Professional Organizations - Texas nurses should be ashamed of themselves

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For comparisons sake, I made a couple of phone calls -

First to the Texas Nurses Association – according to them, there are about 170,000 nurses in Texas, but only 3,800 of them are members of the Texas Nurses Association. That means that about 2% of all nurses in Texas are members of the TNA.

In contrast, the Texas Medical Association has 40,683 members as of March 31, 2006 according to a phone call placed to their membership department. There are about 53,000 physicians in Texas according to the Texas board of medical examiners. 76% of physicians are members of their professional organization.

HUH???? Are we listed in Webster's under the definition for apathy?

Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

If ratios had been taken up by TEXAS nurses, I might have been able to support that. However, the issue was being pushed by the CNA - which is now tied to the AFL-CIO - a union with a loooooooooooooong history of dirty dealings. Keep THEM the heck OUT of nursing and out of Texas.

That legislation they were pushing was not good legislation. There were weird loopholes and it would have created "bedside" nurses and "all others" - thereby giving seperation to an industry that is already divided.

No - UNITY, but not UNIONS is what we need.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I am an RN in TX. The only time I've ever heard from the TNA is when they sent me a solicitation for a Visa card with their logo on it- so that they could profit from me.

It's the Texas Nurses' Assoc that should be ashamed, not the nurses.

So true! I recently received a junk mail solicitation for a Visa card with the Texas Nurses Association logo, and that's the only time I have ever heard from this particular organization. :)

I'll also bet top dollar that the vast majority of their licensed nurse members are management types, administrators, chief nursing officers, directors of nursing, spouses of politicians (Governor Perry's wife is a nurse), and employees of the state BNE.

Maybe some of us Texas nurses don't agree with ANA/TNA. I am member of AACN and will stay that way. Not everyone's decision is because of apathy.

Bingo! Don't assume it's apathy....Just because an organization exists and has the wording nursing in it doesn't mean it's worth joining. Nurses need to keep up with what really goes on inside these organizations and then and make wise informed choices.

Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

Thats exactly why we need a new nursing org in Texas - and it is apathy that has kept us from having it, myself included. So do you care enough to help get something that is inclusive of ALL nurses off the ground? If we would all get together, you cannot imagine the strength nurses could have and we would not need to be a union, nor would we have to act like one. We can accomplish much more in numbers than any one of us can on our own.

Specializes in home & public health, med-surg, hospice.
Thats exactly why we need a new nursing org in Texas - and it is apathy that has kept us from having it, myself included. So do you care enough to help get something that is inclusive of ALL nurses off the ground? If we would all get together, you cannot imagine the strength nurses could have and we would not need to be a union, nor would we have to act like one. We can accomplish much more in numbers than any one of us can on our own.

Yes, gauge14iv, you hit the nail on the head - an organization, which includes ALL nurses! Until we break down the barriers and appreciate the contributions of all nurses to the body of our profession, we will remain ineffective with others dictating our actions.

And as to others who have mentioned their involvement in other nursing organizations. I think participating in specialized fields and areas of interest are great. But to what extent does it promote the good of the profession as a whole?

I, myself, am a member of Sigma Theta Tau. During our induction, the very first aspect of the organization, which was addressed, was its exclusivity. I want more than that. Nursing is more to me than just me, just my area of focus and what field I happen to be working in at the time. It's a service unto mankind, which cannot be achieved without the help of all of us working together, you know? I want to be able to contribute in a larger way to ALL nurses.

Somehow the conversation has turned into TNA/ANA vs. everybody else and to me this is such an over-generalization. In nursing we simply have too much diversity for all that.

Furthermore, I don't think TNA even is the answer. Not as it currently stands, anyways. There isn't enough direct care nurse representation in it. However, I can't help but feel like that to some degree this is because so few of us join, in which our voice could be heard in the first place.

Could we not take it over? Could we not, as gauge14iv suggested, start a new organization?

In reference to a union. Would it be lead by nurses? Could it perhaps turn into yet another layer of bureaucracy and further the division amongst ourselves?

Sorry, I know a lot of this rambling. Thanks for your patience.

Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.
There is a problem nation wide about nurses joining the nurse associations. I am close to retirement. I have RARELY joined any of the 'nurse' associations because:

1. cost and what u get for the price and

2. the same issues that were supposed to have been addressed in the 1970's are still being 'discussed'.

The best thing to happen to nurses is thtat the shortages has given much better wages and more mobility without starting at the bottom of the wage scale.

I work as travel RN and often leave TX. Perhaps if the 'girls' would grow up to be real professional women, then real solutions can happen and the back stabbing and lies would be much reduced and the work place would be nicer.

It is a set up for failure when nurses are expected to be everything to all at all times of the day and night and do this without coffee breaks, lunch breaks, etc. Then add the 'crap' that OSHA comes up with 'no drinks/food' in the work area.....but yet we serve patients THEIR food in the same area.... and oh, we ware to work 8-12 or more hours with little or nothing to drink or eat and they wonder why there is a shortage of people who want to be nurses???? DUH!!!

I agree with you 100%. I left Texas as there seems to be no hope and no culture of unity possible. Unions cannot be successful (even if there are good unions) because of the state laws & the mindset of the people who aren't able to understand what a GOOD union can acheive for its members (in a non right-to-work state). It is a shame because in trying to avoid, what they consider an outsider telling them what to do, they have big businesses walking all over them, violating their rights and turning each against the other (making unity impossible)-what a pity!

If there is an organization that can achieve the possibility of unity I'm all for it. But guess what... you don't think the TNA and ANA started out with these same intentions? Betcha they did. If another nurses organization is created it will end up just like all the others throughout the country which makes the whole concept pointless. The nursing field is a catch 22. We complain about patient ratios and working conditions, then we turn around and complain about the BNE wanting to restrict our hours and overtime. Would you rather have advocates for or against the bedside nurse?

Personally, I think it would be nice to have the 'backup' and clout against the BNE or employer if there was an issue rather than have it be little ole me and be easily replaced.

Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

It will end up like the others only if it's membership allows it do so.

The ANA/TNA basically disowned LVN's and ADN's. They disenfranchised an entire nursing population - and probably the larger portion of it in most places. That sounds like an organization in which the members didn't have much to say in it. There are several ADN's right here on this board who will never join as a result and I personally don't blame them. In addition, TNA/ANA membership fees are pretty exorbitant - several hundred dollars a year. Do the math - 2500 x 300 vs 160,000 x 50.

Like I said - keep it cheap and keep it representative.

Specializes in ER, tele, vascular.

I read all 10 pages and decided I had to chime in as well.

In school I had to attend a TNA meeting for a management class. I was dumb founded at the response of the speaker when one of the attendees asked "What is the TNA doing about the nurse shortage and ratios". The speakers response was, "We need to do something and we need to take action".

It was at that moment I thought "I won't waste my time or money with these goofballs".

As for some of the posters wanting to for their own organization, all I can say is that you had better be able to do two things:

1) Keep it as politically neutral as possible. I don't like Republicans or Democrats. How many like me do you think there are? The reason for my dislike of politicians is their concern for political survival versus doing the right thing.

2) Figure out a way to end the "degree warfare" (You're only an LVN versus me, and ADN, versus me who is a BSN, versus me who is an MSN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,). Being a former Marine we had some deviciveness, but at the end of the day we were Marines and we supported each other.

Not trying to say everyone needs to have a military mindset, just some unity and pride in the fact that we are all nurses with a common goal (I hope), and should be supporting each other instead of splintering into groups to butt heads.

I personally hope your idea about an organization grows and does unite nurses,represents them, and achieves better patient care. Just think, 200+ years ago a group of people didn't like what a ruling body wanted for them. They found common goals, united, had some growing pains, and here we are today.........the United States.

Thank you for allowing me to voice my .02.

Craig

Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

I absolutely agree with keeping it politically neutral. We all have our own political opinions, but we are STILL NURSES.

The degree warfare has no place if there is to be unity among nurses.

You are right on about both counts.

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