History of the North Carolina Association of Nursing Students
In 1947, consideration was given to the organization of statewide nurses student association to be sponsored by the North Carolina State Nurses’ Association. This thought was discussed at the annual meeting of the Advisory Council of North Carolina State Nurses in October 1948, and at the conference of represented faculty members from schools of nursing and nursing students held in March 1949.
As a result of the interest and enthusiasm shown, a committee composed of three faculty members and three students was appointed by the President of North Carolina’s Nurses Association. The committee was constructed to prepare a plan of organization and additional material relative to an association of nursing students for distribution to school directors and students in June 1949.
After discussion of the matter again at the annual meeting of the Advisory Council, the delegation voted to sponsor a State Nursing Students Association. The organizational meeting was held in High Point, North Carolina on February 8, 1950. The purpose of this first meeting was to elect officers, adopt “rules” of the association, and consider the program of work of the association.
The objectives were the following:
- Promote interest in professional nursing organizations
- Prepare nursing students for participation and membership in the professional nursing organizations
- Establish a better graduate-student relationship
- Promote unity and fellowship and encourage student government in schools of nursing
- Prepare nursing students and graduates for problems affecting nursing and community affairs
- Become familiar with parliamentary procedures and preside at meetings
- To stimulate leadership
- Cooperate with professional organizations in the recruitment of nursing students
- Afford opportunities to discuss student problems
The Executive Board consisted of the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Student Director, and NCSNA advisors.
NCANS, Inc.
NCSNA changed its name to NCANS in order to reflect the direction and current emphasis of its own organizational goals of promoting nursing (1983). In 1988, the organization became NCANS, Inc.
NURSING STUDENT OF THE YEAR
The Nursing Student of the Year (NSOY) has an interesting history and originated before NCANS. The first contest was held on July 1, 1947 in Raleigh, North Carolina and was cosponsored by the North Carolina Hospital Association, the Medical Association of North Carolina, the North Carolina League of Nursing Education, and the North Carolina State Nurses’ Association. The contest was initiated on the local, district, and, finally, the state level.
The NSOY functioned as a nursing student recruiter throughout the state. The winner was chosen on a basis of personal appearance, aptitude for nursing, spirit of nursing, personality, scholarship standing, and leadership. The grand prize for the “Miss North Carolina Nursing Student of the Year” was a beach wardrobe and a one-week vacation at one of North Carolina’s beaches!
Now the NSOY is awarded a scholarship and a seat on the Board of Directors. NSOY responsibilities include recruiting, chairperson of the selection process of all recipients of scholarships and awards, and raising money for state scholarships. The NSOY also attends public relation functions related to nursing, writes articles for the Hypodermic, and serves as an active member on other committees. In 2007, the NCANS Board of Directors decided that the title of the NSOY should be changed. Today, the NSOY’s official title on the Board of Directors is the Legislative Director.
BREAKTHROUGH TO NURSING PROJECT
The North Carolina Association of Nursing Students adopts, as a state project, the following:
- Involve all nursing students in improving the opportunities of disadvantaged groups in society
- Further encouraging involvement in NCANS by persons of ethnic color and men
- Recruiting as well as retaining members of disadvantaged groups into nursing
Breakthrough to Nursing began in real earnest under the 1967-1968 Board of Directors and in our state under the 1972-1973 Executive Board of Directors (1972 Board).
SELECTION OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECTS
NCANS supports the plan to have each local Association of Nursing Students (ANS) to submit a community health project proposal to the NCANS Executive Board no later than sixty days prior to the Annual Convention. The proposal shall be published in the convention issue of the Hypodermic, and a community health project hearing will be conducted during the NCANS convention prior to the opening of the House of Delegates meeting. The NCANS community health chairperson will present their projects. Three projects will be presented to the House of Delegates for final selection of the NCANS Community Health Project of the Year. Each ANS group on the local level will be encouraged by the NCANS community health committee chairperson to present the chosen project of specific organization to the community on the local level.
INTRODUCTION GUIDE FOR DEVELOPING POLICIES
I. Policies
As defined for the purpose of North Carolina Association of Nursing Student and its constituents, policies are guided for the effective operation of the continuing business of the organization. Policies state a position of belief and usually relate to the purpose of basic objectives of the entire organization. They supplement the fundamental principles in the By-laws, but are no more flexible and may be stated in greater detail. Once established, policies become precedents that may determine the individual action in recurring situations.
Policies may be based on resolutions by, or official communication from the House of Delegates or the Board of Directors, which speaks for the association as a whole. Such resolutions or official pronouncements are usually published and distributed widely so that members and others may know the position or belief of the association.
Any policy decision made by the Board of Directors or voting body is binding, so long as it is not rescinded or nullified applied by the vote of the body which took the original action, or by a body of higher authority (i.e. the House of Delegates) which may nullify an action taken by the Board of Directors. The board or governing body should have amplitude for the exercise or judgment in deciding appropriate application of or timing of actions taken.
II. The Policy Committee
The policies committee annually reviews the current policies and also the minutes of all the NCANS board meetings and conventions that have occurred since the last policies review. In this process, the committee also identifies new policies and compiles them for approval by the Board of Directors. It also suggested rescinding or revision for a specific policy and may take the initiative in submitting a proposed policy to the board for consideration and action.
III. The Policy Book
Once policies have been identified, collected, and given the final approval by the Board of Directors, the Vice President, as chairperson of the Policies Committee, is responsible for having copies reproduced in sufficient quantity so that the board, staff, constituent associations, and others may have copies for future reference.
