Should I join NASN

[millhouse]

So, I am new to school nursing and of course the pay stinks... but the job is great. I have heard tons about joining NASN. It will come out of my own pocket which seems to be empty most of the time lately. Is it worth it and what benefits do you utilize?

[Artistyc1]

I have always been an NASN member since my first school nurse job and I have never had it paid for by my employer. Belonging to a professional association is the mark of a professional and a professional responsibility. I think in a role that is as independent as school nursing, it is all the more important to be a part of a group that assists and supports school nurses

NASN benefits: Journal of School Nursing, NASN School Nurse periodical, elelctronic NASN Weekly Digest, blast meails of health and recall alerts, free electronic full text access to all back issues association journals and periodicals, 11 Internet listservs for various school nurse subspecialties, discounts on books, conferences and online CE, and more.

Right now NASN is offering a promotion that the next 350 nurses who sign up for membership for the first time will get the 2007 edition of the School Nurse National Certification Preparation manual (a new 2010 one has come out).

To join go to http://www.nasn.org

ALL this, AND, VSP!! I get so much out of my membership, and so do my students. As a previous poster stated, the VSP benefit ALONE is well worth my contribution. I also belong to my state school nurses organization, NYSASN. PS No employer has ever paid for my membership in any nursing organization, no matter which specialty.I just personally felt that it was important to belong.