PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Northern Maine Community College Student Nurses’ Association, with 29 members from the Presque Isle campus and others from the Houlton and Calais cohorts, has enjoyed success with events which benefit the community and their education.
Michele Wilcox of Caribou, president of NMCC SNA, said all members participated in October in a 30 Days Thankful Raffle Fundraiser. The association voted to donate $900 of the funds raised to 30 families in need for the holidays, and purchased gift cards for 30 students and their families so they could buy Christmas dinner or gifts.
The group also donated $100 for two senior citizens to be able to participate in the Seniors Achieving Greater Education (SAGE) program at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
“We, as SNA members, want to make our community a better place, and we want to help any person in need, any way we can,” said Wilcox. “Volunteering our time is a way to accomplish these goals and we like the idea of helping local people and local projects. Knowing that we have made a difference in one person’s life makes it all worthwhile for us.”
The association also took on a project to assist the homeless shelter in Presque Isle, volunteering to reorganize the donation facility to make room for more donations this winter. Wilcox added members have voted to donate more time to the shelter this spring.
“We have someone, who wishes to remain anonymous, who is going to donate paint and brushes, and we are going to volunteer our time to paint some of the rooms in the shelter,” she said. “We are hoping, by painting the rooms, we will make the shelter a better place to stay for families that need to be there.”
“Taking part in community events, volunteering in the community, and being able to raise money to help others, will help us grow tremendously as nurses,” said Janelle Pottle of Fort Fairfield, vice president of the nurses’ association.
“These projects teach us about compassion, respect, and dignity,” she said. “This also helps us to become professional leaders within the health care community while teaching us the importance of responsibility and empathy, two important factors in becoming a great nurse.”
NMCC nursing instructor Angela Buck advises the SNA. She said involvement with the group demonstrates the students’ ability and commitment to balance their education successfully while giving back to the community.
“Volunteering through the Student Nurses’ Association helps students recognize various needs across the lifespan, which coincides with the nursing process,” said Buck. “Their involvement at the state and national level also helps foster relationships beyond the boundaries of The County. Making these connections as students opens more doors of opportunity for their futures.”
In addition to volunteering in the community, students were also active in the Maine State Student Nurses’ Association and nine local members attended the state convention in Orono.
“Attending these conventions is important to give us insight as to what is going on in the student nursing community throughout the state of Maine,” said Wilcox. “By attending, we were able to learn new laws governing nurses, new advancement in technology, and the importance of learning how to become a good leader.”
Upcoming events include the National Student Nurses’ Association Convention in Tennessee in April. The last time an NMCC nursing student attended the national convention was more than 15 years ago. Current members are already thinking of ways to fundraise to send four to Nashville this spring.
“We are all striving to become the best nurses we can be, and our association is helping each one of us achieve our dream,” Pottle said.
