VCU School of Nursing Students take leadership positions at state association meeting

By Michael Ford
University News Services

At its spring convention, five students from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing were elected to leadership positions in the Virginia Student Nurses Association.

The VCU chapter also won first place honors as the most active chapter in the state. VCU has more members on the VSNA board of directors than any other school in Virginia.

VCU nursing students voted into office were:

• Anna Samras, junior, VSNA president
• Tiffany Musselman, sophomore, VSNA second vice president
• Amanda Morelli, sophomore, VSNA legislation director
• Alexa Merchant, sophomore, VSNA breakthrough-to-nursing director

In addition, junior nursing student Lindsay Croft won the first place VSNA scholarship award.

Nancy F. Langston, Ph.D., R.N., dean of VCU's School of Nursing, said the convention results make a positive statement about VCU nursing students and the nursing program.

"This impressive accomplishment bodes well for the next generation of nursing leaders prepared at this School of Nursing," Langston said. "VCU has a history of preparing nurses who assume leadership positions within health care agencies and the profession.

"This leadership experience in student organizations gives our students valuable experience that they will be able to use when they become nurses within the complex health care institutions and as they become members of professional nursing associations after graduation. We are so proud of these students for their willingness to serve in this capacity and congratulate them for the vote of confidence they received from their colleagues from the schools throughout the Commonwealth," Langston said.

The five students already serve in leadership positions on the VCU Student Nurses Board of Directors. Anna Samras is first vice president, Lindsay Croft, historian, Alexa Merchant, sophomore class director, Tiffany Musselman, member of MCV campus honor council, and Amanda Morelli, yearbook.

There are more than 40 chapters of the National Student Nurses Association in the Commonwealth of Virginia.