Nursing School hosts student nurses group

The National Student Nurses Association held their annual convention in Philadelphia last week, and the University's School of Nursing hosted approximately 100 members for a lecture and open-house. The NSNA is an organization of about 3,000 active members which is intended "to promote professionalism and keep nurses informed," said Nursing senior Connie Ritorto. The Nursing School invited the select group to meet with Interim President Claire Fagin and tour the facilities of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Children's Seashore House. Fagin, former dean of the Nursing School, began their visit by addressing the audience with a discussion of the nature of the nursing profession. "We live our lives in the fast lane," she said. "Or we just somehow can't get done what we need to do. "We are doers," she added. "We may be thinkers at the same time? but we have an intense and compelling lifestyle." Fagin also discussed the future of nurses and the results of health care reform. "As we look to the year 2000? it's very clear that we're going to continue to have a nursing shortage," she said. The speech was followed by a reception and individualized tours of the hospital facilities. "It was a great opportunity to bring students to our school," Ritorto said. "They were exposed to all of the opportunities here at Penn." The national convention, entitled 'History in the Making,' brought thousands of undergraduate students to "the number one ranked graduate program in the country," according to Marian Sherman Matez, assistant dean for undergraduate admissions and director of graduate admissions at the Nursing School. Although the turnout was not what had been expected, organizers were pleased with the students' positive responses.