School of Nursing undergraduate student elected president of national nursing board

Ethan Slocum with NSNA Board 2024

During its annual convention, members of the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) elected Ethan Slocum, a bachelor of science (BSN) student at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, as president of the Board of Directors.

“I am immensely proud of Ethan for this remarkable accomplishment in being elected to a national office,” said Carol Musil, dean of the School of Nursing and Edward J. and Louise Mellen Professor of Nursing. “Ethan’s dedication to service and advancing the nursing profession through thoughtful leadership exemplifies the impact an FPB education plays in shaping the future of healthcare. I look forward to his further success.”

Ethan Slocum NSNA President 2024

Slocum has served two consecutive terms as president of the Case Western Reserve University Undergraduate Student Nurses Association (USNA) and was previously vice president of events.

"Nurses today wear many hats. Beyond being caretakers, we often become IT support, patient transporters, pharmacy technicians and more. With all of these tasks, it can be easy to get caught up in the policy and percentage game that nursing can become, which can contribute to burnout and dissatisfaction," Slocum said on his campaign social media channels. "As NSNA president, I want to find ways to highlight our passionate student leaders and help re-center each other on why we love nursing and how to be better, more passionate future nurses."

Even as an undergraduate nursing student, Slocum has plenty of experience. He currently works as a patient care technician in the cardiovascular ICU at the Cleveland Clinic/ Previously he worked as a nurse technician at the Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Michigan, and as a nursing assistant on the trauma step-down unit at University Hospitals.

He currently serves in multiple leadership roles, including as Director of Health Policy and Advocacy for the Ohio Student Nurses Association (OSNA); BSN Representative to FPB’s Dean's Student Advisory Council; resident assistant for CWRU Office of Residence Life; and student mentor in the CWRU USNA Mentor-Mentee Program.

Cathy Mohney and Ethan Slocum 2024

Catherine Mohney, faculty advisor to CWRU OSNA, also supported Slocum and his fellow students at the conference and during the election campaign.

According to the NSNA website, the NSNA president "serves as the principal officer of the association and presides at all meetings; responsible for seeing that direction given by the House of Delegates and the actions of the Board are carried into effect; appoints committees and their chairpersons with the approval of the Board; serves as an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominating and Elections Committee; serves as ex-officio member of the Foundation of the NSNA Board of Trustees and represents NSNA."

The annual convention of over 2,100 students, speakers, faculty members, consultants and exhibitors was held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. The full board of directors list can be found on this NSNA press release.

You can also read a student spotlight on Ethan Slocum, published in 2023 by the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.