ANA, State, and Specialty Associations

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Hi all,

I'm a new grad RN that just started my first nursing position. I've heard about the importance of signing up with nursing organizations at the state and federal level throughout nursing school in order to support nursing legislative issues. I get that I'm a brand spanking new, wet behind the ears nurse and should probably learn my job functions before prancing to Washington DC. So what I am wondering is how many of you are members of the ANA, are you also a member of your state nursing association, and what about specialty associations? How long after nursing school did you sign up for these associations? From your experience do you feel that these associations serve a meaningful purpose?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

I'm an ANA member (national, state, and district) and a member of a specialty organization. Right now, I don't do much with them, but I do get a lot of publications that I read as soon as they arrive. The organizations also offer free CEUs.

I'm sorta "meh" about it. It's really up to you. BTW, the memberships aren't cheap.

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I'm a member of my specialty organization and I highly recommend that. I got my first job from networking at chapter meetings and the journal and educational materials available have helped me professionally. I'm not a member of the ANA nor do I plan to be. I do not support all of their political positions.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I belong to the ANA, my state Nursing association, and several specialty associations. I attend conferences annually for a few of them and vote in elections. I have not sought office, but might some day when I have the time to devote. I do think it is critically important and urge you to to get involved.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.
I'm a member of my specialty organization and I highly recommend that. I got my first job from networking at chapter meetings and the journal and educational materials available have helped me professionally. I'm not a member of the ANA nor do I plan to be. I do not support all of their political positions.

Just wanted to add that not agreeing with every platform issue is an excellent reason to join and get involved. The best way to make your voice heard within your profession and thereby make certain that someone is speaking for the minority opinion is to speak up yourself! :)

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I'd urge you to not just randomly join any organization but to take the time to investigate the differences between organizations, for example, the ANA vs. CNA/NNOC

Just as many doctors feel the AMA does not accurately represent them, so do many nurses feel that the ANA does not accurately represent them.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Please support nursing associations. They are always pushing nursing agendas. If they don't do it who would? I belong to ANA, CNA, ENA, IAFN, and ACFEI. As another poster noted, if you don't feel you are being accurately represented, join and make your voice heard. Or, start your own nursing association and build it from the ground up.

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Just wanted to add that not agreeing with every platform issue is an excellent reason to join and get involved. The best way to make your voice heard within your profession and thereby make certain that someone is speaking for the minority opinion is to speak up yourself! :)
Or, I can "vote" with my time and energy and money by doing other things.
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i'm a member of three specialty organizations, and i have gotten a lot of great professional contacts through them. these in turn have led me to speaking engagements, for which i have had free conference registration > free ceus, the odd honorarium, and the odd free hotel room in beautiful places. this looks good on the old resume, leads me to meet a lot of interesting people, and translates into lots of useful knowledge i need for work.

i also have been active in one organization and have had the pleasure of watching membership almost triple since i got involved. not wholly due to my personal efforts, i hasten to add, but i really did have something to do with it, and i am very proud of that.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I am a member of Texas Nurses Asso and thru them, the ANA. I am also a member of a specialty organization. This allows me to know what is going on in Congress (State and Federal) regarding nursing. I can then communicate (email) to congressmen/women. It helps me maintain a level of professionalism and learn about trends in my area of practice. Finally, I believe the fact I knew the CNO from networking in TNA helped me get this job. I was the only applicant who was a member and she was/is quite active.

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Specializes in OB/GYN/Neonatal/Office/Geriatric.

If you join ANA you are automatically joined into your state chapter. Choose what would be of interest and benefit to you. You can always cancel if you don't feel it's for you. I like the clinical reports and web-based info that is available. CE opportunities. Also legislative doings. It is also tax-deductible!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I've been a member of the ANA since I graduated from nursing school many years ago. It helps me stay informed about many issues and it also is the organization that links me to my professional .

Over the years, I have also been a member in several specialty organizations. They help me keep current in the knowledge of my specialty. I have also been a committee member with some of those organizations, made a lot of professional contacts, gotten discounts to conferences, been a conference speaker, etc. Active membership has definitely helped my career.

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