Nursing org memberships (ONS, ANA, etc.) for new grads?

[dreavt, BSN, RN]

Hi all,

I graduated in May with my ADN, passed the NCLEX first week of June, and am still looking for a job. My goal is to work in oncology, and I have the first faintest whiff of hope from a teaching hospital with an inpatient onco unit, and an affiliation with an NCI-designated cancer center (at which I was actually treated for *my* cancer last fall -- I would love to work there, and have a lot of good references who are current RNs or docs there -- so I don't think my hope is totally misplaced).

I'm trying not to get too worked up, but am seriously considerly joining the Oncology Nursing Society -- there are web-based CNE courses that I want to take (at a discount if a member), all the publications, and if (I hope when! but I gotta get a year of onco nurse experience first) I get my OCN certification it's $120 cheaper for ONS members.

Is this silly for an RN who doesn't even have a job, much less one in their (hopeful!) speciality? Would it look good, or kind of pathetic, on a resume? What about other nursing organizations, ANA, etc.? For those who are a member of an organization(s) -- is it worth it?

Thanks so much!

[elkpark]

Whether or not membership in any of the nursing organizations is "worth it" is a v. personal decision. There are multiple threads here about whether or not it's worth belonging to the state nursing associations. But, to answer your other question, no, it would not look "pathetic" for you to join a specialty organization that interests you and put it on your resume' -- it shows that you are seriously interested in that specialty, seriously enough to cough up some bucks, and that is a good thing. If you live in an area where the organization has a local chapter with regular meetings, that can be a great opportunity to network and maybe get a line on job possibilities, in addition to the other benefits of membership.

Congrats on your graduation and licensure!

[dreavt, BSN, RN]

Whether or not membership in any of the nursing organizations is "worth it" is a v. personal decision. There are multiple threads here about whether or not it's worth belonging to the state nursing associations. But, to answer your other question, no, it would not look "pathetic" for you to join a specialty organization that interests you and put it on your resume' -- it shows that you are seriously interested in that specialty, seriously enough to cough up some bucks, and that is a good thing. If you live in an area where the organization has a local chapter with regular meetings, that can be a great opportunity to network and maybe get a line on job possibilities, in addition to the other benefits of membership.

Congrats on your graduation and licensure!

Thanks so much for your input -- I think I'm going to go for it. Even I don't finagle an oncology job as a new grad, I really believe it's my calling, and I will get there eventually -- I think being in the ONS, taking courses though them, etc., can only help me be ready.