ANA & specialty nurse organizations

Tim-GNP · Feb 28, 2001

Boy, el, you said a mouthful. My supervising physicians have told me the same thing [about it being expected that they join their professional organization]. They belong to AMA, but many also belong to their own specialty organizations [american thoracic society, american college of cardiologists, etc.], which reflects their own unique practice interests.

This point of view, however, has come under much opposition, because many nurses feel that the views of the 'organization' are not consistent with their ideas. What they fail to understand is that THEY make the voice.

If all of nursing united under one powerful voice, WE would be unstoppable. Another criticism is that only APRN's benefit from membership in ANA, as the ANA is only looking out for Advanced practice issues. If you look at those who belong to ANA, you will see that more APRN's [percentage-wise] belong to ANA than non-APRN's. With this in mind, it is no wonder advanced practice issues get such attention [once again, those who belong tend to make their voice heard]. I wish ALL nurses would join, their nurses associations.

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Tis with our judgements as our watches, none go just alike, yet, each believes his own.

-Alexander Pope

-jt · Mar 2, 2001

Originally posted by Tim-GNP:
If you look at those who belong to ANA, you will see that more APRN's [percentage-wise] belong to ANA than non-APRN's. With this in mind, it is no wonder advanced practice issues get such attention

I agree with your other statement & that of Eland level2trauma but I disagree that more APRNs are members than non-APRNs. Or that their issues are receiving more attention. I'm also a member of the ANA. Most of our members are direct-care staff RNs and I think the majority of those come from collective bargaining state associations.
It may be true that in the past, the needs of direct-care RNs did not always receive the focus they deserved but that has not been the case for the past 2 yrs or so under the new leadership where a major focus of the ANA has been staffing & mandatory overtime issues, as well as workplace conditions. I find that those who arent members may not be aware of all that the ANA is doing, have many misconceptions about it, & still consider it to be an "executives club". I agree with the statements about becoming involved & making the changes you need & making your professional organization what you need it to be. I think that APRNs recognize that more & participate more while direct-care RNs dont.

I believe that we need all professional nurses in one professional place to be a force with the stregth such as the AMA has - dividing up into separate groups only diminshes that voice. I disagree with those who say a direct-care RN cannot belong to the same professional organization that an APRN belongs to. Nursing is nursing...many different facets...not one more important than the other... but all together, a force to be reckoned with. Nursing would do well if more nurses took a lesson from the MDs about the expectation (and benefits) of belonging to their professional association.

Tim-GNP · Mar 2, 2001

You are right JT--- When I enrolled in my basic RN program, we were required to join SNAP [it was a way out of a paper on political activity in our nursing roles course]. Ever since then I have been a member.

I wish all RN's would get involved in ANA and their state nurses association.

Jenny P · Mar 7, 2001

I belong to ANA (my PROFESSIONAL organization) and AACN (my SPECIALTY organization). Why? Because I get something very valuable from both of them. My professional organization has given me the chance to meet and work with many nurses in many areas of nursing I would have never even known about if it wasn't for this organization. My state professional organization has also become my collective bargaining (or union) organization and has listened to staff nurses concerns about patient care and the workplace issues. Because of this, I work in a hospital where there is no such thing as mandatory overtime (hasn't been since 1987); we have an all RN staff with better nurse patient ratios than a lot of postings on this site; our salaries are something we can at least live on here (my gross was over $50,000 and I don't work full time- not that it is enough for the work we do!); and I happen to love my work here. Is it perfect? Of course not! But it is definitely better than a lot of places that nurses are complaining about on this BBS; and my collective bargaining part of MNA has certainly improved my workplace situation. I also belong to my specialty organization so I can stay current in it. I am also certified by my speciality organization. To belong to both organizations does cost money, but since I USE and PARTICIPATE in these organizations (okay, I'm really involved in ANA and only stay current in AACN- I have a life, too), I figure that the cost of both organizations is less than $50/ month and the nursing journals for both organizations is included in that price; so it's a bargain to me! I carry my own lunch to work, and I don't smoke or drink, so I use some of that hard-earned money in a way that I can really get some benefit from it.

[This message has been edited by Jenny P (edited March 06, 2001).]

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Mar 15, 2001

I am a member of Sigma Theta Tau, which integrates nursing research into practice and seeks to advance nursing professionalism in a non-partisan way. Other nursing organizations, such as the ANA, are, in my humble opinion, hopelessly out of touch with the "generic" bedside staff nurse (who is the backbone of our healthcare system). The political views of the ANA are way too offensive and liberal for me. (Reminds me of the teachers' union NEA.) Just one example: I am ardently pro-life. The ANA, however, is staunchly pro-abortion; therefore I could never join nor support this organization. Since Roe v Wade, 40 million unborn children have been victims of legalized abortion--1,500,000 yearly (an almost incomprehensible figure). The oldest of this cohort would have turned 28 years old this year. One and 1/2 million less people yearly who may have chosen nursing as a career. 40 million less workers to shore up the ailing Social Security System as the aging boomers retire. Not a whimper or outcry from the ANA about the barbaric partial birth abortion procedure. Their silence is deafening--enough to make Florence turn over in her grave. We have certainly failed in our calling to be advocates for the most helpless of all--our precious unborn children.

NCNocRN · Mar 19, 2001

Well said, Healingtouch. NCNA supports women's abortion rights without any restrictions whatsoever. The ANA/NCNA proabortion stand is the ONLY reason that I will not join. These organizations need to become more inclusive to prolifers deeply held beliefs.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 20, 2001

The fact is that we are professionals and as one of the posters said, we are expected to join a professional association. If we don't like how our association is representing our profession that gives us MORE of an obligation, not less to get in there and change how we are being represented.