ANA members mandate to BOD:change the association--view the results

-jt · Nov 15, 2002

Nurses MUST be recognized and respected for their professional expertise. We MUST receive better compensation and benefits.[/b].....And finally, in order for retention efforts to be successful, employers must change their thinking about nurses - they must understand that we are an asset, not an expense. They must understand that our skills and experience make the critical difference in achieving quality patient outcomes and that without nurses - their institutions are merely buildings full of empty beds!.............."

B Blakeney, RN

President of the ANA. >>>>

I liked that part of her presentation the best.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Nov 15, 2002

Most CEO's believe that it's their physician's that generate income by admitting patient's to their facility and if physician's aren't satisfied, they will take their business to a competitor. What the CEO's are failing to understand AND capitalize on is that physician's choose a facility because of the NURSING CARE that is needed 24/7. Patients who are educated OR have vast healthcare exposure ask THE NURSES who are the doctors to go to and often chose one hospital over the other based on previous NURSING CARE.

Home Care RN's often are asked for reccomendations to physican's, hospitals, tests, and procedures. WE hold vast power (unknown to many CEO's) over having patient's return to their facility or steering to a different one if patient has had a poor experience/overlooked condition etc.----------This has been my experience over the past 25 years.

We are NOT an expense, we are their survival.

-jt · Nov 15, 2002

On August 13, I represented nursing at a special economic forum in Waco, Texas, on health care security called by President Bush and chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. Since that meeting, I've met one-on-one with Secretary Thompson and we held a press conference together about the HHS-ANA partnership to create National Nurses Response Teams.

In September, I delivered testimony - along with UAN Secretary-Treasurer Jeanne Surdo and American Academy of Nursing Secretary Linda Burnes Bolton - to the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Work Environment and Patient Safety.

On October 17, I spoke to congressional staffers about the nursing shortage at an event organized by the Alliance for Health Reform and webcast by the Kaiser Family Foundation. And we are working hard at the international level, as well. Cheryl Johnson, Kathy Hall and I joined a number of nursing organizations from major industrialized nations at the International Council of Nurses Workforce Forum in Iceland in September.

I am proud to represent nursing at these forums.

ANA receives countless invitations to be at the table to represent the profession and ANA's endorsement is actively sought by a variety of organizations to add credibility to their issues and programs.

ANA has built a reputation as a leading international and national nursing organization. We are THE VOICE of nursing - a respected resource for legislators, regulators, health care leaders and the public................"

Barbara Blakeney, RN

President of ANA>>>>>

All the more reason why staff RNs members are getting more involved in the organization, participating in decision making, taking leadership roles, & making sure its the staff RNs message that is heard now.

Doing a pretty good job of it too.

Youda · Nov 16, 2002

Originally posted by NRSKarenRN
Most CEO's believe that it's their physician's that generate income by admitting patient's to their facility and if physician's aren't satisfied, the will take their business to a competitor. What the CEO's are failing to understand AND capitalize on is that physician's choose a facility because of the NURSING CARE that is needed 24/7. . . .

This is so true, Karen! At the last LTC I worked at, the medical director wouldn't admit his patients to his own facility. He cited "bad care" and "short staffing" as the reason.

nightingale, RN · Nov 16, 2002

As always thanks for the articles Karen. OH so true...

I could have worked another 12 today, but quite frankly, I could not take another day of dumping and feeling like I had to struggle every bit of the way to meet patient needs. I have felt over worked and under-appreciated over the edge and am, at my financial loss, taking today off... I just could not face another day in the trenches no matter how much I really could use the money.

No sir... not that hungry today...

Tomorrow is another day though and there will be plenty of shifts waiting for nurses...

oramar · Dec 5, 2002

Karen, I am not really satisfied with the web site for joining ANA. They can't tell you what your dues are going to be because of variations in price state to state. It winds up being join and we bill you for whatever it is. I usually want to know exactly what something cost before I pay. Is there a Pa. site that has more info?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 5, 2002

Oramar:

You can join PSNA/ANA for our reduced dues rate of $152.50 plus a district dues rate--PGH rate is $30.00/yr---but you can join any county you want if you just want the access to PSNA/ANA and don't want to get county info or attend their meetings.

Reduced Dues Option (50% of Full dues rate) -- This is available to non-working nurses, full-time (at least nine credits) students who already have their RN license and are in their second program, or nurses 62 or over not earning more than Social Security allows. Annual verification of employment or school status is required.

PA Dues rate:

http://www.psna.org/membership/newdues.htm

oramar · Dec 6, 2002

That is exactly the info for which I was searching.:kiss

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 6, 2002

Always glad to help.

-jt · Dec 6, 2002

All you have to do is call your state nurses association & ask them what their membership fee. Your ANA membership is already included in that amount because membership in your state association gives you automatic membership in the ANA as well.

oramar · Dec 10, 2002

I joined ANA yesterday using it's website. I did use the PSNA site to figure out cost. ANA site had computer registration. PSNA had only form for printing out and mailing in to headquarters.