Hi All!

Wondering who to vote for?

Below are short bios of the students running for executive positions.

1. Chair: Adam Luna

My name is Adam Luna, I am currently a first year MSN student, and I am asking that you support my nomination for the Graduate Student Nursing Association (GSNA) Chair Officer position. For the past four months, I have served as the GSNA Co-chair, representing MSN student interests at UBC School of Nursing. During this period I have learned the basic structure and function of the GSNA and its goal of providing a much needed service for graduate nursing student’s through an official student organization.

If I were to be elected as GSNA Chair Officer, my intention would be to continue serving the interests of GSNA membership on issues that impact graduate nursing student academia and professional student life at UBC. While representing the general interests of all graduate nursing students, as Chair I would help coordinate and oversee the various events and efforts carried out by the larger GSNA Executive and its members that aim to enhance and improve academic scholarship for graduate nursing students at UBC.

2. Co-chair: Jagbir Kohli

Jagbir is an excited first year PhD in Nursing student, after having completed her MN at University of Toronto and her BScN at McMaster

University.  She is currently working at the BC Cancer Agency as a nursing educator and her clinical background is in pediatric hematology and oncology.  She is looking forward to the opportunity to connect with the great minds of UBC nursing, both faculty and fellow graduate student and is hoping to become an executive member of the Graduate Nursing Student Association.

3. Activities and Events officer: Hanneke Croxen

My name is Hanneke Croxen and I am doctoral student focusing on rural maternity nursing. For the past three months I have been the Activities and Events officer for the GSNA. In that time I have made a numerous connections with faculty, staff, and students that have been essential to organizing activities and events. I am currently a co-chair of the symposium planning committee. My goal if elected is to help organize a symposium that can provide great learning opportunities for graduate students as presenters and attendees, and appeal to potential future graduate students. I also hope to strengthen our connections with Alumni and organize more events and workshops where students will have the opportunity to connect with faculty and to enhance their experiences as graduate students within the School of Nursing.

4. Communications officer: Wendy Masinde

I am currently an MSN student at UBC with research interests in health equity and access to health care in marginalized populations. A Registered Nurse with a BScN from Minnesota State University Moorhead and clinical experience in Medicine and Surgery, I work as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Critical Research in Health and Healthcare Inequities Research Unit at UBC.

I have been an active member of the GSNA, serving as a Student Representative in The Graduate Planning Committee and currently as a member of the Symposium Planning Committee and the Communications Committee. As a candidate for the GSNA Communications Officer I have experience with the complexities of the position.  I believe in the role of the GSNA in being a strong voice for graduate nursing voices in the UBC and the community at large. I hope to increase student engagement in the GSNA through more effective communications platforms, increase transparency increase the efficiency of communications such as email and the blog. Through this I hope to increase the visibility of graduate nurses in the UBC community at large. I hope I can count on your support.

5. Finance Officer: Laszlo Kamar

I have been a nurse for the last 14 years.  My experience is in critical care nursing and organ donation.  I am in the third year of completing my Masters Degree.  I strongly believe that professionalization of nursing add a tremendous value to nursing as a profession and to the health care system as a whole.  The more nurses able to complete their graduate degrees, the more advanced nursing will become.  I would like to support the graduate nursing students in their education journey through helping GSNA fulfill its mandate.

6. Administrative officer: Laurel Plewes

I’m Laurel Plewes, a first year MSN student and I’m excited to put my name forward for the nomination of Administrator Officer.  I was highly attracted to UBC because of the integrity and strength of the Nursing Graduate Program. I take pride in my work as a nurse and look forward to acting on a council that will create nursing leaders of tomorrow.  My previous experience as Health Care Administrator for a residential camp highlighted the need for individual collaboration and facilitation in order to produce a high quality experience.  Becoming an acting member of the GSNA will enable my involvement as well as foster important relationships between students, faculty and staff within the UBC and the broader nursing community.

Elections are right around the corner! If you are interested in any of the 6 executive positions listed below be sure to have your nomination in by Nov 23 midnight! There will be a meeting on Nov 26 at noon in the Graduate Nursing Student Lounge for nominees to have the witness portion of the form signed.

6 executive vacancies: Chair, co-Chair, Finance Officer, Events Officer, Communications Officer, and Administrative Officer (see position descriptions attached). The sustainability of the GSNA depends on having willing and committed Officers who are able to work with the Executive for a one-year term: January to December 2014. 

Today is the last day to vote for the referendum. Please do so if you have not.

The next GSNA meeting will be tomorrow, Oct 15 from 12:00-1:00 in the grad lounge. We will be going over the referendum results, ratifying the constitution, symposium plans, and much much more. Hope to see you there!

The GSNA Referendum is now open for voting until Oct 14th.

The GSNA is holding this referendum to approve a tuition fee increase of $25/yr to support GSNA activities, such as the graduate nursing research symposium, pub clubs, town halls, etc.

Please vote!

Our upcoming GSNA referendum is coming up very soon: October 7th-14th!

While the GSNA strives to improve your graduate experience by providing peer support, networking, and opportunities to advance your skills, it is difficult to achieve this without financial support.

That is why the GSNA is holding a referendum asking you to vote on whether you approve a tuition fee increase, starting next term, of $25.00/year to support GSNA activities.

If approved by a majority vote, the money would be used to fund GSNA activities, such as the graduate nursing research symposium, pub clubs, town halls, and to purchase GSNA emblazoned materials to hand out at our events (i.e. pencils, flyers).

The polls will be open October 7th at noon until October 14th at midnight. Voting is very simple. All you have to do is sign in to the student service centre (https://ssc.adm.ubc.ca/sscportal/servlets/SRVSSCFramework

), look under the grades and records tab for WEBVOTE, and vote on the GSNA referendum.

Please vote (even if you do not agree!) and spread the word. If you have any questions please email kristi.panchuk@alumni.ubc.ca orsarah.liva@alumni.ubc.ca,

Please keep alert for upcoming emails re: the GSNA referendum.

Thanks! The GSNA team

Just a reminder of the first meeting coming up Sept 17 at noon in the grad lab (3rd floor UBC Hospital). Bring your lunch!

The agenda is full! Come prepared to discuss and be part of changes made to the GSNA, budget, and our place in space (or maybe UBC).

With a number of exciting changes and things going on there is opportunity to take part in a committee or two. In addition, there are 2 vacant spots on the GSNA exec that need filling. We need a co-chair and an events coordinator!

The email that will be circulated will have all the details. Hope to see you there.

Hello and Welcome!

Summer is winding down and with that, comes more rainy days, papers, funding deadlines, and perhaps some snow! So, why not swing by the GSNA meeting on the 17th.

Here are the details:

Tuesday September 17th at noon in the Graduate Student Lounge.

There are lots of opportunities to get involved, get connected, and meet other students. 🙂

Hope you can make it 🙂

GSNA members, please remember to complete the Member Survey that has come to you by email.

Your opinions on our work and priorities are really important to us!