ANA Cost?

CEN35 · Apr 23, 2001

Zee I really don't know? However, I wouldn't join if it was cheap. There's something to be said, for an orginization that allegedly represents all nurses, but focuses on the advance practice nurses and craps on the lesser degree nurses. Just my opinion....

Rick

Zee_RN, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2001

ah, interesting thought, Rick...as I am one of those "lesser degree" nurses (ADN). Have always meant to go back and have taken a few courses but... *sigh* [Working full-time and raising triplet daughters seems to just take it all out of me... One of my girls requires a lot of support with schoolwork and I can't seem to justify taking time away from her to do my OWN homework.]

Wouldn't want to join if I'm looked down upon .... I have the utmost respect for those who were able to go to a four-year school but it wasn't an option for me at the time. OK..i'll shut up now because I'm about do diverge on to a completely different subject

Jackie Payne · Apr 23, 2001

I am only a LPN. How do you thik they make me feel?

CEN35 · Apr 23, 2001

Zee - it's your thread? Who cares if you head off to another subject

On the another note - I know your position, I have two daughters of my own. I have them from sunrise until 2pm, when I take a shower and head off too work. I come home at 12:30pm EST, and then start all over in the morning again. See I have lots of free time.....lol!

Rick

P.S.- Only an LPN? Don't do that to yourself...Payne. I have met medics and LPN's I would rather have take care of me than some RN's. Unfortunately degree/ranking doesn't count for much, it all depends on the person. Are they smart? Intelligent? Good nursing sense? Good critical thinking skills? If the answer is yes, I could care less about the letters!

Level2Trauma · Apr 24, 2001

It seems that the only replies you got so far are from the anti-ANA nurses. I am a member of the ANA (NO BETTER OR NO WORSE THAN THOSE THAT ARE NOT A MEMBER). However, to answer your question; ANA membership is $240 per year. However, you don't have to pay all at once. You can have it come straight out of your checking account and they will withdraw $20.33 each month from your checking account. This is the route I chose. I only have to be give up one fast food meal a week in order to pay my dues. A small price to pay for the benefits of ANA (JUST MY OPINION).

Zee_RN, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2001

I am neither for or against ANA membership at this point. Just seeking information. As I said, I had every intention of joining after graduating nursing school but was not able to afford it at the time. $240 a year plus state membership...

Level2trauma, you state it is small price for benefits but I don't know what the benefits are. Is their a website that details them? Can someone tell me what the return on investment is? This is not a challenge, it is simply information gathering. How have you personally benefited from your ANA membership? I would like to hear of the benefits from a member, not just a corporate brochure. Thanks for your help.

-jt · Apr 24, 2001

Level2trauma, you state it is small price for benefits but I don't know what the benefits are. Is their a website that details them? Can someone tell me what the return on investment is? This is not a challenge, it is simply information gathering. How have you personally benefited from your ANA membership? I would like to hear of the benefits from a member, not just a corporate brochure. Thanks for your help.
http://www.ANA.org http://www.UANnurse.org http://www.ana.org/tan/
The benefits come from having a recognized & respected professional organization in the arena & working for nurses to advance issues that concern them - whatever it is that is important to nurses at the time - whether it be fighting for and winning laws to protect us from needlestick injuries at work to reduce our risk of contracting diseases, or bringing to the publics attention the unsafe cost-cutting management practices of short-staffing & mandatory ot which place us & pts at risk, and enlisting the publics help in applying pressure to the healthcare industry & elected officials to end these practices nationwide, while our local branches are helping us fight that same fight at the same time at our individual facilities with our administrators, or whether it be testifying before Congress on behalf of nurses in this country & the crisis they are in, or testifying before the Supreme Court on supporting the federal right of this nations nurses to unionize & not be classified as "supervisors" just because they delegate tasks to an aide, or whether it be fighting for & winning the right of CRNAs to be third-party reimbursed for services just like any other anesthetist is, or fighting for advanced practice RNs to be allowed to train for positions as First Assistants just as PAs are allowed to, or whether it be working with the US President to obtain federal funding expanding nursing school programs to increase student nurse enrollment & also to educate & recruit nursing instructors, as well as funding for grants to students to become nurses, and funding to help minorities enter the profession.... and the list goes on.... and we all benefit from its work. Nurses join it & support it with their dues & actively being involved so that work can continue.
Our ANA-constituent state association dues are 1% of our base salary so since salaries differ according to region, the amount changes by region. Dues are reduced for senior citizen nurses & student nurses. In NYC where salaries are highest, regular dues are about $55/mth average - with a cut of $85/yr from that going to the parent organization - the ANA in DC.
I do not always agree 100% with my organization & there is always room from improvement& growth - the same can be said about anything - but for the most part it has accomplished a lot for nursing & nurses... In my experience dues are Money well spent. Id hate to imagine where nursing would be if there was no multi-purpose national professional nursing organization out there to fight for our rights & professionalism.
THAT is the return on our investment.
The American MEDICAL Association would probably have us washing windows by now if they did not have the ANA to contend with. They definitely would have us replaced by RCTs - remember them??? "REGISTERED Care Technicians" - almost like LICENSED UAPS that reported not to the RN but to the MD! Like mini-nurses - The ANA defeated them on that in the mid 90's when they & hospital administrators were laying us off left & right to cut costs & hiring UAPS instead - but the ANA made sure that personnel classification never was created & our profession was protected.
Yeah... free Journals, interactions with nurses all across the country, discounted products, seminars, insurance plans, etc,etc,etc are all nice but I think the REAL benefits are all that other stuff up there.
Review the ANA History & time line at the website. You'll get a better idea of what its all about.

-jt · Apr 24, 2001

Originally posted by CEN35:
There's something to be said, for an orginization that allegedly represents all nurses, but focuses on the advance practice nurses and craps on the lesser degree nurses. Just my opinion....

As an ADN & staff RN at the bedside in an ICU, I definitely agree with you. I wouldnt join that kind of organization either.

Thats why I'm a member of the ANA instead!

And definitely more than satisfied with it, especially over the last 3 years - with its new leadership & reorganization.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 24, 2001

Julie: Couldn't have stated it any better.

Zee, since you live in PA, check out: www.psna.org

I'm copying info from the PSNA website. Membership application can be obtained there http://www.psna.org/membership/memben.htm.

Just received the latest membership packets to be given out at our Millennium Nurses MArch, Mary 5th, 2001 in Phila and will be glad to send you one, if you e-mail me your address.

When one joins ANA, you are also joining your state association and local district. Since you live in Pittsburgh, you would be in District 6 for Allegheny and surrounding counties with full dues costing $300.00/year and reduced option dues costing $145.00/year.

Why join ANA/PSNA??

25 Reasons to Join PSNA...

Advocacy, Benefits, Convenience, Data, Practice, Friendship, Discounts, Happenings, Ideas, Know-How, Leadership, Management, Networking, Observation, Publications, Professional Development, Lobbying, Quality, Recommendations, Travel, Trends, Unity, Vision, Youth, One Voice

Information:

Cutting edge information on nursing practice, education, legislation and quality health care:

Free subscriptions to The Pennsylvania Nurse and The American Nurse .

Free subscription to the American Journal of Nursing.

Free access to the Legislative Bulletin.

Access to our free ListServ Alert E-mail Service.

Access to the consistently updated PSNA website, 24 hours a day,

Education:

Professional development including discounts on continuing education programs.

Substantial discount on ANCC certification.

Consultation

Free access to experts for consultation on your own or industry-wide practice issues.

Free professional and educational counseling.

A Unified Voice:

In major stockholder's groups addressing regulations relevant to health care.

Lobbyist representing your concerns at the state capitol.

Working relationship with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

On-going contact with Pennsylvania legislators on nursing issues.

National representation through the American Nurses Association.

Workplace advocacy efforts to support nurses in being able to provide quality health care in a safe environment.

Liability Insurance:

Liability protection and legal representation coverage up to $2,000,000 per incident/$4,000,000 per year.

Networking:

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Council.

Council on Nursing Ethics.

Conferences and seminars.

Association committees and commissions as well as informal discussion groups.

Opportunities to get involved at the state and national levels.

Personal Benefits:

Life and health insurance

Retirement saving programs

Liability insurance

Credit union membership

MBNA MasterCard

Dental program

Eyewear discount

Hotel/motel and other travel discounts

Personal line of credit

Long distance phone service

A VIATICUS settlement program

MBNA Financial Programs:

A solid savings and investment plan is founded on the principles of diversity, security and performance. The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association is pleased to provide deposit accounts through MBNA America Bank N.A. The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association CD has consistently ranked among the best nationwide. And, the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association Money Market has outperformed most money funds as well as other bank money market and savings accounts year after year. Additionally, these accounts come with FDIC insurance up to $100,000 per depositor.

Insurance at affordable group rates-further info at the Web site.

How have I personally benefited?

a. By meeting and interacting with a district board member who owned a Home care and Nursing staffing agency, I obtained my first position in a home health agency.

b.I was able to consult with the PSNA practice advisor on a clinical issue, at no charge.

c.Involvement in letter writing campaign to our state legislators helped to kill bill re licensing of registered care technicians.

Similar letter writing campaign, helped CRNP's earn prescriptive privleges in PA just last year.

d. Attendance at PSNA sponsored programs have helped keep me current in my current practice and helped make me aware of trends deveoping across PA and the U.S.

e. This past month, I was asked to co-chair my homecare agency's safety committee and be responsible for the subcommittee on needlestick safety and sharps injury reducation. After attending last years PSNA convention and attending the CEU session on

needlestick safety, I had a wealth of information at my fingerstips and knew were to go on the web to obtain the most current OSHA/government regulations to bring my agency up to current standards and by doing so will be protecting the health of my clients and colleagues.

f. Anyone can visit the PSNA website, but my membership allows me accesss to the PSNA listserve for timely e-mails re hot topics and by signing up for the Legislative bulletin e-mail, I receive the news 5 days sooner and can dash off a note to my legislators, fellow nurses and share the news with other professional nursing organizations.

g. Laugh with and learn from other members during meetings. Even changing my opinions on some matters after hearing and reflecting on others viewpoints.

I think that's a lot for the dues I pay.

Hope you will consider joining.

RNforLongTime · Apr 24, 2001

I live in Ohio and the hospital which I work for has a union which is based out of the Ohio Nurses Association. Union dues are approximately 28 dollars a month (i think) so it costs about 250 dollars a year which gives me membership in the ONA and the ANA plus union representation

-jt · Apr 25, 2001

Originally posted by kaknurse:
I live in Ohio and the hospital which I work for has a union which is based out of the Ohio Nurses Association. []

The video your association just made re: the nursing crisis & managements cost-cutting practicies & how they impact on us and the pts is awesome! I heard it is being shown at legislative sessions with your elected officials & other groups & will eventually be a public service announcement possibly on TV. It really is an impressive piece of work. Congratulations! http://www.ohnurses.org/