"Knowing I can make a difference and impact people even with just a smile is amazing,” said Rebecca Walker, a third-year nursing student in the College of Nursing and Health Professions' BSN co-op program. Walker, who is campaigning for the role of president of the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA), plans to show nursing students around the country the power they have to inspire their patients, peers and communities.

In a message to the Drexel community, the college's Dean Dr. Gloria Donnelly wrote, "With roughly 59,000 members, the NSNA is the largest pre-professional organization in the country. I commend her for her initiative and leadership and look forward to hearing the election results on April 6."

During her sophomore year here at Drexel, Walker attended the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania annual convention in Lancaster, Pa., and was inspired to run for a leadership position. Her advisor, Alecia Fox, recommended that she apply for a director position at the national level. At the NSNA convention in Pittsburgh that followed, Walker was elected as the association's director east, and for the past year has been the leader of the NSNA on the East Coast. In addition to her directorship, Walker is the convention and program planning chair and a member of the image of nursing, legislative and education, and membership committees for the association.

Knowing I can make a difference and impact people even with just a smile is amazing. -Rebecca Walker

The majority of Walkers’s campaign efforts for the NSNA presidency will be concentrated during this week's NSNA convention in North Carolina. “I want to impact the nursing student population in order for them to realize their potential as a student and as a future professional, making them aware of how big a difference we can make as nursing students. We are the largest pre-professional organization in the country and we have an opportunity to make our voices heard and impact healthcare,” Walker said. Voting will occur on April 6 and the next NSNA President will be announced later that day.

Walker has completed a co-op in the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Maternity Unit, where she was hired back as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant. Her next co-op will take place in the hospital’s Cardiac Intermediate Care Unit. She has plans to become a Midwife Family Nurse Practitioner and one day realize her vision of establishing a birthing process clinic, which would provide a continuum of prenatal, post-natal and pediatric care as well as counseling services.