To join or not to join a Professional Nursing Organization...

caliotter3 · Sep 27, 2009

When I was approaching completion of my BSN program I received invitations to join the ANA. I discussed this with my supervisors at work. They all made comments on the line of "What has the ANA ever done for me?" Since then, my view on the matter is that I find a useful way to use the money I would have spent on organization dues.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 27, 2009

Currently, I belong to 5 organizations (assuming you count ANA plus my state association together as 1 organizations). However, I am not very active in any of them at the moment -- though I have been more active in the past.

Reasons/benefits for me:

1. Their journals come to my house as part of my membership. Those journals help me stay current with events and knowledge in my specialties. That's probably the biggest benefit I get.

2. My memberships constitute support for what their organizations do ... such as fund research, develop standards of practice, lobby governmental groups, and generally "be a voice" for nursing. I don't have time to actively participate in all those activities, so I like that my dues are supporting those who ARE actively involved. Those activities are necessary -- and if I am not going to donate my time, at least I can donate a little money to help those who do contribute their time and expertise.

3. When I have been active, I have appreciated the people I have met ... getting to know them, networking, etc.

4. My activities within an organization were/are a nice thing to add to my resume. I believe those items on my resume may have helped me get accepted into grad school and get a job in a competitive job market.

5. I appreciate the discounts for conferences, CEU's, books, etc. and the presentation opportunities, etc.

elkpark · Sep 27, 2009

I have belonged for many years (since shortly after I first graduated from nursing school) to my state nurses' association (constitutent association of the ANA) and the national (actually, in this case, international) nursing organization representing my clinical specialty. I have made good friends and been able to network professionally (to my professional/financial benefit, that is) within these organizations. I received a discount on my certification exam (many of the certification exams offer a discount to members of the relevant professional organization. I get a discount on my professional liability (malpractice) insurance premium each year. My memberships in these organization include subscriptions to worthwhile journals. I attend the specialty organization annual national convention most years, and get CEUs in addition to the personal enjoyment and professional development and networking opportunities the conventions offer. Activities offered by the various state nursing associations varies quite a bit from state to state, but mine is a v. active group that has some active subgroups related to particular clinical specialties/areas, and there are both generalist and advanced practice groups in my clinical specialty that offer v. reasonably priced, high quality conferences and CEU offerings during the year, which (again) include great networking opportunities with colleagues with similar interests from all over the state. My state organization is v. active in lobbying the state legislature to protect and advance the interests of nurses and healthcare consumers (which is, basically, all of us :)) in the state (ditto for the ANA at the national level).

I could probably go on, but I think those are the main points ... On a more personal level, I simply believe strongly that membership and active participation within the relevant professional organizations is part of being a professional.

**All Heart RN** · Sep 27, 2009

Thanks for your replies! It seems as though opinions on this subject are often split: Either one can totally see the benefits of belonging (even if they're not active) and believes that active membership is critical for our advancement in this profession or one feels that membership has been inconsequential to nursing.

Your replies are definitely appreciated and will help me with my presentation!

Anyone else have any input?

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2009

Do any nurses belong to specialty specific organizations?

MedSurgeMess · Sep 27, 2009

I belong to ANA and state NA (Indiana), as well as AMSN (med-surg nursing) and like the fact that I get the journals to keep up on new info. I know that my dues may be kind of costly, but they go for the issues that affect me!

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2009

I belong to three.

It's also a great tax write-off.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Sep 28, 2009

like it or not, the professional organizations have political power to a degree. Obama is claiming nurses are for his health plan because ANA blindly accepts anything the democratic party throws out. However, the only way to have a voice is to be a voter and the only way my vote counts is to be a member. I am active in my state chapter but ANA is a long way from representing my views. I do think it is important to join at least one PO. It has been important for networking (my current CNO and I served together on state level before I applied here). It really opens your eyes to "the big picture". I get emails from the state PO alerting me to legislative issues regarding nursing. I am all in favor of promoting nursing and keeping a positive picture of us in front of the public.

ybq2008 · Sep 28, 2009

To the OP, thanks for this post! The responses are very helpful and I have a similar assignment to complete. Good luck with your project :)

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 28, 2009

However, the only way to have a voice is to be a voter and the only way my vote counts is to be a member. I am active in my state chapter but ANA is a long way from representing my views. I do think it is important to join at least one PO. .

Great point. A lot of people don't join an organization because they don't agree with everything that the organization does. But the organizations ARE the main voices for nurses in the public arena. The best way for people to get their opinions heard is to participate in the discussion by being a member.

It's like people who never vote or answer a public opinion poll or never donate money to a political cause -- and then blame "the government" for everything. Well ... duh ... If people fail to participate in the discussion, they need to take some responsibility for the fact that their personal views are not reflected in the decisions.

**All Heart RN** · Sep 28, 2009

To the OP, thanks for this post! The responses are very helpful and I have a similar assignment to complete. Good luck with your project :)

Thanks! GL to you, as well:wink2: