The Sacramento State chapter of the California Nursing Student Association was recognized for accomplishments at the annual California Nursing Student Association convention held in San Jose last month.

The three-day annual convention included numerous presentations by nursing leaders, exhibit halls with different nursing program representatives, state board elections and an awards ceremony.

Three members of the chapter were elected to serve on the Board of Directors this year.

The board is responsible for planning the growth and development of the CNSA, according to its website. Last year, there was only one Sac State student on the board.

The convention included presentations from 10 resolution committees of different chapters. Sac State’s committee presented a resolution on radiographic imaging, and was chosen to represent the state association in April at the National Student Nurses’ Association convention in Memphis.

“The resolution is about increasing the awareness of, and advocacy, for the conservative use of diagnostic procedures involving radiation,” said Sac State CNSA officer Sabrina McKinney.

McKinney said the chapter worked hard to get its resolution supported by CNSA at the state level.

“Our organization’s resolutions committee successfully defended our chapter’s resolution, which was also chosen to represent the state organization at national convention,” said Sac State CNSA president Richard Molina.

Sac State had 54 members present at the convention, which was second to the Fresno State Chapter with 56 members present.

Sac State also had the most delegates present in the House of Delegates with 14 members. Delegates are representatives from each chapter.

During the awards ceremony, four members of the chapter were awarded scholarships.

McKinney was awarded one of the scholarships because of her CNSA and community involvement.

“Attending CNSA State Convention was amazing,” McKinney said. “It motivated everyone to get advanced degrees and work to become leaders in our field. We made important professional connections, got individualized resume and interviewing advice from hiring managers and talked with a local recruiter.”

Nursing student Lilla Szakacs attended the CNSA conference since 2011 and was elected to the state Board of Directors last year.

“Each convention is so inspiring, and I leave these events so proud to be a nursing student and a future nurse,” Szakacs said. “This year was especially special for me since I was involved with the planning of the event.”

CNSA is a professional organization that strives to promote leadership, professionalism, advocacy and education through hosting events on campus and throughout the community.

Sac State’s CNSA includes more than 230 nursing students, pre-nursing students and alumni.

In addition to the chapter’s accomplishments at the convention, it also serves outside the Sac State community.

“We do a lot for high school students,” said 27-year-old nursing student and chapter representative Jesse Porter. “They come over and we show them what nursing is all about.”

CNSA members also volunteer at Sacramento Loaves and Fishes, a private food bank, as well as homeless shelters.

McKinney said CNSA provided her with unique opportunities she would not have gained if she were not part of the chapter.

“I actively encourage all other nursing and pre-nursing students to join and become active in CNSA,” McKinney said. “It builds your resume, provides leadership development and offers important experience in working with underserved communities, as well as discounts on equipment and honor cords when you graduate. No other club offers so many opportunities to students to prepare them for a nursing career.”