March 12, 2013

“Knowing I can make a difference and impact people even with just a smile is amazing,” said Rebecca Walker, a third year student in the BSN Co-op Program. Rebecca, 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. The three themes of her presidential campaign are membership, inspiration, and transparent communication between the national, state, and local levels of the organization.

During her sophomore year here at Drexel, Rebecca 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, Rebecca was elected as the Director East of the Association, and for the past year has been the leader of the NSNA on the East Coast. In addition to her Director East title, Rebecca is additionally the Convention and Program Planning Chair and a member of the Image of Nursing, Legislative and Education, and Membership Committees.

The majority of Rebecca’s campaign efforts for the NSNA presidency will be concentrated during the April 3-7 NSNA convention in Charlotte, 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,” Rebecca said. Voting will occur on April 6 and the next NSNA President will be announced later that same day.

Rebecca 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. Rebecca 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. To complement her busy academic and extracurricular schedules, Rebecca enjoys cooking, painting, and running alongside the Schuylkill River.