napnes

Well put tntech1. While it is difficult to do much volunteering when you're a student, I hope you will consider being part of the solution and in addition to being a member, consider serving on our committees or boards. NAPNES has two great ways for you to keep up with the latest things going on. You can subscribe to our free online newsletter, if you haven't already done so and you can download our free Nursing Toolbar. To sign-up for the newsletter, go to: http://www.napnes.org/newsletter The toolbar can be downloaded by going to: http://www.napnes.org/bar

Fiona59, sometimes I wish we had such a requirment here in the states!

Marie, you've gone well beyond by joining all three. Tell me what you expect your associations should be doing? Services, benefits, etc.

tntech, glad to hear you've joined your professional association. Tell me what you expect an association should be doing. This may be a little harder for a student, but if you have thoughts, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Jules, I have discovered thus far that you are 100% correct. I'm thrilled to hear you are a member of NFLPN. It is just so important to belong to a professional association because they have access where individual nurses do not. Thanks for your reply!

I'm new to this but I'd like to ask all the LPNs and LVNs that use this service to tell me what you think or know about LPN/LVN nursing associations. Tell me things like do you belong to one, if so, which; if you don't why you don't. You can be honest, if it's money, it's money. If you don't know what they do, say so. The National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service is anxious to provide you with the type and quality of services you want. This is a great way to help us help you.

I have to agree completely with the initial post with one minor exception. As an individual it is very difficult to get to regulators, this is the job of professional associations. As Jules put it, it is important to join your professional association. For example, an individual LPN will never be invited to attend and serve on a panel of all the boards of nursing, but we are. Professional associations provide research, standards, and much more. While you may not recognize it in your daily work, your professional association is responsible for the fact that you are a "nurse" and have a career. NAPNES (National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service) has been around since 1941. We represent LPNs / LVNs, PN Schools, students and educators. We just recently created a new eMembership which is just $35.00 for LPNs/LVNs and just $10.00 for students. Right now, NAPNES is working on updating National PN Education Standards, conducting a nationwide survey of the LPN/LVN and their role in infusion therapy, our executive director is a paenlist for the National Council State Board of Nursing's "Transition Summit" that will be held next month in Chicago. Back to standards for a minute, when the association has approved the national education standards, NAPNES Council of Practical Nurse Educators will create new curricula standards. Rest assured, we are including assesment, infusion therapy and more. In fact, it was NAPNES that got pharmacology as part of every LPN program and that work began in the 1960s. So stand-up because yes you are a nurse and your license says just that!!!! But remember, the best way for us to stick together and make sure that our profession grows and continues is to support your professional association. To find out more about NAPNES, go to our website at http://www.napnes.org!