If you are reading this, we, at the GANS state level, are encouraged by your interest in your school’s chapter/constituency. As you may or may not be aware, nursing faculty who are excited about professionalism in nursing are vital to the success of this organization. Your support for your nursing students’ participation in NSNA/GANS makes you a mentor/role model as well as a scholar and teacher to them. Without your ongoing advocacy and commitment this organization would not be possible.

Why is membership in NSNA/GANS important for nursing students preparing to enter the world of professional nursing? How should NSNA/GANS relate to local school chapters? First and primary is NSNA/GANS is the only professional organization for nursing students preparing to become registered nurses. GANS serves as a link between the local school chapters and the national organization. At the local school chapter level active involvement in the student nursing organization offers students the opportunity to develop leadership and organizational skills, participate in group work and team building, serve others in the local community and problem solve. Participation at the state and national levels offers access to additional leadership development opportunities, national and international speakers, networking with other nursing students and a multitude of educational opportunities.

The GANS executive board has four persons who serve in an advisory role. For 2008-2009, the GNA (Georgia Nurses Association) consultant is Kay Gatins. The Presidential Advisor is Doreen Wagner. The GANE consultant and the Retired Board Member position are both currently vacant. These advisors serve in an advisory/resource role not only to the GANS Board, but also to the faculty advisors at the school chapter level. Contact information for each of these advisors is available on the Executive Board link of the GANS website.

In addition to GANS consultants/advisors, the best resource/guide available to school chapter advisors is a copy of “Getting the Pieces to Fit”, a Handbook for State Associations and School Chapters. It is updated and published annually by NSNA. As an advisor you can obtain a copy by mailing in your request to NSNA, 45 Main Street, Suite 606, Brooklyn, N.Y 11201 or it is available for downloading and printing on the NSNA website at www.nsna.org. a periodic GANS e-newsletter distributed to all NSNA/GANS members in Georgia, and the printed copy of the EKG (GANS newsletter) distributed approximately 4 times a year. The GANS Board has developed a chapter handbook with invaluable information for school chapters. Your school should have two copies, one for the school chapter president and one for an advisor. Please contact the GANS secretary gans.secretary@gmail.com if you have not received your copies of the handbook.

If you have not joined NSNA/GANS already, please join NOW. Membership in NSNA/GANS as a sustaining member will assure you receive all publications and notifications in a timely manner. Among the many benefits of sustaining membership in NSNA is the opportunity to attend professional nursing education meetings at reduced rates.

We are excited that you are devoting your time to fostering leadership and professionalism in your nursing students through their student nurses’ associations. We hope you will feel comfortable contacting the advisors and/or the Board with your questions, ideas, concerns and suggestions on the GANS website at www.ganursingstudents.org.