What are the advantages to nurse association membership?

SteelTownRN · Aug 9, 2003

I belong to several organizations and am happy to share which and why.

1. ANA Because they represent all nurses, and keep me informed of what's happening nationwide with all facets of nursing. I dropped out for a year, due to finances, and missed it more than I could imagine. I won't ever do that again. I am active in the local disctict and meet lots of nruses in my town through meetings and seminars.

2. AWHONN (Assoc of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses) Keeps me current with my specialty area, and has several informative periodicals. (Lifelines and JOGNN)

3. NLN (National League for Nursing) Specialty organization for nurse educators.

4. ACN (Assoc of Camp Nurses) Keeps me in touch with camp nurses all over America.

5. Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society (STTI) Excellent way to keep up to date with state of the aret nursing research and helps me to refine develop more leadership skills.

As a nurse educator, I am pretty much expected to be a member of ANA, NLN and STTI, but I have to foot the dues myself. (You can deduct them on your income taxes.)

All of the above organizations have excellent mailings and journals and websites. You have to decide how active you will be in organizations. Sometimes, I feel ok just being a dues paying member, as my time is limited and I know that my $$ supports the mission of the organization. Other times, I assume leadership positions and become more active. It all depends on what is happening in my lfie at the time.