Re: What in the world does the ANA do? Originally Posted by ~nurse~
It is my understanding that only about 3% of nurses are members of ANA. That means even if they do things for that 3%, they don't represent nurses/nursing. Defining standards of practice needs to be done by those who at least have a faint idea what practice is, working nurses!
We, the nurses that make healthcare happen and without whom healthcare would STOP, should be the ones defining standards. Definitions based on knowledge and experience assuring there is a strong dose of reality with every standard and rule.
We are also the only ones that should be able to determine what a "magnet" hospital is. Not some organization making tons of money being paid off by hospitals for the designation. Their tests for certification a somewhat of a joke as well.
There needs to be a new kid in town (the town of nursing?). An organization made up of nurses, for nurses, controlled by nurses where the actual members have true say in what goes on. We are also a huge workforce and should have benefits like those that other large groups get.
If we come together, not with unions but with nurses, we are unstoppable. Without us there is no healthcare, and it is okay for us to be recognized, respected and compensated appropriately to the responsibility of what we do. Together we can make policies that are appropriate and realistic. Lobby for laws that need to be there and against laws that shouldn't. No hospital should be able to fire a staff member because they question what the administration does!
I could not agree with you more and hope that people who read your post take it to heart. But what you have described is a union at its most basic level as defined:
An organization of workers joined to protect their common interests and improve their working conditions.
This content can be found on the following page:
http://www.investorwords.com/cgi-bin...156&term=union
Unions are not the enemy and if we as nurses would organize the corporations would be forced to deal with us and to make the changes that are so emergently needed.
Thank you for your activism and I hope that in this climate of change nurses will take part in the debate in a larger number. We have been silent and passive for to long. If we stand together we can get the change that our patients and fellow nurses deserve.
We must support Barack Obama so that the laws that have been favoring the corporation and keeping the worker silent will be changed and allow for our voices to be heard. I don't believe he will bring utopia but I do believe he is our best hope to allow us to change our profession and the health care industry in a positive way.
While you are correct that if nurses joined together to effect relevant changes to the healthcare industry, I have to ask what you are doing about it?
You may not agree with ANA, but if you and 100,000 like minded nurses were to join and mold the organization to your desires, then ANA would indeed represent you, the "working nurses." If indeed it doesn't adequately represent "working nurses" then most certainly it is because not enough "working nurses" participate in the processes that help direct the actions/direction of the organization.
I also think local nurses' unions are another way nurses could have a positive impact in their work enviornment, but all too often, nurses are much more vocal than they are active.
When I was part of the local nurses' union, (shop steward, local rep., negotiation committe, board member/chair, Exe. Director) I heard all the time about how the union didn't represent "me" or that we didn't fight hard enough in a discliplinary action. But, when asked to participate in the administration of the union, or to follow the contract language regarding issues associated with possible discliplinary action, nearly all declined and wanted "someone else" to do "it."
I don't mean to sound attacking, as that is not the intent. But change requires much more than just talk. It requires actions and unfortunately it frequently appears that nurses, as a group, aren't willing to put that much energy into it. Which, IMHO, is sad.
Re: What in the world does the ANA do?
of my mind, soon maybe I'll be broke.
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