Six executive board members of Elon's chapter of the National Nursing Students Association (ESNA) represented Elon at the 74th Annual National Student Nurses Convention, learning, connecting and advocating alongside nursing students from across the nation.
Six members of Elon University’s Student Nurses Association (SNA) executive board recently represented the university at the 74th Annual National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) Convention, held April 8–11, 2026, in Houston, Texas.
The convention brought together more than 2,000 nursing students, educators and healthcare leaders from across the country for four days of leadership development, professional networking and policy engagement. Centered on the theme “Ignite, Innovate, Lead,” the event provided students with opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills while contributing to national conversations shaping the future of nursing.
Elon was represented by senior nursing students Victoria (Tori) Whetstone, founding SNA president; Lathan Rubant; and Katherine O’Neill, along with junior executive board members Taylor Rae Spurgeon, Katie Pescatore, and Sarah Vinges. The group was accompanied by faculty advisor Professor Jeanmarie Koonts and faculty member Elizabeth Van Horn.
A highlight of the conference was Elon students’ active participation in the House of Delegates, the governing body of the NSNA. Whetstone and Rubant served as official delegates, while O’Neill participated as an alternate delegate. Together, they contributed to national discussions on policy and professional issues affecting nursing students and the broader healthcare system.
The Elon delegation authored and presented a resolution titled “Addressing Bias by Changing ‘Refusal’ Language in Clinical Documentation.” The resolution calls attention to how language used in healthcare documentation can unintentionally introduce bias and impact patient care. Rubant served as the lead author, with Whetstone and O’Neill contributing as co-authors. The students formally presented and advocated for the resolution before peers from across the nation.
In addition to presenting their own resolution, Elon delegates participated in voting on multiple proposed resolutions, parliamentary matters, and the election of the 2026–27 NSNA national executive board.
For Whetstone, the experience marked a meaningful milestone in her leadership journey and in the growth of Elon’s SNA chapter.
“It has been such an incredible honor to serve as the founding president of the Student Nurses Association, and I could not be more proud of how far we have come,” Whetstone said. “What started as a vision has grown into a thriving, passionate community of student nurses dedicated to leadership, advocacy, and service.”
Since its founding, Elon’s SNA has rapidly expanded its impact, growing to more than 70 members in its first year and engaging in a wide range of initiatives. These include professional development programming, mental health awareness efforts, community-building events, and fundraising to support organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, and the National Black Nurses Association.
Participation in the NSNA Convention reflects Elon nursing students’ commitment to leadership beyond the classroom—engaging in policy, advocacy, and professional development at a national level while preparing to enter the nursing workforce.
As the organization continues to grow, its student leaders remain focused on advancing patient-centered care, fostering professional excellence and development, and shaping the future of nursing through advocacy and innovation.