By Dave DeFusco
When Samuel Adu-Gyamfi and Zachary Perlstein, both students in the Katz School’s B.S. in Nursing, stood with their peers at the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) 73rd Annual Convention in Seattle in April, they were part of a tradition that has helped shape generations of nurses. For more than seven decades, the NSNA convention has served as a launchpad for future leaders in the profession, giving students a national stage to exchange ideas, debate policies and gain the skills they will carry into their careers.
By participating, Adu-Gyamfi and Perlstein joined a lineage of student nurses who have gone on to influence practice, policy and patient care. The four-day event, “Nursing’s Brightest Beacons: Ignite, Innovate, Lead,” drew more than 2,000 nursing students and faculty from across the country, creating a living network of mentorship, innovation and advocacy that connects today’s students with the nurses who came before them and the ones who will follow.
At the September meeting of the Katz School’s Student Nurses Association, led by NSNA President Gabrielle Smolianski, Adu-Gyamfi and Perlstein shared the details of their experience with classmates and faculty.
“The NSNA convention wasn’t just about attending workshops,” said Perlstein. “It was about understanding the many roles nursing students can play in shaping the profession through education, leadership, advocacy and networking. We learned new clinical skills, picked up strategies for the NCLEX exam and saw how resolutions voted on by students like us can influence nursing practice nationwide.”
For Adu-Gyamfi, the highlight was serving as a delegate in the NSNA House of Delegates. “Being credentialed, taking part in debates and casting votes on resolutions gave me a real sense of responsibility,” he said. “We weren’t just students in a classroom, we were representing our peers on issues that matter in patient care, education and nursing leadership. It showed me how the profession empowers students to lead from day one.”
The NSNA convention is structured to give nursing students a 360-degree view of their future careers. Students participate in workshopson topics ranging from NCLEX reviews and stress management to seizure first aid and patient safety. Others explored how to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into clinical training, and even how gaming strategies can improve classroom learning. Live simulation sessionsput students in real-world scenarios, while specialized sessions for faculty advisors covered nurse liability concerns, fiduciary responsibility and updates from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Adu-Gyamfi said the hands-on focus sessions and patient safety competitions were eye-opening. “One of the most valuable lessons I took home was how to approach NCLEX-style questions,” he said. “Treat every option as a standalone, ask which answer could be life-threatening if missed and carefully consider risk factors. Those tips changed the way I think about exam preparation.”
Adu-Gyamfi added that the convention reinforced how broad the nursing path can be. “We met recruiters, faculty and nurse leaders who talked about careers in critical care, community health, policy and advanced practice. It was a reminder that nursing is not just a job, it’s a profession with endless opportunities for growth.”
Faculty saw value in the students’ national engagement. “Samuel and Zachary brought back insights that elevate our entire program,” said Christy Jared, clinical associate professor of nursing at the Katz School. “Their participation at the NSNA convention demonstrates to their classmates what it means to be proactive in shaping your profession. Experiences like these give students confidence, knowledge and leadership skills that carry into patient care and beyond.”
The two Katz School students returned energized, eager to share what they learned with their peers. “The convention taught us that leadership starts with showing up and using your voice,” said Perlstein. “We want to encourage other nursing students at the Katz School to attend future conferences; it’s an investment in yourself, your patients and the profession as a whole.”
