Bruin Brief 2022-05-20: Nursing Student Organizations at UCLA SON
- Paul Macey
Before we jump in to all the different student organizations here at the SON, let’s consider a basic question: Why? By sponsoring student-led organizations, do benefits accrue to the faculty and programs? Furthermore, do students realize advantages by taking part in student-led organizations above-and-beyond their classes and clinical experiences?
Ways that participation in student-led organizations reinforces and extends formal nursing education:
Creates opportunities for leadership development
Enhances student engagement in co-curricular efforts of meaning to the student
Offers a setting for application of classroom based knowledge
Encourages collaborative problem-solving in real-world spaces with likeminded colleagues who share a goal and vision
Enlivens the “student experience,” and provides a sense of belonging to the profession, the School, and UCLA
Ways that participation in student-led organizations advantages students:
Produces tangible evidence of nursing professional engagement, with programs, products, and health promotion experiences that add to a resume of experiences
Strengthens the social fabric of learners in the nursing community in the here-and-now
Connects students for future networking and job referrals, professional support, and friendship beyond graduation
Develops transferable skills applicable to future endeavors and collective action in community and clinical arenas
Creates positive memories of UCLA experiences and the faculty, staff, and students who make a difference
How many student-led organizations are active in the School of Nursing?
Fifteen!
Student groups at UCLA SON available to BS, MECN, APRN, PhD, DNP Students
Student Organization | Brief Description |
This fraternity is dedicated to creating a community of nursing students between all cohorts and programs. Through community service, fundraising, social and professional development events, we strive to uphold our motto: United in Service. Currently, we have over 150 members including students in the BS, MECN, APRN, and PhD nursing programs. | |
Asian Pacific American Health Collaboration, Access, Resource, and Education | APA Health CARE is a collaborative effort between UCLA professional schools (Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health), physicians, and community partners to improve health care access and long-term health in underserved Asian Pacific Islander (API) communities. They provide culturally and linguistically tailored information, as well as follow-up services, to better serve our clients. |
Asian and Pacific Islander Nursing Student and Alumni Assoc. (APINSAA) | This student organization supports our API nursing students and nursing alumni via APINSAA within the UCLA School of Nursing through community engagement, scholarship, and service. |
BROAD SPECTRUM works toward a more inclusive and accepting environment for LGBTQIA+ students, faculty and patients through education, support, social action, and advocacy. BROAD SPECTRUM provides a platform for students to advocate the needs of LGBTQIA+ patients through equality in nursing care. BROAD SPECTRUM fosters a greater sense of community for LGBTQIA+ identified students, faculty, and allies within the SON and between SON and the broader UCLA student body through education, outreach, and community service. | |
(GAIN) | GAIN is an open forum for the UCLA nursing community to enhance knowledge and participation in global health. We welcome all undergraduate and graduate students and faculty who are interested in nursing abroad.
|
Graduate Student Nursing Association (GSNA) | The mission of GSNA is to create opportunities of learning, service, and socializing, and serve as a resource for advocacy and communication between graduate students, administration and community. |
LANSA is committed to advancing the health of Latino communities, empower, advocate, and promote education and professional opportunities for Latino nursing students and nurses. All friends and colleagues are welcome who promote these goals. | |
Women's Health Nursing Organization (WHNO) | WHNO is an organization dedicated to bringing community and health justice oriented students together to serve women's health organizations and to bring awareness to women's health issues. Born from the Maternity Nursing Interest Club, the club grew into the Women's Health Nursing Organization at UCLA because members understood that women's health is more than just obstetric health. Overall, WHNO seeks to promote inclusivity, awareness, and equity in women's health care while integrating nursing students into the community. |
(MIN) | MIN is a nationally recognized chapter that looks to raise awareness of the lack of representation of men in nursing and to empower those who want to go into nursing. |
NS@UCLA is a student-led organization whose mission includes contributing to the nursing education of all nursing students at UCLA. We aim to create programs that are representative of all the interests and concerns of nursing students. Our club aims to aid in the development of all nursing students including his/her professional role as future nurses and patient advocates. | |
Pan African Nursing Students Association and Alumni (PANSAA) | PANSAA provides a forum that addresses the academic and social concerns of Black and other minority Students enrolled in the UCLA School of Nursing. |
Pediatrics Interest Club at UCLA (PICU) | PICU promotes and advocates for the health of the pediatric population through community outreach and education for students interested in pediatric nursing in order to better the lives of children and their families. |
(WIN) | WIN is an organization that allows members to share and promote wellness. |
The ultimate goal of this student organization is to connect UCLA nursing students to successful certified nurses who are practicing exactly what we want to do one day. In fostering this connection, we believe that students will get more opportunities to explore their interests in critical care and be guided by experienced professionals. Potential shadowing opportunities for students in critical care positions with mentors would be something we would want to pursue to give students true exposure to the day in the life of a critical care nurse. | |
(HEN) | HEN originally started in the wake of the social injustices and activism the world finally woke up to two years ago. Our alumni members began this group as a safe space to openly discuss their thoughts and sentiments around the situation without fear. The alumni passed the torch to our current members of HEN, and we decided to continue these crucial conversations and take it a step further as we branch out into the community for actionable advocacy. HEN members wanted to continue the legacy of speaking about gaps in our society and within our profession, but we knew that to speak is one thing and to have boots on the ground is another. We wanted to connect with members of the community of all backgrounds and stories. We have partnered with Venice Family Clinic and MEND for Food Drives, Sigma and Sound Body Sound Mind to provide public health nursing in Huntington Park and we have an important spring panel discussion coming up revolving around the future of nursing. Our objective is to trailblaze a legacy in which equity and diversity is not only a lip service and to truly connect the dots between social determinants of health and healthcare access. |
**NOTE: if you have more information or corrections to add to the table or this Bruin Brief, please contact Brenda Yeung at byeung@sonnet.ucla.edu
How can you learn more or contact the organizations?
The Student Affairs team has a list of each organization and email to contact the student(s) involved in each organization
Using this link https://community.ucla.edu will lead you to the UCLA- community page
Just input the organization title in the search box (on the right hand side) and it will lead you to their page, where they have contact information and website links.
How can faculty get involved with each student group?
The consensus by student leaders is that faculty can get involved by reaching out to student organization or organization leadership.
Asian Pacific American Health CARE (APA Health CARE) is always looking for faculty to volunteer their time to supervise in their monthly health fairs.
Here’s what the students had to say:
ATD President, Alex Tchekanov states “ For our professional development events, we often invite faculty to provide guidance on resumes, cover letters, job applications, etc. We have also had faculty talk about their experiences and specialties as a nurse during these events.”
HEN Co-Chair, Nahla Zaki states “Faculty can be more involved with each student group by simply reaching out, if the interest is there, to learn more about our organizations and what we have to offer. They can help by connecting us to those sharing similar views or events taking place that we can partner with.”
WHNO, Jasmin Alberto states “Faculty can get involved by sharing their experiences working with vulnerable populations and helping connect the organization to volunteer and community events.”
Remember students want YOU!
Students value your knowledge and experience they lack and would love to have more opportunities to engage with their faculty outside of the classroom.
This is the last Bruin Brief for May. Bruin Briefs will resume on June 6. If you have ideas for new topics or wish to contribute content, please reach out to Lauren Clark or Brenda Yeung.
The Essentials Retreat for all faculty will be held on Thursday and Friday June 16-17 at the Faculty Club. Please RSVP using the Outlook calendar invitation you received. If you need more information or a resend of the retreat invitation, please contact Ingrid Cuellar at ICuellar@sonnet.ucla.edu |
In the spirit of recognizing student leadership, this Bruin Brief was compiled by:
Abigail Lina, RN, MSN-APRN Student
Other Significant Contributors:
Lizbeth Del Rio
Student Affairs Officer
Brenda Yeung MSN, OCN, CMSRN, CBCN
Project Policy Analyst
Office of Academic Affairs
Lauren Clark
Professor and Shapiro Family Endowed Chair in Developmental Disability Studies
Associate Dean, Academic Programs
Mobile: (801) 503-4755
nursing.ucla.edu
