ANA - why not? What have they done etc?

Nurses General Nursing

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Recently, there has been so much talk about the ANA. Mostly because people relate it too, the only possible organization that could unite and back up nurses (well that opinion varies obviously). So I have a question for all of you out there.

Are you or are you not a member of the ANA? If so why or why not?

My response? I started ER right out of school. I thought for sure that's what I wanted to do. I did and still like it...but have my bad nights. I'm straying oooopppps, back to the subject. Well I thought it best to always keep my Avenues open. I did know I had a drive to specialize and try and be the best, at whatever I did.

Well the ANA came out with a new stand on specialties about this time. Like after a certain date, ADN/ASN/degree program nurses would not be eligible after a certain date, for the CNOR, CNS, etc etc. they said the requirement would be a BS minimum, to specilaize through certification. This really struck me hard. It made me feel inferior, and discriminated against. I could not see how they could discriminate, without loosing a lawsuite. Of course........I was not wasting my money on that either. I looked at this statement, as the ANA's way, of seperating, and dividing nursing more than it already been. My choice? Clearly, never be part of an orginization, that disrupts an allegedly commen goal and/or discriminates openly.

Rick

Specializes in ER, PACU, OR.

Intresting thought Journey.

I agree partially, it's not ALL about money. However, when you are running your behind off, and having the responsibilities nurses have in their job.........money does matter.

We have had several people go to agencies, because they pay double. That is also a growing trend right now, so I think it does say alot. While other jobs escalate, nursing has barely rode the plain of inflation. I think if you were to go out and talk with some yonger people, you would find they would consider, Lawyers, doctors, bussiness, and other things more attractive. My experiences with people going to school, without direction tends to be that nurses don't make enough.

Are there other issues? Certainly there are!!! Treatment by physicians and families, are sometimes horrendous. Nowdays, hospitals have a "You can't tell them to go somewhere else", and "The patient and family are always right, just agree with them" attitude. there are many issues, but keeping the current nurses in the field, and at the bedside is a money related issue.

Holidays? Nightshifts? Weekends? Work in a hospital, every other weekend, 4 out of 8 holidays a year (in our system), worry about legalitie issues, and get paid your normal base rate, for all of that!

OR

Go work for an insurance company, or legal firm and work Mon through Fri, same pay, no weekends, no holidays, and no legal concerns??? Is that not a no brainer? That's what people are doing. So although money isn't the only issue, it's a big one.

(BTW, I hope nothing I said offended you, as it was not meant too smile.gif )

Rick

I think CEN35, you missed my point. I'm disappointed with Mary Foley's comments, because she did not point out that money was a major concern. If in fact, she made the comment as I read it, I disagree with it. I think that she could have pointed out that nurses have an overriding concern not only for the quality of patient care but for the compensation they receive for that care.

Originally posted by CEN35:

Intresting thought Journey.

I agree partially, it's not ALL about money. However, when you are running your behind off, and having the responsibilities nurses have in their job.........money does matter.

We have had several people go to agencies, because they pay double. That is also a growing trend right now, so I think it does say alot. While other jobs escalate, nursing has barely rode the plain of inflation. I think if you were to go out and talk with some yonger people, you would find they would consider, Lawyers, doctors, bussiness, and other things more attractive. My experiences with people going to school, without direction tends to be that nurses don't make enough.

Are there other issues? Certainly there are!!! Treatment by physicians and families, are sometimes horrendous. Nowdays, hospitals have a "You can't tell them to go somewhere else", and "The patient and family are always right, just agree with them" attitude. there are many issues, but keeping the current nurses in the field, and at the bedside is a money related issue.

Holidays? Nightshifts? Weekends? Work in a hospital, every other weekend, 4 out of 8 holidays a year (in our system), worry about legalitie issues, and get paid your normal base rate, for all of that!

OR

Go work for an insurance company, or legal firm and work Mon through Fri, same pay, no weekends, no holidays, and no legal concerns??? Is that not a no brainer? That's what people are doing. So although money isn't the only issue, it's a big one.

(BTW, I hope nothing I said offended you, as it was not meant too smile.gif )

Rick

I'm afraid I'm not much of a mathematician. My point was not to crunch any real numbers. I just wanted to emphasize that a small number of those of us who don't currently belong to the ANA could potentially create a huge change in the make up of the organization.

"its not about the money"

the comments in context meant that its not ONLY about the money. Its about workplace conditions too. I believe it was also mentioned that according to nurses who answered surveys from the government & also surveys from the ANA, that the NURSES themselves said in those surveys that it was not about the money.

I agree with Jamistic :D I have been an LPN for 16 years and the ANA does not think what i do is important enough to stop lobbying against us. We have our limitations but we still provide excellent Patient Care. We were and still are a viable part of the health care system and yet we are not wanted by the ANA because they don't feel we are important I wish there was one organization that reconized us all for who we are-Nurses

it would begin to start creating some unity in this field instead of all the disharmony between the different degrees and as one voice we could move mountains-don't you think? ;)

Specializes in ER, PACU, OR.

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Originally posted by Tim-GNP:

Maybe because ANA supporters are tired of hitting our heads against the walls. I have been busy with school work, so haven't had much time to play online.

Personally, i'm sick of seeing nurses act like nursing is a 'blue-collar' labor camp. It is a profession. Part of being a professional is belonging to your professional organization.

How many professional organizations go on strike? Blue collar labor camps go on strike.

NOW THIS IS WHY NURSES ARE NOT VIEWED AS PROFESSIONALS. We are in the midst of a nationwide nursing shortage, which is not going to get any better anytime soon. (By the way, who would want to become one when this is what they get to look forward to?)Instead of using this fact to bolster the issues which are of the most importance in nursing(ie.. wages, patient care, staffing...)we are still bickering about which is better the Diploma, ADN or BSN. Has anyone ever considered what EXPERIENCE is worth? How about CHARACTER? Good solid thought skills? Come on now, we all know at least one BSN, ADN, and Diploma nurse that you look at and wonder how they managed to tie their shoes, let alone pass boards? The problem with the ANA is that with 30 years (or whatever)of bickering and aleinating the ADN/Diploma nurse that noone wants to hear it anymore? (And lets not even talk about the LVN/LPN nurses!!!) The Diploma and ADN nurses are here to stay. Besides, do you have any idea how many fewer nurses there would be if BSN was the minimum requirement? Not everyone has a college fund available(spare me on the student loans speech).

We need to put the ANA back on track if it is to have a legitimate future. Frankly, I see it slowly being swallowed by small unions who can actually listen to nurses needs and negotiate for them.

Now its time for me to get off my soapbox- not like anyone will retain anything I just said.

:eek:

Specializes in ER, PACU, OR.

Not like anybody will retain anything I just said" - That was rather rude Elsie.

Hope today is a better day! :)

Rick

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