Hello, everyone. My name is Antonio Narciso-Rubio; I am 22 and from Des Moines, Iowa. I am a first-generation high school graduate, an associate’s graduate, and a nursing student. As a POC, Latinx/Hispanic, Army spouse, and LGBTQ+ person, given these intersectionalities, my goal as a nurse in a leadership role is to be a person of representation in these communities and to deliver exceptional care, incorporating diversity and equity. When I graduate from nursing school, I will add to the current percentage of 6.9% of Hispanic RNs in the workforce (American Association College of Nursing, 2024). As a person of color, my lifelong goal and mission is to move into policy and legislation with nursing; as leadership is my passion, I ask for your vote as President of NSWS. In high school, I served as student council Vice President, and at Clover Park Technical College, I served as student representative on the student board. At Pacific Lutheran University, I serve as the cohort student representative on the nursing school's RAP (Student Recruitment, Admission, Progression) Committee. I also serve as the newly elected President of the nursing school’s chapter club, Delta Iota Chi. I appreciate your consideration as NSWS President.

I am an LPN currently in the RN-BSN program at Green River college, and currently work as a corrections nurse for Score jail here in Des Moines, WA. I care deeply for populations that are often overlooked, including those incarcerated, with mental health concerns, and those in the LGBTQ+ community.
I take my role as an advocate seriously. I am passionate about removing the stigma that can prevent patients with genuine needs from receiving care. I believe that every person has significance, and should be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of why they come into contact with the healthcare system.
Providing holistic, patient-centered care can be challenging, but I am a deep and strong believer in taking the time to fully understand my patients’ needs, and place them in the drivers seat, as the most important member of their care team. However, my journey to this point as a student and LPN has not been without its struggles.
I was discouraged by many teachers from pursuing higher education due to dyslexia, and the difficulties that came with it. At one point when working on pre-rec’s I received a 40% on an exam, and was told my a teacher, you are better off in a trade, science is not for you.
I decided that I was not going to allow what others thought of me to prevent me from achieving what I knew I could. I spent hours, and probably over time weeks on strategies, and test taking techniques, and have learned to use my neurodivergence to my advantage as a nurse. These challenges have given me a glimpse into the many struggles that nursing students face. During a clinical rotation in my LPN program, I said to a nurse, “you have been so helpful”. She responded that this was for a reason: now it was my turn to pass on kindness and compassion to other students, team members, and patients.
It has made me understand that my role advocating in healthcare is not only for patients but also for future healthcare workers. I want to make a greater impact on the nursing culture, starting with nursing students.
It is for these reasons that I am running for Vice President. Thank you for taking the time to read. I hope that you will also continue with the mindset of advocacy and compassion with not only patients but also the students who will be the future of nursing.

Hello there, my name is Emilee Murphy and I am running for the position of Director East. I am running for this position as I feel it is a great opportunity to get involved with this organization of the NSWS. My school, as far as I am aware, has not yet been a part of this organization and I would love to be the one to start that journey and to further promote the organization to get more participation from the eastern side of Washington State. I would love to be a resource to students and staff alike for Yakima Valley College and colleges in the area to hopefully get involved as I feel very passionately about having student representation and getting all parties involved. As far as past experiences I have, I was involved in leadership for many years in my schooling including ASB in highschool, a member of the board within my sorority at Washington State University to which I previously attended, and currently I am the president of the Nursing Club at YVC. All of this experience has taught me the importance of networking and given me the communication and leadership skills to fulfill the needs of this role. I am looking forward to hopefully learning and continuing to grow the awareness and participation with this program and outreach to many students around Washington State.

Why are you running for your position?
I am running for the Breakthrough to Nursing position because I want to assist our student nursing community to excel. School is about both academic knowledge and the connections we build along the way. I am passionate about contributing to an organization such as NSWS, which elevates nursing education standards and fosters personal and professional growth. My goal is to help bridge the gap between pre-nursing to nursing school and nursing school to the workforce, making nursing education accessible and successful for all aspiring nurses.

What past experiences and interests qualify you for this role?
My passion for the medical field and commitment to service make me a strong candidate for this role. This is demonstrated by over five years of professional medical experience, over a decade of volunteer service with diverse populations and most recently the Vice President of the Future Nurses Club at South Seattle College. As the former Vice President of professional standards in a student organization, I upheld high academic and leadership standards while fostering an inclusive environment for learning and growth. My experience has equipped me with the skills to bridge access to nursing education and support my peers in accessing vital resources for success. Inspired by our purpose to advance nursing education and maintain a cooperative dialogue among students, I am eager to contribute to our collective advancement in nursing education and professional development. Together, we can build a stronger nursing community through collaboration, shared knowledge, and unwavering support.  Vote for me, and let's make a breakthrough in Washington's nursing education!