BANS helps minority nurses

Members of the Black Association of Nursing Students are actively seeking members to continue outreach to the community and minority nursing students.

In 1989 Ella Milner, assistant professor of Adult Health Nursing, founded BANS. Milner first started working at GC&SU in 1983 as a clinical instructor. Since then, she has served as a full time faculty member in nursing and an advisor and mentor for BANS.

“(I founded) BANS primarily to provide African American students and minority students academic support and to address their particular needs in the nursing major that were uncommon to other students,” Milner said.

According to Milner, throughout the history of GC&SU these students have been a minority group in the nursing program.

The purpose of BANS is to advance academic excellence, promote positive relationships and affirm self-worth among minority nursing students. BANS makes contributions to the community by actively participating in opportunity awareness programs for young minorities, and by engaging in activities that positively promote the community, Milner said.

BANS offers an annual scholarship called The William Kennedy Memorial Scholarship, founded by Audrey Kennedy-Lewis to honor her deceased father, William Kennedy.

Lewis is a 1990 graduate of the GC&SU Nursing Program. The first recipient of this scholarship was Daphne Ragland, a former BANS president.

Senior nursing major and BANS president Katrina Mells has been a member of the group since January 2005.

“Mostly we want to recruit more students, get the word out about BANS and we also plan to do more activities on campus,” Mells said. “I would like to have a health fair to better inform students about diseases that can be prevented by making lifestyle changes.”

The group consists of 10 members and meets every third Monday to make plans, talk about achievements and address any questions or concerns.

Dues for BANS are $10 per semester. The group is open to any African American or minority student who is either a pre-nursing major or a nursing major. Study groups are provided within the organization to assist members with their studies.

BANS also participates in many fundraising events. Some of these fundraisers have included bake sales, donut sales, raffle ticket drawings and car washes.

Early last year, BANS held a bake sale to sponsor an underprivileged family in Milledgeville. The money was used to buy food, toiletry items, toys and clothes for the family. With the proceeds of this event, BANS also donated items to the Salvation Army for Hurricane Katrina victims.

In October of 2005, BANS held a non-profit health fair at the Milledgeville Mall that was open to the community. BANS members checked blood pressure, glucose levels and female consumers were educated about breast cancer through the help of booklets.

Another service BANS provides to the community is visiting Baldwin High School students who are interested in the nursing profession. Members discuss the GC&SU Nursing Program and their experiences and reasons for choosing a career in nursing. BANS members have also made donations to Heartbeats & Hoofbeats, a center that works with disabled children using horse riding as a part of their therapy, of Macon, Ga.

As a way of relaxing, BANS members enjoy luncheon socials. The group meets at various local restaurants and chats about what is going on in their lives.

Senior nursing major and BANS treasurer Angel Williams has been a member of BANS since her freshman year.

“I enjoy being a part of BANS,” Williams said. “We get to give back to those who are less fortunate. I feel blessed to be able to bring something positive to someone else’s life.”

During the upcoming year, BANS members have plenty to look forward to.

“We will continue to be involved in the Adopt-A-Family program by donating food during Thanksgiving and presents for Christmas,” Milner said. “We plan to raise funds to do activities that support our mission.”

For more information on BANS contact Katrina Mells at 478-290-4991 or katmells@yahoo.com.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 10 2006. Filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry