Meet the 2022-2023 Nursing Student Organization Presidents

UB School of Nursing has three nursing student organizations: the Multicultural Nursing Student Organization (MNSA), Undergraduate Nursing Student Organization (NSO) and Graduate Nurse Organization (GNO).

We spoke with each organization’s president to discuss the purpose of each organization and their leadership goals for the school year.

The purpose of the Nursing Student Organization (NSO) is to aid in the preparation of nursing students for professional responsibilities on a school and community level and to provide unity and support for students. 

The NSO represents all undergraduate nursing students and is the main channel of communication between administration and students. The organization's primary objective is to determine and meet student needs, including aiding in learning and educational endeavors, thus providing an effective and meaningful communication network between the students and faculty members. 

When searching for a field of study and a career path, I found myself looking for an area that allowed me to work directly with people in need who I could care for in a one-on-one setting and affect in a positive way. 

I grew up surrounded by selfless and compassionate people who had a significant impact on the way that I saw the world. Through them, I learned that a career could be so much more than a job when approached with careful consideration and mindfulness. I found that nursing is the best fit for me because it is a field with endless learning opportunities and different specialty fields to explore. Also, I can apply what I have learned in science, medicine and psychology to help people and bring support and compassion to those who are in need of help. Nursing gives me the unique opportunity to care for others in a way that I would wish for my own loved ones.  

I have been a part of the NSO for one year. My involvement began at the beginning of my junior year, which was my first semester in the UB nursing program. I immediately felt comfortable as I was welcomed by the former e-board. Everyone who was a part of the 2021-2022 NSO board extended warm welcomes to the junior class and was enthusiastic about nursing and welcoming the new members. They encouraged participation within the program and event attendance. They were always there to answer questions and give helpful advice, and they were, overall, incredible resources to have.  

The mission of the NSO is to encourage success in nursing, involvement in the UB nursing program, and participation in health-related events, fundraisers and volunteer opportunities. Nursing is a profession that depends on teamwork and collaboration, so it is important to connect  and form relationships with peers and team members. Forming connections with classmates and making friends during nursing school is so helpful and can really make a difference in group dynamics and collaboration in settings such as clinical, lab and lectures. A positive environment fosters positive experiences!  

I was interested in a leadership position within the NSO because I am passionate about the nursing profession. I am enthusiastic about forming relationships with my peers and fostering a positive and encouraging environment within the UB nursing program. 

 I knew I could approach the position with excitement and a passion for nursing and collaboration, and that I would be able to support my classmates in a way that encouraged them to become the best nurses possible. It also allows me to encourage activism within the Buffalo community, coordinate volunteer events and community event participation, and remain involved within my nursing cohort and the junior nursing class.  

I hope to encourage lifelong learning as well as personal and professional growth in UB nursing students. I am excited to be in the position that allows me the opportunity to coordinate extra learning opportunities and community outreach and volunteer opportunities for our nursing students. 

One of the many unfortunate parts of the pandemic was that previous students lost opportunities to become involved with public health projects. We, even as students, can learn so much by exposing ourselves to different health settings and by becoming more involved in public health events like walks and food drives and community health initiatives. I am happy that involvement in such events has already begun. Recently, a handful of nursing students have already had the opportunity to volunteer for a free health clinic and community outreach event in Niagara Falls, and I hope to encourage participation in more events like this during the upcoming school year! 

I also hope to bring students together in collaborative settings, such as study groups, and serve as a resource for the junior class as they begin their first clinical rotations and advance through their junior year.  

All nursing students become NSO members when they are fully enrolled in the School of Nursing. Students should keep an eye on their UB email inbox for messages from the NSO! This is how we share information regarding meeting times, volunteer events and other information. When events become available throughout the next couple of semesters, be sure to sign up and participate if you can, ask questions and come to our meetings. All the NSO officers are open to talking, answering questions and serving as a resource in any way that we can!  

The NSO will hold at least two formal meetings each semester, in addition to extra events such as review sessions, blood drives, volunteer opportunities and more hopefully to come! Meetings have been previously held over Zoom due to COVID-19 safety concerns, but we hope to have in-person meetings return this upcoming school year! 

Want to learn more about the NSO? Email Elizabeth Mahaney.

The Multicultural Nursing Student Association (MNSA) is a student-run organization that seeks to promote diversity throughout the undergraduate nursing student body. Our ultimate goal is to prepare students to tackle the essential concept of providing culturally sensitive nursing care. 

As nurses, we are called upon to treat and diagnose the human response to illness. The human response is greatly affected by the patient's culture, which comprises a wealth of components including family interactions, religious beliefs, upbringing, individual health perceptions and personal life experiences. Each individual has a unique culture that must be assessed by the nurse in order to provide culturally competent, high-quality holistic care.  

My aunt is a nurse, so seeing her making a big impact on people’s lives prompted my interest in the field. I wanted a career where I am constantly learning and facing challenges while making a positive impact in someone’s life every day.   

I have been a member of MNSA since September 2019. 

I wanted to be the MNSA president because this association's values align with my personal goals, which I believe are crucial to health care practice. I hope to promote the development of culturally responsible and responsive curricula and encourage nursing students to acquire the attitudes, skills and knowledge to function in various cultures.

I would like to accomplish these goals by organizing community involvement and service opportunities in remote areas, seeking out various Buffalo organizations to partner with and conducting various workshops. These workshops will aim to help students recognize unconscious bias and promote inclusivity and social tolerance by increasing knowledge about different cultures and making the strange familiar.

All students of all backgrounds can become a member of the MNSA. We will share the meeting times and updates on the UBLinked page and the NSO/MNSA course page on UBLearns. All UB School of Nursing students have access to both these platforms.

Depending on university-wide guidelines, along with the guidelines established by the CDC, meetings will either be virtual or in-person this upcoming year. The club is hoping to meet at least once a month. Active members must obtain at least three attended recordings in the form of meetings, events or community services in each academic semester.

Want to learn more about the MNSA? Email Vanshika Khattar.

The Graduate Nurse Organization (GNO) was established to enrich graduate nursing students’ educational and social growth and to facilitate communication, thereby establishing identity of the student as a part of the total University community.

As president of the Graduate Nursing Organization, my goals align with the goals of nursing, primarily advocacy. My focus is advocating for current graduate nurses and the Buffalo community. The GNO wants to enhance the graduate nursing experience at UB while volunteering our time and resources to bolster the surrounding community.

All matriculated students in a Graduate Nursing Program at the University at Buffalo are automatically members of the GNO, so we encourage all to attend our meetings. Last year we spearheaded various campaigns and initiatives to support students in developing their clinical skills. With more in attendance, we can better tailor our events and advance our efforts. 

The GNO generally meets bi-monthly in the evening. Meetings are announced by email at least a week in advance. 

Want to learn more about the GNO? Email Hanny Ogbebor.