Professional Organizations

prmenrs, RN · May 9, 2010

I have, @ one time or another belonged to one or both NANN and Academy of Neonatal Nurses. I think I currently belong to the Academy.

For me, it's a matter of $$--if I can afford it, I join. I like Neonatal Network a bit better than NANN's journal.

jmo

darynash · May 9, 2010

I know what you mean, I was in both and AWHONN. I think I am going to drop AWHONN and do both neonatal organizations. I think AWHONN is too focused on Women's Health and OB, I don't think there is very much NICU.

NeoNurseTX, RN · May 10, 2010

I'm a member of my regional division of NANN. I don't want to pay for the actual national membership because of cost/benefit. I usually don't travel for conferences (or I did, but I want to save money now!) so it really isn't beneficial for me. There are issues of Neonatal Network around the unit that I read.

Love_2_Learn · May 10, 2010

I became a NICU nurse in 1994 and joined NANN at that time; have been a member ever since. When NANN broke apart and the Academy of Neonatal Nursing was formed I joined them too since they took the "Neonatal Network" journal with them as part of their organization. Within a year or so NANN had their own journal "Advances in Neonatal Care". It was sad to see the split but I feel I have been lucky to be able to receive each organization's journal and the benefits of both. Each one is terrific in their own way. I like that NANN publishes so many guidelines and many other things that have helped me over the years, many of which are free. Their Family Teaching Toolkit education pages are wonderful and completely free. I have been to the conferences of each and find them both excellent.

Although it is not associated with a neonatal nursing organization I also subscribe to "Neonatal and Infant Nursing Reviews" (NAINR) which is another journal which focuses mostly on neonates and infants. It is a topical journal meaning that all the articles in each journal publication are all focused on a similar topic, like feeding issues, cardiovascular issues, etc. I really have learned so much from these journals.

I was also a member of AWHONN and although they are very well organized I agree that there is very little concerning neonates that are sick. They do a great job with some information on the late-preterm infant and neonatal skin care, but because it was so expensive (as compared to the neonatal nursing organizations dues) and there was so little information for me, I decided to not renew after about a year. There were some great articles though which were important for my NICU area such as mom's with postpartum depression, breastfeeding information (especially the articles written by Dr. Susan Luddington!!!) and if I had more money to spend I'd still subscribe to AWHONN.

Sorry to go on forever like this but I tend to ramble anyway. One last point I'll share is that I feel it's my "duty" to be a member of the nursing organizations of the area of nursing I am involved in. I suppose it stems from my nursing instructors teaching the importance of staying up to date on changes in our area of expertise and to know as much as we can to be the best nurses we could possibly be. I fully believe that the continuing education I've received through these journals, as well as some neonatal nursing books, have helped me tremendously over the years. I found the journals helpful too as I studied to take my neonatal nursing certification exam. I feel sure that until I retire I will be a member of both NANN and ANN and subscribe to NAINR (as long as all these organizations continue to exist). If they don't have members to support them, they could fold up over time and disappear... that would be incredibly sad for us all...

:-)

darynash · May 11, 2010

Well said, I totally agree!

prmenrs, RN · May 12, 2010

I agree about AWOHNN--only so much I want to read about nipple confusion! But, I do like that AWOHNN has "evidenced based" a belief I've state for many years: 35 weekers are not to be trusted!

Love_2_Learn · May 13, 2010

Thank you darynash. I appreciate that! :-D

prmenrs I have always loved your saying about never trusting a 35 weeker. You have said this for several years and I often think of you when I read the many new journal articles which address the "late preterm infant". I think to myself, "Yep, prmenrs has declared this for years!" And now the evidence is in and the late preterm infant is a big area of research and teaching. Many of the nurses I work with do not seem to understand the term "evidence-based practice" very well. Many of them graduated long before the term was even invented and don't fully understand the importance of testing a belief to see if it really is true. "We have always done it that way. Because the doctor ordered it that way. Because it makes sense to me to do it that way." are common comments to whatever "it" we are talking about. They don't understand about the different levels of how strong evidence is as well as how differently studies can be done of which some are more valid than others. Sad but true. Thankfully NANN and ANN articles are very much evidence-based as are the ones in the NAINR journal. Evidence-based practice is the future... it is the reason for the changes in NRP a few years ago and is also the reason for the new changes coming up next year as well. Thanks prmenrs for all your fine posts over the years too.

chescat58, RNC-NIC · Jun 2, 2010

I was a member of NANN at one point, however, now with ANN. I like ANN because of the Neonatal Network and I am surprised that no one mentioned this, 15 free CEU's a year with your membership.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 2, 2010

I am an old neonatal nurse (since 1977) and have been a member of NANN since the beginning. When they split apart, I joined ANN, too, and have maintained membership in both. Each has its advantages.

I also belong to the ANA and to Sigma Theta Tau as general nursing organizations.

I used to belong to AWHONN year ago ... but they are/were more focused on women's health and normal newborn care. That's not a bad thing, but it is not my area of practice. So, I gave it up to save money.

prmenrs, RN · Jun 3, 2010

Aw, shucks. Thanks, Loves!

ScammRNC · Jun 11, 2010

I have had a membership in the Academy of Neonatal Nurses (ANN) for about 8 years and have really enjoyed it, especially the Neonatal Network journal. I have also attended a couple of the National conferences which I found interesting. As mentioned previously, the 15 CEU's with yearly membership is very nice too.