The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing provides students with one-of-a-kind learning experiences at home and abroad.
That truth is what inspired 12 Pitt Nursing students to write a resolution promoting the effectiveness of global experiences in nursing education to be presented at the 2025 National Student Nursing Assocation (NSNA) Conference. During the spring 2025 semester, these students presented their resolution at the NSNA convention in Seattle, where it was officially adopted by the organization’s House of Delegates.
Ava Meglio, the resolution’s primary author and third-year undergraduate student, collaborated with her peers, including Ann Barney, another third-year student. Meglio and Barney are both active members of the University of Pittsburgh’s chapter of the Nursing Student Association (NSA), with Meglio serving as president and Barney serving as secretary.
These students, among many others, were inspired by their global studies and positive experiences working with Lucinda Morgan, MEd, director for international affairs, and Lynnea Lombardi, MEd, program manager at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.
Meglio participated in the Pitt in Spain program in 2023 and most recently the Pitt Nursing trip to Ireland in May 2024.
“These experiences provided me the opportunity to learn more about global health, explore different cultures and hear about international nursing opportunities,” said Meglio. “These global experiences are some of the most formative educational experiences, and I highly recommend them to anyone interested in learning more about global nursing!”
Barney has similarly enjoyed her studies abroad. Throughout her undergraduate career, she has traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Tokyo, Japan.
“These experiences have deepened my understanding of global health and highlighted the critical role that culture and geography play in health care delivery,” Barney said.
Originally submitted by the University of Pittsburgh, the resolution was first passed at the Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP) convention in Lancaster. At the national level, Pitt Nursing students collaborated with a group of students from California State University Bakersfield as they were presenting a similar resolution on global studies. In Seattle at the NSNA national convention, the combined resolution was adopted by the NSNA House of Delegates.
“Our collaboration shows the significance of these global experiences across the country and in other nursing schools,” Meglio said. “We are proud that at both conventions, our resolution was adopted by the House of Delegates!”
In preparation for these conventions, students work on drafting resolutions on issues they are passionate about as student nurses. The process includes selecting a meaningful topic, reviewing relevant literature, conducting research and crafting a formal statement to support their findings.
The University of Pittsburgh NSA chapter is collectively responsible for fundraising to attend the NSNA convention. Fundraising efforts include the annual Engage Campaign, clothing drives and stethoscope sales.
“Sophia Espaillat, our professional development chair, and Ally Vicks, our business manager, dedicated the entire spring semester to organizing and planning the trip,” Barney said.
As part of their travel, Pitt Nursing students soaked in the wonders of Seattle, including visiting the Space Needle, taking a ferry ride, tasting local cuisine and more.
“The NSNA convention offered countless opportunities to engage with nursing leaders, attend dynamic workshops and actively participate in the House of Delegates,” Barney added.
“At the convention, we hear from inspiring leaders in academia and clinical areas,” Meglio said. “We engage in lively discussions about resolutions and leadership. Attending the convention also provides us with time to connect with nursing students across the country and network with hospitals and faculty members.
“Our annual trip to the [NSNA] convention is a highlight of the hard work NSA does throughout the year. We are extremely grateful for these opportunities and hope more students become interested and attend next year’s convention.”