The NDSU Student Nurses Association has named Amanda Nord, a junior from Fosston, Minn., Student Nurse of the Year.
According to Karla Haug, assistant professor of nursing at NDSU, the contest judges had a difficult time selecting the winner this year. “Amanda stood out for her passion for nursing as well as her strong leadership skills,” Haug said.
Initially, seven nominees are selected by nursing faculty. The seven nominees presented a brief introduction and why they should be named Student Nurse of the Year at a Student Nursing Association meeting. The attendees of the meeting, pre-nursing and nursing students, then select three students.
The three candidates prepare an autobiographical essay for the judges. The essay includes a philosophy on nursing, a summary of goals, reasons why the candidate would like to be named the Student Nurse of the Year and a summary of involvement in the Nursing Student’s Association at all levels. A panel of judges interviews each candidate to determine a winner.
Nord competed in the Nursing Students Association of North Dakota state competition against Student Nurses of the Year from other North Dakota institutions.
“She is a great student, is well liked by her peers and has a very strong passion for nursing,” Haug said about Nord. “She has great leadership potential and I know she will go far in her nursing career.”
Nord said she is honored to be the recipient of this year’s award. As Student Nurse of the Year and as a member of the Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Sciences Ambassadors, she is able to promote nursing by displaying compassion knowledge about the nursing profession.
Nord serves as the Breakthrough to Nursing director of the NDSU chapter of the Student Nurses Association. She also is a student mentor to underclassman, assisting them with learning required nursing skills.
“I believe that in order to be a successful and competent nurse, one needs the ability to take information obtained in the classroom and apply it skillfully and professionally in the clinical setting,” said Nord. “My goal is to inspire nursing students to accept the challenges of the profession and to never lose their compassion and honor for the respectful career they have chosen.” Following graduation, she plans to pursue employment at a local facility in the critical care unit and obtain her Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist licensure.