Why Joining a Nursing Club Might Be the Best Decision You Make at NYU Meyers

One of the things I love most about nursing clubs at Meyers is that there truly is something for everyone. Whether you’re interested in leadership opportunities, cultural connections, or exploring a future specialty, these organizations help you grow into the nurse and person you want to become.

If you’re interested in leadership or shaping the student experience at Meyers, these organizations offer hands-on opportunities to grow beyond the classroom.

• Undergraduate Nursing Student Organization (UNSO): As the student government for the entire undergraduate nursing student body, UNSO focuses on peer leadership, community-building events, and student advocacy.
• Dean’s Student Leadership Council (DSLC): This invitation-only council brings together undergraduate, graduate, and PhD nursing students. Together with the dean and administration, they address student concerns and foster community through initiatives like the annual Spirit Week.

These organizations become spaces where students feel truly seen and supported throughout nursing school. They are places to celebrate our different cultures, share experiences, and lean on one another. At the same  time, you’ll learn how to advocate for communities that matter to you.

• Asian Pacific-Islander Nursing Student Association (APINSA)
• Black Student Nurses Association (BSNA) 
• Latinos Aspiring To Imagine Nursing Opportunities (LATINOS)

Not sure what kind of nurse you want to be yet? Specialty-focused clubs give students the chance to explore different areas of nursing in a low-pressure, supportive way. Through panels, workshops, and hands-on events, these organizations help students connect with professionals, gain early exposure to various fields, and start imagining life after graduation.

• Dermatology & Aesthetics Nursing Student Association (DANSA)
• Emergency Nursing Student Association (ENSA) 
• Oncology Nursing Student Association (ONSA)
• Pediatric Nursing Student Association (PNSA)

Every year, nursing clubs host some of the most popular and anticipated events at NYU Meyers. They’re the ones students always talk about, where you build clinical skills, get professional advice, or just strengthen your connection to the community.

• UNSO Therapy Dog Destress Event: This wellness event gives nursing students a much-needed break from studying. Therapy dogs offer stress relief and a moment to reset during the busy finals season.
• MEN Résumé Clinic: Men Entering Nursing (MEN) holds this professional development event. Here, students receive personalized résumé feedback from experienced nurse managers and practicing nurses from hospitals across New York City.
• APINSA Extern Panel: This student panel features current nursing students who share their summer externship experiences at major New York City hospitals. They provide honest insight into different units, specialties, and what to expect before applying.
• ENSA Stop the Bleed Event: At this hands-on clinical skills workshop, students learn how to respond to life-threatening bleeding emergencies, developing prioritization skills and readiness for fast-paced clinical environments.

Getting involved doesn’t have to be intimidating. One of the easiest ways to start is by attending Nursing Club Fest. Held at the beginning of each semester, you can meet representatives from different organizations and sign up to be a general member. Following clubs on Instagram is another great way to stay updated on upcoming events. And if you’re interested in leadership, consider applying for an e-board position. It simply means you’ll be part of a club’s leadership team, planning events and attending board-specific meetings. Elections typically take place at the beginning of the fall semester and toward the end of the spring semester.

As a senior in nursing school with just one semester left, I can honestly say that the moments that shaped me most at Meyers didn’t happen in the lecture halls or at clinical. Instead, they happened in the communities I found along the way. If there’s one piece of advice I could pass down, it’s this: you don’t have to navigate nursing school alone.

These student organizations aren’t just clubs; the members become your people. They are also where you get to explore who you want to be as a nurse, including your passions, your values, and the kind of care you hope to bring into the world. And that’s important, because nursing isn’t just about mastering clinical skills. It’s about finding a community that shapes the way you show up for others. At Meyers, you don’t have to build that alone—you get to build it together.