Ep. 146 - A Conversation With National Student Nurses Association President Ethan Slocum

About the Episode

Curious about the new generation of nursing students? Join Kellye', Marcela, Sam, and Maritess as they welcome National Student Nurses Association President Ethan Slocum to the show to share his thoughts, insights, and perspectives about the next generation of student nurses you won't want to miss! Learn more about the National Student Nurses Association at www.nsna.org.

Special Guest

Ethan Slocum serves as the 73rd president of the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA), representing over 50,000 pre-licensure nursing students nationwide. A fourth-year nursing student at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, Ethan is on track to graduate with his Bachelor of Science in Nursing in May 2025. Following graduation, he plans to specialize as a pediatric critical care nurse in Cleveland. Since his election as president in April 2024, Ethan has had the privilege of addressing influential bodies such as the American Nurses’ Association General Membership Assembly, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and the Environmental Protection Agency. In these forums, he advocates for transformative changes to improve the future of nursing and patient care. He represents nearly 72 years of NSNA student policy resolutions, which collectively call for reform across numerous areas of the healthcare system. Through his leadership and advocacy, Ethan aims to elevate the state of nursing and nursing education, working toward a more equitable and progressive future for all pre-licensure nursing students across the United States.

Meet the Co-Hosts

Samantha Bayne, MSN, RN, CMSRN, NPD-BC, is a nursing professional development practitioner in the inland northwest specializing in medical-surgical nursing. The first four years of her practice were spent bedside on a busy ortho/neuro unit, where she found her passion for newly graduated RNs, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional governance. Sam is an unwavering advocate for medical-surgical nursing as a specialty and enjoys helping nurses prepare for specialty certification. 

Kellye' McRae, MSN-Ed, RN, is a dedicated med-surg staff nurse and unit based educator based in South Georgia, with 12 years of invaluable nursing experience. She is passionate about mentoring new nurses, sharing her clinical wisdom to empower the next generation of nurses. Kellye' excels in bedside teaching, blending hands-on training with compassionate patient care to ensure both nurses and patients thrive. Her commitment to education and excellence makes her a cornerstone of her healthcare team.

Marcela Salcedo, RN, BSN, is a floatpool nightshift nurse in the Chicagoland area, specializing in step-down and medical-surgical care. A member of AMSN and the Hektoen Nurses, she combines her passion for nursing with the healing power of the arts and humanities. As a mother of four, Marcela is reigniting her passion for nursing by embracing the chaos of caregiving, fostering personal growth, and building meaningful connections that inspire her work.

Eric Torres, ADN, RN, CMSRN, is a California native who has always dreamed of seeing the World, and when that didn’t work out, he set his sights on nursing. Eric is beyond excited to be joining the AMSN podcast and having a chance to share his stories and experiences of being a bedside medical-surgical nurse.

Maritess M. Quinto, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CMSRN, is a clinical educator currently leading a team of educators who is passionately helping healthcare colleagues, especially newly graduate nurses. She was born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States with her family in Florida. Her family of seven (three girls and two boys with her husband who is also a Registered Nurse) loves to travel, especially to Disney World. She loves to share her experiences about parenting, travelling, and, of course, nursing!

Sydney Wall, RN, BSN, CMSRN, has been a med-surg nurse for 5 years. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island in 2019, Sydney commissioned into the Navy and began her nursing career working on a cardiac/telemetry unit in Bethesda, Maryland.  Currently she is stationed overseas, providing care for service members and their families.  During her free time, she enjoys martial arts and traveling.