By Cody Powers

Because the Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) Nursing program is

academically challenging and mentally perplexing, it is important for students to

have support systems and resources within reach. The SMCC Nursing Club fulfills

both of these needs.

The club kicked off its semester with a breakfast on Friday, September 11th, at

which 63 members attended. During the breakfast, new members were able to meet

with their assigned “mentor” as part of the Mentor-Mentee program that the club

offers. Incoming students in the nursing program are assigned an upperclassman

who help guide the new students through the program, offering advice on study

habits, time management, and stress breaks.

Apart from the Mentor-Mentee program, the club hosts Lunch and Learns

twice a semester. This is an opportunity for practicing registered nurses to engage

students in relative topics and enable students to hear first hand what it is like to be

a nurse in any given specialty.

Other activities promoted by the club include community donations,

fundraisers, and volunteer days at Partners for World Health. This year the club is

anticipating donating to the Sanford Backpack Program, as well as a school in Haiti.

The club will also offer a Flu Clinic – taking place September 29th – for the

community of South Portland. Please look for flyers posted around campus with

details in the upcoming week.

Any nursing students looking to join the club should attend the next meeting

on October 13, 12:15 – 1:00pm, in room G17 in the Health Science Center at SMCC.

If you have any questions about the clubs activities and events, or ideas for how the

club can be of service to the community, please send an email to

smccnursingclub1@gmail.com

http://sanfordstrong.org/programs/sanfordbackpackprogram/