October 2021

Dear Gator Nurses,

Our first University of Florida Nursing Student Association (UFSNA) meeting on Sept. 16 was a success! Over 70 students came to our first meeting and we had amazing executive members from Nursing College Council (NCC) and Nurses Leading Change (NLC) join us. We want to thank our pre-nursing and current nursing students for attending our first meeting!

For those who missed the meeting, UFSNA offers a support committee for pre-nursing students who seek guidance and help with their application for nursing school. We also have our nursing professional development group where pre-nursing students can attain their BLS certification. Current nursing students can renew their BLS and sign up to complete their ACLS and PALS certifications. For those interested in attending our next GBM, we will be sending out an email reminder. 

For any questions or concerns please email me. Go Gator Nursing!

- Reyna Cuales, UFSNA vice president

Use your phone’s rear facing camera to scan the QR codes and be added to each Group Me!
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Halloween Celebration

It's scary season at the Office of Student Services! Stop by room G-205 to see all of the spooky Halloween decorations!

Free candy will also be available during the office's "Open House" closer to Halloween! (Read the calendar section to learn more).
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Kudos Corner

Submitted by NLC

We would like to give a special shout-out to our treasurer, Kelsey Rivers. Kelsey is a passionate and driven treasurer who has already organized fundraisers to ensure we can enact change in our community. Thank you for all you do Kelsey, we appreciate you!
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Student News

Submitted by NLC

Nurses Leading Change held its first general body meeting (GBM), which focused on health care disparities in the deaf community. This meeting provided a great learning opportunity for students and faculty to educate themselves on how to tackle these disparities and better communicate with this population.

We would like to extend our gratitude to Zulma Santiago Zayas, American Sign Language and deaf culture lecturer, and her interpreter for attending and presenting at this GBM! Members of NLC were able to learn the history of American Sign Language (ASL), as well as personal stories of disparities from the deaf community and were provided with basic ASL resources. 
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(Video) Student Spotlight: Jamil George-Abdullah

In this video, Traditional BSN student Jamil George-Abdullah shares his journey to becoming a nurse through volunteering at Archer Family Health Care and receiving guidance from health care leaders.

Hear Jamil's story here
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We're No. 1!

The University of Florida College of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program was ranked No. 1 in Florida and No. 23 nationally by U.S. News & World Report for Best Colleges 2022! This is the first year U.S. News has published rankings for BSN degree programs and coincides with the university’s recent designation as a top-five research university.

Thank you, Gator Nurses, for making the College of Nursing THE place to be!
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College of Nursing Trivia

Prizes will be awarded to the first five students who email Dr. Karen Aul with the correct answer to the following trivia question!

 How many students were in the first graduating class of the College of Nursing?

 Hint: Dorothy always has her head in the game, look to her left to find your right answer.   

(submitted by Ken Foote, academic advisor) 

September Winners

And congratulations to last month's trivia winners Emily Celino and Johanna Ceballos for answering last month's trivia question correctly!

"Which character in the movie Despicable Me is on the office door of Ken Foote, academic adviser, in the Office of Student Services?"

 A: Dr. Nefario

Emily is pictured here with Dr. Aul after picking up her prize.
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Announcements

NLC is excited to welcome our new members, both in the general organization and on committees! With welcoming our new members, we are continuing to move forward with projects for this year; including collecting bags made by student and faculty donations to give to homeless populations on the street and creating pediatric translational resources for migrant families. Keep your eyes peeled for more information!

- Jessica Mesa, NLC president

UFSNA is excited to announce we will be doing a highlight for each executive member on Instagram. Please look forward to getting to know more of the members and see what they have to offer with their leadership positions. Follow us @ufsna!

• Anyone interested in purchasing any UF College of Nursing merchandise please follow the Facebook page: UF CON Merchandise. Interest forms will be made available there!

• For any questions, please email our merchandise officers, Victoria Hammond and Daniela Lopez. 

- Submitted by UFNSA

 

NCC is consistently working with faculty to develop a positive learning environment within the program. If you have any specific concerns or suggestions, reach out to us at any time and we can further discuss options.

• We will have our first guest speaker Oct. 11. Be on the lookout for the zoom link to this meeting as we will be sending this out as the date further approaches.

• We will resume our biweekly meetings on Oct. 11th as well. More information will be coming soon.

- Francisco Sheno, NCC President
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Calendar

Oct. 8: Homecoming (College closed)

Oct. 11: NCC meeting with guest speaker (Zoom information TBA)

Oct. 29: Office of Student Services open house (Stop by room G-205 for a candy giveaway!)

Oct. 31: Halloween
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If you have information for The HeartBeat newsletter, send it to one of the College of Nursing's student organizations!

Nurses Leading Change: Jessica Mesa, President

University of Florida Student Nursing Association: Reyna Cuales, Vice president

Nursing College Council: Francisco Sheno, President
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