"International Association of Nurses" - is this legit?

Nurses Professionalism

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Does anyone know what the "International Association of Nurses" is, or if it's legit? During school I got letters three years in a row telling me I was nominated for the "Who's Who in Educators" and suspect this is a bit along the same lines. Google isn't telling me much. I've never heard of their supposed publication "Worldwide Leaders in HealthCare."

Oh, I might also add that I have "been selected as a Top Nurse in" my small town Illinois, and have not yet secured employment after graduating last May. So their offer of this "prestigious tribute to [my] success" is very suspect, though I'd like to think they just anticipated my awesomeness :p

I am also curious about the IAN after receiving a candidacy approval in the mail - Free for the listing but only viewable to members. I am curious how much it cost - the website does not state. Not much info on this company, and nothing through the better business bureau. I think it seems more like a private publisher of information who then turns around and sells its "books" to its members at high cost...

I also live in a very small town and received a letter saying that I was being recognized. I filled out the application and was called on three seperate occasions to very my biography. Finally the 3rd time I answered and gave them my "history" as a RN. Finally they welcomed me to their association and said there was one last thing. They asked if I would like the Diamond package or some other package. The Diamond package was $900 and some change and the second package was $500. After I told them I wouldn't give my credit card info over the phone they said that's ok we can take you checking account info. After a lengthy explanation about how they were a safe company and they were the IAN. I repeated that I was not interested in sharing my bank info over the phone. They tried to peer pressure me some more but I just hung up. Once I was off the phone I felt very taken advantage of and felt like I had just avoided being scammed. None of my co-workers have ever heard of them. Stay away from anything having to do with the IAN!

I am so grateful for this website!! I replied, because it was "free", and what could it hurt? I was called at work and high pressured to sign up (fortunately for a $218. package). I felt sick knowing it was not good. I called my credit card company- said I had 3 days at least for the IAN to refund or they would help. I called IAN and was quite aggressive in telling them I did not want this, had spoke with credit card folks and they called me back in 2hrs, stated my account was credited. They were rude,(I'm sure I was with them to get my point across.) If it's called FREE, it ain't so!! Thank You all.:redbeathe

Thank goodness for this post! I just got called by IAN. I had given my bio information in the mail figuring it was free and I could put it on my resume. They really pressured me to give like 700 bucks and then kept down grading to eventually 30 but I said heck no. They really try to pressure you for money. But if you don't give any, I guess its just like "who's who" or whatever, except that I wonder if it will actually end up looking stupid to put it on your resume? Ah well, be careful of these people!

Specializes in Geriatrics, Pain, End of Life Care.

They sing a good song...got me for a couple hundred bucks. They put up a good front too. I have a very stylish award letter and folder, silvered lettering, the works, but where's the book? Some of life's lessons cost more than others, glad this one only cost me a few $$.

I got contacted by them a few months after graduation. I fell for what they were offering like a fool and did the "diamond membership." They have since been billing my credit card for 34.95 a month, and I received another call today wanting 1100.00 for a copy of the book. I am having my credit card company dispute the charges which they wet ahead and processed less than 5 minutes after speaking with me. It is awful that they can get away with swindling people for a useless association that no one has ever heard of. please don't fall for it like I did!

Specializes in CNA, Nursing Student.

I just got one of these letters. I'm an entering student in the fall, not even a nurse yet. I had a good laugh then shredded it.

Thanks all for the posts, it would have helped me a lot, I did call them and they were all "congrats and welcome and this is such an honor blah blah" they seemed really interested in me (yeah for my money), so then she hits me up for 900.00 for some "benefit" level and I asked her I thought that it was suppose to be free and no obligation and she replied "yes thats right but that entyr in the book is only your name, city and state, I told her that fine then asked how did I get picked and she went through a process of only best nurses and so on but then how did I get choosen, she skipped that and went nack to the money, I told her that this sounds like a scam, that I would only be published if I pay them and told her no and hung up on her then not more than 3 mins go by and she calls my cell and tells me that she was offended by what I said and I told her truth hurts, and hunng up again, needless to say 2000 phone calls yes 2000 calls later, I had to get my parent's lawyer draw up a cease and decess letter for them NEVER EVER THINK THIS IS LEGIT, my ego got the best of me just glad I didn't give them any money.

Specializes in Adult Critical Care / Med-Surg / Neuro.

I had actually registered under the International Council of Nurses for the publication. Yes, IAN contacted me and I had the song & dance routine as well for the $900 Diamond membership, the $700 Silver Membership and the $350 Gold Membership. I unfortunately went for the Associate membership; $198. I guess an expensive way to be published. Luckily, only a one time and ONE TIME ONLY fee... I have yet to receive the "Certificate" or the book, as they say they are completing their publication process. We'll see, I had everything sent to my hospital as I don't want information and junk mail at home.

I would be interested in know if any of you who also joined receive the book. If not, then we may have to pursue some other means of ousting them.

Has anyone who has disbuted the charges have any success? I wish I would have read this Sunday night...

I received a call from IAN this morning thanking me for my application but had a few more questions and asked for a call back. I never sent them an application.

I did some research and found their website http://www.ianursing.com. It is a subsidiary of International Association of Healthcare Professionals http://www.iahcp.com. One website is geared toward physicians and the other toward nurses. If you look at the websites side by side, they are almost identical in layout with some cosmetic and wording differences. Also, their address, phone, fax are all the same.

I did a search in the Better Business Beureau and came up empty.

For what it's worth as it's own website, Quackwatch.com listed the International Association of Healthcare Professionals as a questionable organization. I have read that Quackwatch and it's creator have stirred mixed opinions among the medical industry but the "9 precautionary questions" to ask yourself about any organization you're thinking of joining do seem to have some truth to them.

When you ask yourself any of these questions and then look at the IAN website, not many, if any of these questions are answered with concrete information. Who even created these websites? They do not give you information regarding membership fees online, instead you have to email your information, which they now have your address and phone number. There are no terms of enrollment to review before you send your info in. However, they have a full page of how your name will be published, plaques to hang on your wall. Discounts to here and there because you're a special member. It all sounds like a money making scheme to me that uses an appeal to your ego to get your business. Take a look under the FAQ section. Most of the "selecting" is done by the Marketing and Research Department.

Thanks to the feedback on this site, glad I'm not the only one who almost let my ego get the better of me.

One more thing that put a red flag up for me is one of my contacts on Linkedin. Just 2 days ago, I received an email from a home health agency via Linkedin stating they wanted to add me to their contact list. Although I didn't know who they were, the agency is within where I live so I figured "why not". Isn't that what Linkedin is for? To broaden your business contacts? So, I made them one of my contacts. Now maybe it's coincidence that 2 days later I get a call from IAN and maybe not. Either way, I'll be eliminating this contact from my list.

Sorry so long winded but hope any or all of this info helps!

Thanks all for this post. Got the mail today . I was in the middle of completing my info when i stopped and decided to check this on line.Thank you all again, glad i did.:redbeathe

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