Heather McQuistion
Middle Tennessee State University
tasnpresident@gmail.com

Who I am:

I am the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 President for the Tennessee Association of Student Nurses. It was quite an honor to be elected. I hope to serve Tennessee nursing students well.

I grew up around the world, as my father was in the Army. That background provided me the opportunity to interact with people from around the world. Being a “brat” and moving to another state or country every other year taught me how to band together with others quickly to accomplish my goals. There just wasn’t enough time growing up to let an opportunity to share yourself with others pass you by.

I am the proud mother of a fifteen year-old daughter. Feel free to pray for me. Seriously, though, she’s a great kid. She has been hanging out at school libraries with me for years while I studied. Hopefully she picked up a few positive study habits along the way.

What I believe in:

First, I believe in Christ. I draw on his teachings to make me a better nurse, leader, mother, and friend. I also believe in nurses and nursing students. We are a delightful group that strives to make a difference in the lives of our patients everyday. I believe that caring for each other as student nurses and nurses will help prevent fatigue and discouragement.

What I am doing about it:

I am currently working toward my BSN at Middle Tennessee State University and intend to graduate in December, 2010. I served as the Membership Executive of my local Student Nurses Association chapter. I hosted a study group in my home for a team of classmates my first semester.

My goals include boosting membership in Student Nurse Associations at the local, state and national level, and encouraging minority and male students to consider the field of nursing. I also intend to encourage political activism as I am learning about the importance of getting involved to protect our profession and patients.

I also want to reach out to student nurses in other parts of the world. To meet this goal, I spent a week in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, working with and sharing with student nurses at Faith University. I had to opportunity to teach one session to the student nurses, and am planning to return for three weeks to teach again.

I am speaking to as many nursing students as I can to further my goals. If you would like me to visit your school, please email me at TASNPresident@gmail.com.

Thanks,

Heather McQuistion

TASN President