Public Comment: Nursing's Social Policy Statement

01/09/09

The American Nurses Association (ANA) Congress on Nursing Practice and Economics (CNPE) is seeking comments on the revision of Nursing's Social Policy Statement which states:

This revision of Nursing's Social Policy Statement describes the essence of the profession by incorporating and building upon earlier thinking and writings. This social policy statement serves as a resource to assist nurses in conceptualizing their practice and provides direction to educators, administrators, and researchers within nursing. This statement also informs other health professionals, legislators and other regulators, funding bodies, and the public about nursing's social responsibility, accountability, and contribution to health care. The description of the social context of nursing creates the foundation for understanding the definition of nursing, appreciating the purpose and use of the scope and standards of nursing practice, and valuing the elements of professional, legal, and self regulation.

If you are interested in participating in this review, please download the draft Social Policy Statement (see pdf and word doc versions of statement below) and provide your comments to Dr. Bickford via e-mail at [email protected] by 5:00pm EST on March 15, 2009.

• Draft Nursing's Social Policy Statement [pdf]
  
• Draft Nursing's Social Policy Statement [word doc]
  

Why don't they call themselves "The American Registered Nurses Association" Just to make clear their bias against LPN's.

I am starting the LPN to RN bridge program this fall. I will be an RN next year, but the ANA does not want my input on ANYTHING. They really dont represent "nurses" as a whole, and do not really support the full concept of a health care "team", but believe all nurses should be RN's, and indeed represent themselves like this is true. here is a quote from a member in a letter to the editor that exemplifies the attitude of many ANA members to LPN's "I recommend we drop the credential of LPN, move the vocational nurses to the ADN level and call them ANs, associate nurses" Talk about marginalization, and whats the point?

I wont be joining ANA when I become an RN, nor will I contribute to a "Nursing Social Policy Statement" that does not include all nurses. It's time to stop drawing these linesn (creating barriers) between us and work on developing a real health care team. RN's, LPN's, CNA's, MA's, NP's, and MD's should all be working together.

Maybe I should start the "American Health Care Team Alliance" Open to all credentialed/licensed Health care personel to foster a real Team Building environment to help us all work together and care for our patients, establish comprehensive scope of practice, best practices, social policy's, etc, etc. that draw us all together, rather than fractionating us further than we already are (Dr. vs Nurse, RN vs LPN, etc)

I view the ANA as a political action arm for RN unions trying to drive out LPNs and maximize job opportunities/ job security for RN's.

I encourage everyone to not participate (incuding input to this social policy statemnet) in this organization that creates barriers between different groups of nurses.

Because the ANA is recognized under federal law as a professional organization AND a labor union, it can not legally represent Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses.

Because the ANA is recognized under federal law as a professional organization AND a labor union, it can not legally represent Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses.

I did not realize this legally prevents them from representing LPN/LVNs. I am not really up on labor law, but I know there are many unions that DO represent both. I don't understand the legal nuance that would prevent representation of both by the ANA. Many (maybe even most) unions represent a spectrum of workers with some similarities in jobs. (carpenters and laborers unions, teamsters, service employee's international union SEIU, ETC)

ANA also represents ADN, BSN, (both RN's of course) and NP (NOT Rn's). I think what you have stated to me supports my assertion that ANA has chosen NOT to support LPN's in the work place. As a labor organization supposedly for "nurses" (thats in the name) that supports only RN's ANA will always advocate minimizing or eliminating the (valid) role of the LPN on the healthcare team, if only to maximize employment and compensation for the Members of the organization (from their website "the ANA represents the interests of the nation's 2.9 million registered nurses"). With the growing nursing shortage, I really think this is against the best interests of patients and OUR profession as a whole.

If ANA's federal charter as a labor union prevents representation of nurses other than RN's than that is simply b/c the ANA CHOOSE TO LEAVE THEM OUT when they submitted for federal recognition, and I wonder what prevents them from having it modified to represent "Nurses".

I'm going to be really be thinking twice if I am ever offered a postion that would require me to join this organization as a union claiming to represent ME.

Thanks for the link, Karen.

Because the ANA is recognized under federal law as a professional organization AND a labor union, it can not legally represent Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses.

and that is precisely why i am not a member. it does not represent all nurses - it's de facto union status excludes nurses in management - the very nurses who are in a position to advance nursing; the ANA's long exclusion of men from membership alienated another group; and the blind faith in nursing theory published by the AJN all combine to raise serious intelectual and ethical issues with the ANA.

we need a professional association to represent and advance the profession of nursing, too bad the ANA isn't it.

Public comment period now ended and drafts no longer available...thread closed.