Do any of you belong to any counsels

[Grobyc82]

With school and other obligations, I do not have the time to put in to any counsels, committees or any associations. I know a few in our hospital that participated in a magnet counsel. I know more that belong to the union. Any of you guys that belong to any counsels or committees and willing to share your experience.

[caliotter3]

There were no councils available to us but most students belonged to the National Student Nurses Association and some actively participated.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I am with you there, even when I worked full time as a nurse I had no interest in committees etc, I just want to work and go home. I was working 60 hours between two jobs and what little free time I had I wanted too spend doing other things not work related!

Annie

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

OP: I think it depends on where you are in your life/career. When I was a student nurse I was very active in the Student Nurses Association and won scholarships to further my education. As a New Grad I joined committees and became very active in those committees as well. In both cases, I learned a lot of information, made positive impacts on others, and grew a lot as a person. However, like AnnieOakly and others, I became busy with life, stopped participating in committees, and ended memberships in nursing associations.

After much time, I am able to join committees related to my career opportunities and nursing associations related to my interests again. Therefore, I encourage you to join committees and associations, if you have the time, where you too will benefit others and yourself/career. Otherwise, committees or associations can be a waste of your time.

[amoLucia]

Some facilities require membership as consideration criteria for upward mobility opportunities or for maximum salary raises.

If that's the case at your facility and it becomes important, then find something that best fits your availability but also holds some interest for you.