BARRY WILLIAMS /Special

Laura Hudgens, a student at Georgia Baptist College of Nursing at Mercer University, is the editor of Imprint, the official publication of the National Student Nurses Association.

As a junior at the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing at Mercer University and a member of the National Student Nurses Association, Laura Hudgens is learning to be a nurse and an agent for change in her profession.

"This is a second degree for me. I graduated with a BA in journalism from UGA [the University of Georgia] in 1991 and worked in the field, but I was looking for a calling, so after a lot of soul-searching, I began looking at nursing programs," she said.

Nursing, Hudgens has discovered, lets her use all her skills. Hudgens was selected as a Piedmont Scholar last spring and began working part time in the emergency room at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. Because both the college and the hospital require student nurses to be involved with the student nursing association, Hudgens went to a state student nursing convention last year.

"I got really inspired. So many legislative issues are tied to nursing and health care," she said.

Hudgens began to work in her local chapter (Georgia Baptist Association of Nursing Students) and, as president-elect, went to the national convention in Baltimore. She eventually was elected to her role as editor of Imprint, the official publication of the NSNA.

"My journalism background helps," she said. "The job adds a lot of reading to my workload, and nursing students don't

really need more reading, but the submissions from students and professionals are phenomenal and inspirational. I get so much out of them."

The publication has been around since 1969, with nursing-student editors taking on the job for a year.

"Most editors have some newspaper or writing background, but this year we are fortunate to have someone with such a strong publishing background," said Larisa Mendez, Imprint managing editor. "Laura was able to look at the layout and design and give great input about what would make it even more attractive to our readers and get them excited about nursing. And she's so personable; it's easy to work with her."

Hudgens traveled with the NSNA board to New Orleans last summer to help with the NSNA Foundation disaster relief project.

One of the student organization's resolutions was to develop guidelines for nursing students in the wake of disasters. The group visited several nursing schools in the area and took a tour of neighborhoods that had been flooded.

"It was an intense and emotional experience. So many of the houses remain untouched, and you can't help but wonder about the owners," Hudgens said.

The group left New Orleans with a resolution to raise money for the Louisiana nursing schools at the group's midyear convention and to continue writing the guide book for nursing students after disasters.

"The board doesn't usually travel, but it wasn't just 10 people with an idea, taking a trip," Hudgens said. "What's thrilling to me is that we're creating another resource that nursing students can use that will help their communities."

Hudgens has also worked on the NSNA's Image of Nursing Committee and feels strongly about presenting the profession in a positive light.

"Nursing, in general, is such a powerful thing. There are so many things you can do in the role," she said. "I like to draw attention to it and the brilliance of nurses."

Hudgens is helping to plan the workshops, focus sessions and exhibits for this year's NSNA midyear convention, which will be at the Hilton Atlanta hotel, Nov. 2-5.

"We're all tired and crazy, and we need each other to get everything done," Hudgens said.

She credits the NSNA with teaching her how to write resolutions, pass position statements and work through the process to help the organization form a collective voice. "I'm learning the process for affecting change," she said.

Hudgens is leaning toward continuing to practice in the ER at Piedmont Hospital after graduation but said she wouldn't decide until after her obstetrics and pediatric clinical rotations.

"I'm going to be a nurse, but I figure there will be tons of opportunities to use my communication skills in the future," she said. "When they come along, I'll step up again."