In an ideal world, what would you want to see from the ANA?

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Given the contentiousness of the "ANA endorses Kerry" thread and all of that "the ANA doesn't speak for me" stridency on the board, it's clear there's some frustration. Could you indulge me for a moment? If you were building an organization meant to represent the needs and desires of nurses on a nation-wide level, what sort of features and structures would you design in?

And lets make it more of an ideal vision thread, and not a "bash the ANA" thread, ok?

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If they truly want to represent nurses they need to understand what real nurses go through everyday. I would like to see real support and leadership, even a move towards representing nurses as bargaining agents with facilities.

Every nursing organization I've joined has turned out to be a coffee clache group more interested in a mutual admiration society game where they give each other awards. I'd like to see activism.

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If they truly want to represent nurses they need to understand what real nurses go through everyday. I would like to see real support and leadership, even a move towards representing nurses as bargaining agents with facilities.

Every nursing organization I've joined has turned out to be a coffee clache group more interested in a mutual admiration society game where they give each other awards. I'd like to see activism.

Little less emphasis on BSN a little more on working conditions and wages. Don't think for a minute I am against education. They have to encourage education without putting everyone down in one way or another. Wages and working conditions are something everyone can get behind.
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Little less emphasis on BSN a little more on working conditions and wages. Don't think for a minute I am against education. They have to encourage education without putting everyone down in one way or another. Wages and working conditions are something everyone can get behind.

Great points Oramar, and ITA. I too have been put off by what seems to be myopic support of BSN and higher. They seem to forget how many real practicing bedside nurses (the ones they profess to support and represent) are NOT BSN or higher degreed.

I suspect this is greatly behind lack of membership.

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Hey there

I have my BSN and I wanted to comment on this. I do think the ANA ignores real issues at hand, almost ignoring what is going on. Some of the answers to me are quite simple. Basically, I don't want to do everyone else's job. I LOVE assessing pts, I LOVE dressing changes, I LOVE IVs, bloods, etc. I HATE cleaning up rooms, I HATE having to empty garbage cans, I HATE feeling like the nurse just has to shut up and do everything. I know people will say, well those things are impt to the pt, ect. Well, I am not saying they are not. What I am saying is, I was a CNA, I worked as a med tech. I didn't have to go to school for that (whether it be ADN, BSN, MSN, ect) If a person had ample time to do EVERYTHING that would be one thing, but we don't. But because people think nurses should just suck it up, we are expected to do things (like clean, etc) even when we don't have the time. I really feel that there needs to be some set guidelines of a nurses job. I feel that THIS will provide the respect we are looking for, decrease confusion, and keep nurses at the bedside. We cannot be expected to increase our knowledge, increase pt procedures, yet still do everything from the Florence Nightengale image. I am sorry, but I don't like those aspects of nursing. That is why I am not staying in nursing.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ER.
Little less emphasis on BSN a little more on working conditions and wages. Don't think for a minute I am against education. They have to encourage education without putting everyone down in one way or another. Wages and working conditions are something everyone can get behind.

Wow, you just took the exact words I was going to post out of my mouth!

I'd also like to see more emphasis on building solidarity among all nurses, thank you.

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They call themselves the ANA. I am an American nurse and they do not even achknowledge me.

They strive for professionalism. Education does lend to professionalism, but it is not the total requirement.

The ANA needs to get down and dirty with the issues, not, as one other post mentioned, giving each other pats on the back and demanding higher entry-level education.

They need to encompass all of us with a nursing license and empower us all with the advantages of being a nurse. Upward mobility, continuing education that is affordable/convenient to a busy lifestyle and return much to the hospital setting in combination with the university to attain those higher degrees they cherish. That is, a hospital that certifies a nurse in this or that has a nurse that has proven her knowledge and ability in that area. Why then should he/she take the course at a University. Afford us true life-learning status toward our advancement.

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