[gauge14iv]

For comparisons sake, I made a couple of phone calls -

First to the Texas Nurses Association – according to them, there are about 170,000 nurses in Texas, but only 3,800 of them are members of the Texas Nurses Association. That means that about 2% of all nurses in Texas are members of the TNA.

In contrast, the Texas Medical Association has 40,683 members as of March 31, 2006 according to a phone call placed to their membership department. There are about 53,000 physicians in Texas according to the Texas board of medical examiners. 76% of physicians are members of their professional organization.


HUH???? Are we listed in Webster's under the definition for apathy?

[ree-nee]

Originally Posted by gauge14iv

For comparisons sake, I made a couple of phone calls -

First to the Texas Nurses Association – according to them, there are about 170,000 nurses in Texas, but only 3,800 of them are members of the Texas Nurses Association. That means that about 2% of all nurses in Texas are members of the TNA.

In contrast, the Texas Medical Association has 40,683 members as of March 31, 2006 according to a phone call placed to their membership department. There are about 53,000 physicians in Texas according to the Texas board of medical examiners. 76% of physicians are members of their professional organization.


HUH???? Are we listed in Webster's under the definition for apathy?

Can you imagine the strength the organization would have if it had 129,200 members (76% of 170,000)? ....That is interesting.

[gauge14iv]

No kidding!!!!!

Seriously! THINK of the number of lobbyists we could hire! THINK of the numbers who would march on capital hill. THINK of the money that could be put towards developing real solutions to the real problems that face nurses daily....

Now how do we get folks to get past the infighting and bickering that nursing has become so famous for and get past the end of their own nose and get off the couch and DO SOMETHING???

[PANurseRN1]

Part of it may have to with with TNA being an afilliate of ANA.

[ZASHAGALKA]

Originally Posted by gauge14iv

No kidding!!!!!

Seriously! THINK of the number of lobbyists we could hire!

But as long as I think of all those lobbyists trying to outsource me out of a job because I'm not a BSN/APN - I'd rather those lobbyists didn't exist.

TNA/ANA decided to drive a wedge into nursing. They alone can be blamed for the apathy they inspire. And they alone can fix it. This IS their infighting that THEY created.

~faith,
Timothy.

[wtbcrna]

Originally Posted by gauge14iv

For comparisons sake, I made a couple of phone calls -

First to the Texas Nurses Association – according to them, there are about 170,000 nurses in Texas, but only 3,800 of them are members of the Texas Nurses Association. That means that about 2% of all nurses in Texas are members of the TNA.

In contrast, the Texas Medical Association has 40,683 members as of March 31, 2006 according to a phone call placed to their membership department. There are about 53,000 physicians in Texas according to the Texas board of medical examiners. 76% of physicians are members of their professional organization.


HUH???? Are we listed in Webster's under the definition for apathy?

Maybe some of us Texas nurses don't agree with ANA/TNA. I am member of AACN and will stay that way. Not everyone's decision is because of apathy.

[CrunchRN]

I have only lived in Texas for 2 years, and I do not and have never worked as an acute care nurse so I have never felt a strong need to join. I have never recieved ANYTHING from them asking me to join or telling me about the organization. If I don't like things I move on and find something else.

I would probably have looked into it if I was an acute care nurse. I do try to stay in touch with current issues in acute care and there seem to be many.

[traumaRUs]

Well if Texas is anything like IL - the cost to belong to the ANA is too high for most nurses. For instance, in IL - it costs $560 per year to belong to the IL branch of the ANA. That is totally ridiculous - so its no wonder few nurses join. Its not apathy - its poverty! I do belong to the Emergency Nurses Association (approx $90/year) and the IL Society of Advanced Practice Nurses ($140/year).

[Hellllllo Nurse]

I am an RN in TX. The only time I've ever heard from the TNA is when they sent me a solicitation for a Visa card with their logo on it- so that they could profit from me.
It's the Texas Nurses' Assoc that should be ashamed, not the nurses.

[gauge14iv]

If TNA isn't it - then we need to start something else.

As for TNA telling you you have to be a BSN - then more ADN's need to join and change that.

I agree it's too expensive. I'm a member. I don't think 40 or 50 a year would be unreasonable - multiply that by 120,000 - thats more than they are getting at the current memebership rate with the number of members they have - a LOT more.

The way I see it - there needs to be one big Texas nurses group for RN's, LVN's and APN's that represents ALL nurses that is cheap enough to join no matter what else you belong to. There needs to be no questions about what degree you have - you only need to be a nurse or nursing student in some form or fashion. Elitism has not served the profession yet - it isn't ever going to.

The specialty organizations do not do the legislative work the large groups should be doing. That isn't to say they don't do good things - they do and they are very worthwhile organizations. But those memberships should be In addition to the org which encompasses the whole. That is - IF the larger orgs were doing what the majority of nurses feel they should be doing.