay healthy, succeed at work, enjoy relationships with friends and family, engage in pursuits outside of work, and help you perform better academically. Below are some tips nurses can use to help achieve their full potential by prioritizing personal health and wellness. Become more emotionally connected. Fully focused (100%) when speaking with someone, no multitasking. Set a specific day every other week to spend time with someone you love or do something you love. For the first 30 minutes at home after work, turn your cell phone off and give your best energy. Call loved ones once a week at a specific time. Become more mentally focused. Prepare ten affirmations and read them daily as part of your mental preparation routine. Journal for 5 minutes each evening before bed. Strategically disengage every 90 to 120 minutes to help you perform at your best. Become more aligned with what is most important. Invest your full and best energy in the moments that matter most. At the end of each day, reflect on whether you followed your rules of engagement. Ask yourself, "Did my behavior today reflect my core values?" Focus your energy on what you want, not what you don't want. Lastly, promoting healthy work environments for nurses is one of my professional goals. I want to fight for advocacy and policy efforts that affect nursing students at the graduate level and promote advanced nursing workforce education that aligns with the recent National Academy of Medicine Future of Nursing 2020-2030 Report. I plan to work with industry leaders to achieve "appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios in the United States and look for ways to increase our nursing workforce by focusing on the social determinants of health, thereby closing the gap between inequality and inclusivity that can be detrimental to the psychological safety of our nursing workforce." I see a future of nurses prepared with graduate education to fill a gap in policy and government reform. We owe it to ourselves and the profession to promote wellness and protect the well-being of ourselves and others. Most importantly, lead well and work hard to maintain wellness for yourself and others. LCDR Akeeka Davis GNSA Leadership Council Member PhD Student Villanova University Registration Open for the 2023 GNSA Conference Register now for the 2023 GNSA Conference which will be held on August 17-18, 2023 in Washington, DC. The theme will focus on Building Partnerships in Nursing: Addressing Current and Future Challenges with sessions focused on improving patient outcomes and navigating workforce challenges. Presenters will offer tools and tips to help you excel in your graduate program and propel your nursing career to new heights. Don't miss a chance to connect with graduate students, noted experts, and peers from across the country! Space is limited so register today! REGISTER Call for Abstracts The GNSA is accepting poster presentation abstracts that characterize the conference theme and reflect innovation in one of the following areas: Leadership Development Nursing Innovation Mentoring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Social Determinants of Health Access to Care Workforce Challenges Faculty Development Understanding the Next Generation of Nurses Healthcare Administration All abstract submissions are due on April 21, 2023. View Call for Abstracts GNSA Lunch and Learn Sessions The GNSA is offering a new series called Lunch and Learn. These 30-minute sessions are hosted by members of the GNSA Leadership Council. Bring your lunch or coffee for informal discussions around hot topics, issues of interest to graduate nursing students, or opportunities to collaborate on practice or research. March GNSA Lunch and Learn Session Topic: Mentoring Date: March 28 at 1:00 pm ET Speaker: Denise Robertson, DNP Student, University of Alabama at Birmingham Join our first Lunch and Learn session as Denise shares her experience serving as a mentor and provides you with some tips and suggestions on how you can forge your own mentoring relationship. Having won a mentoring award, she will share her own journey both serving as a mentor but also finding and securing her own mentors throughout her nursing career and graduate education. If you are curious to learn what a successful mentoring relationship looks like or perhaps even hoping to find a potential mentor, be sure to join this session. To join us, register below. REGISTER Meet the Newest GNSA Liaisons Join our Network of GNSA Liaisons to Further Expand Your Leadership Skills Join the team of GNSA Liaisons who serve as the representatives for the graduate nursing students at their school and be part of a community of nurse leaders. Serving as a GNSA Liaison gives you an opportunity to build on your leadership skills, grow your professional network, and receive access to important resources to help you excel as a graduate student. In addition, Liaisons are often considered for national opportunities to serve on committee and other workgroups. Sign up to serve as a GNSA Liaison for your institution today! To learn more about the role, click here to access the Liaison orientation video. GNSA Resource Highlight: Springer Publishing Discount GNSA members are eligible for an exclusive 40% discount for all books offered through Springer Publishing by using the special discount code GNSA during checkout. Click on the following link to explore the resources available through Springer Publishing and use the code today! In addition to various publications available through Springer Publishing, you may also be interested in the various certification prep materials that they offer. To take advantage of the 40% discount today, click here. WEBINARS Postdoctoral Education in Nursing: Types, Goals, and Opportunities April 25, 2 :00 pm ET Postdoctoral education is important for nurses interested in pursuing a career in a research-intensive setting. The webinar will focus on different types of post-doctoral education programs, goals for such programs, and employment opportunities for program graduates. The discussion will center on the importance of aligning personal and professional goals with the type of the postdoctoral education program and negotiating roles, responsibilities, and deliverables with program faculty. The roles of peer, professional, and research mentors will be explained. REGISTER OPPORTUNITY ALERTS HRSA Advanced Nursing Education Program The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) is now accepting applications for the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) Program. The program’s purpose is to increase the number of primary care nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives prepared to provide primary care services, mental health and substance use disorder care, and/or maternal health care. Grants will support the training and graduation of advanced practice registered nursing students/trainees in these disciplines. Deadline to apply is April 7, 2023. For application details, visit the HRSA Website. American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Board of Directors Student Scholarship The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) has announced a Call for Applications for the APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship . This program encourages students to join the psychiatric-mental health nursing profession and develops new leaders for APNA. Each year, nursing students are invited to apply (and faculty are invited to nominate one or more students from their school). Deadline to apply is April 4, 2023. For application details, visit the APNA’s Website. ADVOCACY Deadline Approaching: Register Now to Attend AACN's 2023 Student Policy Summit! Registration for AACN’s 2023 Student Policy Summit is closing soon, but there is still time to secure your spot! Baccalaureate and graduate nursing students enrolled at AACN member institutions are invited to join this year’s Summit in Washington, D.C. from March 26-27. Sign up by the March 8 deadline for an exclusive opportunity to engage directly with leaders in federal policy through stimulating program sessions and attend an advocacy day on Capitol Hill, all while earning Continuing Education credits. Due to limited availability, registration is first-come first-serve. Dean’s approval is required, and only two students from each school may attend. To learn more and register for #AACNSPS2023 click here. We look forward to seeing you next month! Categories: GNSA Bulletin