The Nursing Science Society (NSS) has elected a new executive team to serve the School of Nursing through the upcoming calendar year.
Claire Nolli was elected president, Sophie Posiewko, vice president (operations), and Kaylie Crowther, vice president (university affairs), all Nurs ’27. The team transitioned into their roles in early December.
NSS operates on a calendar-year election cycle, unlike many other student government bodies at Queen’s that follow a May-to-April term. This year, the election was uncontested. In an interview with The Journal, the team shared that despite this, they still engaged in campaigning efforts, visiting first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year Nursing classes to introduce themselves and outline their platform.
“We spoke to them briefly before their class started, we explained who we are, what we’re running for, and our pillars,” Posiewko said.
The team’s first pillar is centred around equipping students for interprofessional practice, which they hope to accomplish by hosting career fairs and inviting alumni and professionals to speak about their experiences.
“This will help students understand a little bit what it’s like to work outside after graduation, and the interprofessional aspect of working as a nurse,” Posiewko said.
Their second pillar involves promoting-inter year engagement, both in terms of academic support and general socialization.
“The School of Nursing has just opened a new lounge where students can come, and we’re hoping to really make that nice,” Crowther said. “We’re hoping to make it a great space where students can either just hang out with friends, get to know people in other years, or do their work together.”
The focus of the team’s third pillar is supporting the academic and mental health needs of nursing students by creating a mentorship program and hosting events where students can learn coping mechanisms and practice mindfulness.
“Nursing is a unique faculty in that we have clinical placements, and then we also have courses at the same time,” Crowther said. “We want to have older students help students who are going into the clinical setting to manage and juggle those competing demands, because it can be really difficult and overwhelming, busy schedules and nursing itself takes a mental toll.”
The three executives said their decision to run together was shaped by their shared involvement in the Nursing Orientation Committee.
“Our relationship with so many people in the nursing faculty led us to feel really confident that we could advocate on behalf of individuals and that people would feel comfortable coming to us, and that we were able to support and sort of know some of the concerns of people and create good changes in the faculty,” Nolli said.
When asked what success would look like at the end of their term, the team emphasized community and support.
“We’re just really excited to have the opportunity and the privilege to support nursing students,” Crowther said.
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