What if one club could turn your passion for helping others into a real-world experience, lifelong connections and a head start in your future of nursing? The Keene State Nursing Club brings this opportunity to life by offering hands-on activities, community service and meaningful connections that help students grow into confident and compassionate healthcare professionals.
The Nursing Club meets biweekly, holding approximately five to six meetings each semester. During these meetings, members participate in a variety of activities including crafts, skills practice and community service, creating an experience that club members say combines learning, creativity and giving back.
President of the Nursing Club and junior Ava Moore explained how the organization supports students throughout their nursing journey, emphasizing its strong sense of connection and growth opportunities.
“The Nursing Club connects upperclassmen with underclassmen, allowing freshmen and sophomores to ask questions and feel more prepared for their journey as nursing students,” she said. “We also sometimes do skill practices, which allow students to practice outside of the lab. The Nursing Club has six e-board positions, all with very low stress, that provide good leadership experience, which is valuable in nursing.”
Junior and Nursing Club member Kaylee Ansell reflected on what first inspired her to pursue a healthcare career. “I have always wanted to go into the medical field because I have always found it so interesting,” said Ansell. “I also had a lot of personal experiences that shaped my feelings about nurses and how amazing they are. When I became an LNA, it affirmed that nursing was the right path for me.”
Ansell said she initially wanted to join the Nursing Club to get involved early in her college experience.
“I joined freshman year because I wanted to start getting involved,” she said. “My CA was the president at the time and encouraged me to join.”
Since then, Ansell said the Nursing Club has played a significant role in her personal and professional growth.
“I have gained so many new perspectives and ambitions since being in the nursing club,” said Ansell. “I will take all the advice I have gotten from my peers and staff with me for the rest of my life and career. I have developed my critical thinking skills and feel like a nursing club is also a space to get closer to our professors and develop a stronger relationship, making it easier to ask questions.”
Beyond academics, Ansell emphasized the supportive environment the club provides.
“It is a place to practice skills and get the opportunity to ask nurses questions,” Ansell said. “Honestly, it’s a major support system for nursing school to make friends in different years and ask questions and lessen anxiety.”
Moore also highlighted the Nursing Club’s commitment to community service and involvement.
“The Nursing Club does the Walk n’ Roll every year for Cedarcrest,” said Moore. “We have also done two shirts that were for charities, one for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the other for Keene Housing Kids Collaborative, which connects children living in Keene Housing to various programs.”
Moore said the club’s impact extends beyond campus through these efforts, providing members meaningful opportunities to give back to the community. “The Nursing Club has done a few activities for the community,” she added. “In one meeting, we made kits and cards for those at the 100 Nights Shelter.”
Reflecting on her own experience, Moore highlighted the personal impact the club has had on her development.
“The Nursing Club has benefited me in multiple ways in my nursing journey. I have made strong relationships with those who are not in my cohort. I could practice different skills, which has made me feel more confident as a nursing student,” she explained.
Through her involvement, Moore said she has also grown as a leader, adding that, “Nursing Club has allowed me to be a secretary my sophomore year and president my junior year, both roles teaching me a lot and making me a strong leader–a skill that is important in nursing.”
Overall, she credited the club with opening her eyes to new opportunities, concluding that it “has genuinely opened so many paths for me, and I am grateful to have this organization on campus.”
Sophia Merenda can be contacted at
