Alexa Huebner, a third-year Nursing student from Trinity Western University, shares her experience representing TWU's School of Nursing as an official delegate at the Canadian Nursing Students Association (CNSA) National Conference in Montreal.
"My name is Alexa and I am in 3rd year nursing. In Fall 2019 a small group of us started a Nursing Students Association (NSA) and since then our club has seen membership growth, hosted events, and even traveled. At the end of January, I had the opportunity to attend the Canadian Nursing Students Association (CNSA) National Conference in Montreal. While there, I represented our TWU School of Nursing as an official delegate (OD) and engaged in sessions related to the theme of ‘Addressing stigmas and innovations in the nursing field’. As an OD, I took part in regional and national meetings with representatives from nursing programs across Canada. I was so inspired by individuals who recognized their leadership influence even as students. A variety of student lead initiatives were presented by other programs: self-care promotion, scrub drives, emergency funds for fellow students, and multiple committees related to research, diversity, and indigenous health. Every day there were sessions hosted by speakers with various backgrounds in health care. Topics ranged from environmental sustainability and global health nursing, to wound/ostomy/continence specialties. At one session on nursing leadership, a nurse spoke of overcoming imposter syndrome, or the constant feeling of inadequacy and self-doubt. She highlighted that most health care employees are nurses, yet our collective voice is minimized. I took away a renewed definition of what it means to be a leader; someone who is ready to help and bring about change. In another panel, hosted by president and president elect of the Canadian Nurses Association, the audience was invited to provide input on CNA’s brand statement, which is essentially a definition of nursing. Their approachability and willingness to listen was remarkable. I was reminded of the simple lesson we are taught all through nursing school: to humanize people, whether they are leaders of our profession, or patients. It was an overall amazing experience and I am excited to incorporate my learning into future NSA events for the benefit of all TWU nursing students!"
See the video below to hear more of Alexa and her fellow students' experience.