What in the world does the ANA do?

leslymill · Sep 14, 2007

but what are real issues to some, arent a thing to others

Especially if they believe in the "Village" of the damned, eat children, wipe their mouths of the blood, onto their sleeves, and insist they have done nothing wrong.

Yosemite, RN, ASN, EMT-I · Sep 22, 2007

The ANA collects dues. Lobby? Yeah, right... for their masters, hospital organizations.

The ANA, like so many RN's who go into mid to upper management of any kind, sell out the staff/floor nurses, the patients, the support staff, the families and watch out for themselves, their jobs and use phoney "nurse speak" language to paint a cheery picture of the status of U.S. healthcare, what they are doing for us.

While, no doubt, at their onset, the goals were admirable and lofty, the power, egos and the evil side of capitalism have turned them to the "dark side."

28wkpreemieRN · Oct 2, 2007

If the ANA were serious about representing the average nurse, it would be a lot cheaper to join! I know they don't have any affect on my day to day practice

allaboutthefamily · Apr 6, 2008

"The American Nurses Association (ANA) is responsible for defining the scope and standards of generic nursing practice. In 1991, ANA revised the standards of clinical nursing practice, broadening professional role expectations. This document builds on those basic standards to delineate the scope and standards of clinical practice in correctional facilities. The revised specialty standards also incorporate information from prior correctional health nursing standards."..from pen state website.

The ANA actually does have a large impact upon your practice. They write standards of practice that we can all be held accountable for in addition to those presented by the state BON. In a court of law you can be held accountable for many external standards of care, many of which you may have never read.

This being said, they shouldnt need millions of dollars a year to do so. They dont do much (relatively speaking) on the political front, and it is generally an orginazation of little power that is heavily influenced by those outside of nursing (hospitals, etc.). It can be said that the force the ANA exherts is less than those being exherted back upon it. And the worst part is that this "force" is not coming from nurses. I joined the Student ANA at my college and quit after the first meeting. Thier whole drive seemed to be to get more people to sign up and attend national student ANA conventions and pat each other on the back. The whole thing reminded my of some kind of odd fundraising chocolate bar sale. They had little knowledge of politics and the process of changing legislation through lobbying, and did not seem to care. I was only paying 30-40 bucks (per year) but they would have to make some big changes to get me to pay 200 dollars.

faithingodmsn · May 28, 2008

come on when is our staffing going to be safe? It is 2008

RN Power Ohio · Jun 30, 2008

"The American Nurses Association (ANA) is responsible for defining the scope and standards of generic nursing practice. In 1991, ANA revised the standards of clinical nursing practice, broadening professional role expectations. This document builds on those basic standards to delineate the scope and standards of clinical practice in correctional facilities. The revised specialty standards also incorporate information from prior correctional health nursing standards."..from pen state website.
The ANA actually does have a large impact upon your practice. They write standards of practice that we can all be held accountable for in addition to those presented by the state BON. In a court of law you can be held accountable for many external standards of care, many of which you may have never read.]
As a professional nurse who spends much of her time researching standard of care - I can tell you there is NO standard of care for nursing. Nurses are still seen by the courts as a physician handmaiden who cannot interpret a blood pressure without a physicians assistance.
Standard of care is determined by prevailing guidelines, consensus statements, evidence and finally- what is everyone doing. The ANA and it's supportive state affiliates propose a law that we staff on the current SOC! Guess what nurses- that is empty legal language because there is no SOC for nurses-other than you should call the DR. when something changes.
There are no guidelines so what is the SOC judged by? It is judged by the final test- what is everybody doing. Everyone is staffing unsafely! So that is the current standard of care.
Thanks ANA for advocating our nursing profession right out of acceptable standards. :angryfire

boztc · Jun 30, 2008

I've been crying in my beer about unsafe staffing for 30 years. I've posted on this forum before, so some of this may be repetitive, but...

As a altruistic new grad I tried to work within the system to improve patient care. Our "professional organization" (the Illinois Nurses Association) was the bargaining unit for the hospital. "The Professional Nurses Committee" was composed of staff nurses that worked with INA towards a (non-union) contract. While we were most committed to dealing with patient care issues, the INA misrepresented our position and minimized staffing concerns while negotiating for meaningless concessions like uniform codes.

I have appealed to the INA/ANA several times over the years for support, only to be consistently ignored or denied. I abandoned them long ago. It became patently obvious they will not bite the hand that feeds them, i.e. the healthcare industry and government, and prefer to "eat their own", as another poster so astutely stated.

Unable to find another organization that would agressively promote nursing interests, I fought as a patient advocate in my own practice, often much to the dismay of my employers.

The current reality is that the hospitals really don't want to spend the money to deliver quality care, they only want the public to have the perception that they are being cared for safely. This is demonstrated by such practices as scripting and "evidence based" medicine.

This perception is propagated by the public and nurses alike by the acceptance of developments such as Magnet Stauts and Clinical Pathways.

We are being progressively fragmented and de-skilled by corporate healthcare as they strive to convert Nursing from an art to a task.

What do we do? I can suggest several courses of action.

Take control of your practice. Do not relinquish independant judgement or patient advocacy. Do not allow technology or procedure to replace human interaction in the delivery of health care. Let's all slow down and give our patients their money's worth.

Most importantly, we must all join together and inform the public of the abuses that are rampant in healthcare. I have spoken at town hall meetings and to our state reps about these issues. I have written to newspapers, told friends, relatives and anyone who will listen.

I invite you all to check out the NNOC. With them, I have finally found the means to address these issues. This is a group of intelligent, compassionate nurses that are committed to taking control of our profession.

Before you go off on me, I am not union-affiliated in any way. I am not opposed to unions, but am more interested in organizing nurses for social action. The NNOC has provided me with the support and resources to work towards my goals.

advocateforsafety · Jul 21, 2008

The ANA and most state organizations like my states the TNA are in bed with the hospital administrations. They propose and legislate for weak ineffective solutions to big problems. They have done nothng to deal with satffing ratios and are currently proposing hospital constructed and run aquity systems. The evidence has shown that the hopsitals are not to be trusted. They have and will manipulate the sysytem to fit their need for profit. The only true solution ids through hard and fixed ratios as they have in California. We need real reform and the ANA has failed for years to deliver.

We don't need them to get our agenda out to the public and to get the laws in place. If every person reading this post would write their congressman and senator and state that you desire mandated ratios or whistle blower protection, or laws on madatory overtime or limits on the amount of hours a nurse can work straight or what ever your issue is then we could get something doen. You and I are more respected than any organization. We have what they wnat and need OUR VOTE.

Get involved, let your voice be heard.

Transplant Nurse, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2008

Brandie I made a new post with an article from Bill Moyers about how the separation of nurses (vs. uniting like the AMA) is the problem with ANA. You should read it:

http://revolutionredux.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/bill-moyers-addresses-universal-healthcare-and-nurses/

I had a probationary status last year on my license due to being efficient at my job and the repeated "gray area" (expectations) to function out of my scope and use "autonomy." I think autonomy is the word getting us all in trouble. We try to believe we are licenced advocates, but if your supervisor or a co-worker wants to stand you out it's easy. How many of you have started a med without a written order (whether it be verbal/telephoned and not transcribed it is illegal technically and practicing medicine without a license).

I'm in Indiana; there was no one to help me. I called a nurse (whom is also a attorney), she told me what to do and send her $1,000; she'll write the letter. I did it myself for free with a lesser consequence, probation for a year, no fines but permanent record and new mail came that is my new listing in the National Healthcare Registry. I feel like a 33-year old failure. I know better, but it put me in deep depression awhile - it's been rough. If you dare let the BON know you have been depressed you can count on a 5-year monitoring program (quarterly check-ups); thankfully this was over once treated and no one needed to find out about it. This is a national database for healthcare that I am now in, which publicly lists complaints/BON actions. If we were protected like the AMA this would not happen, especially as a first time issue, no one was hurt, no adverse outcome except a nurse who has left the field. None of my friends would belive the bureaocratic crap I have had to deal with. I even had a letter of explanation from the physician (2 pages long) telling them this was because of me being focused on the best for the patient.

Problem is that the nurses infilltrate into management and the hospitals' admin and now they see themselves as "white collar" nurses; they somehow believe that because they don't do potty duty that they are the powers that be. They [admin RNs] infilltrate the ANA as well as the scholars. The fact is that if you lose sight that we are at risk daily then you are out of touch and should not be governing. It's unfortunate that we are not fighting a united cause. Especially sad is that we can't get some national legislation for patient outcome/ RN satisfaction. Being a nurse is almost taboo anymore with all the bad ones out there. I wish the ANA would organize a NATIONAL pilgrimage to Washington and tell the patients what they are doing. A lot of patients and families are fed-up. We might get the streets shut down, like the "Million man march."

~nurse~ · Oct 6, 2008

It is my understanding that only about 3% of nurses are members of ANA. That means even if they do things for that 3%, they don't represent nurses/nursing. Defining standards of practice needs to be done by those who at least have a faint idea what practice is, working nurses!

We, the nurses that make healthcare happen and without whom healthcare would STOP, should be the ones defining standards. Definitions based on knowledge and experience assuring there is a strong dose of reality with every standard and rule.

We are also the only ones that should be able to determine what a "magnet" hospital is. Not some organization making tons of money being paid off by hospitals for the designation. Their tests for certification a somewhat of a joke as well.

There needs to be a new kid in town (the town of nursing?). An organization made up of nurses, for nurses, controlled by nurses where the actual members have true say in what goes on. We are also a huge workforce and should have benefits like those that other large groups get.

If we come together, not with unions but with nurses, we are unstoppable. Without us there is no healthcare, and it is okay for us to be recognized, respected and compensated appropriately to the responsibility of what we do. Together we can make policies that are appropriate and realistic. Lobby for laws that need to be there and against laws that shouldn't. No hospital should be able to fire a staff member because they question what the administration does!

advocateforsafety · Oct 6, 2008

it is my understanding that only about 3% of nurses are members of ana. that means even if they do things for that 3%, they don't represent nurses/nursing. defining standards of practice needs to be done by those who at least have a faint idea what practice is, working nurses!
we, the nurses that make healthcare happen and without whom healthcare would stop, should be the ones defining standards. definitions based on knowledge and experience assuring there is a strong dose of reality with every standard and rule.
we are also the only ones that should be able to determine what a "magnet" hospital is. not some organization making tons of money being paid off by hospitals for the designation. their tests for certification a somewhat of a joke as well.
there needs to be a new kid in town (the town of nursing?). an organization made up of nurses, for nurses, controlled by nurses where the actual members have true say in what goes on. we are also a huge workforce and should have benefits like those that other large groups get.
if we come together, not with unions but with nurses, we are unstoppable. without us there is no healthcare, and it is okay for us to be recognized, respected and compensated appropriately to the responsibility of what we do. together we can make policies that are appropriate and realistic. lobby for laws that need to be there and against laws that shouldn't. no hospital should be able to fire a staff member because they question what the administration does!

i could not agree with you more and hope that people who read your post take it to heart. but what you have described is a union at its most basic level as defined:

an organization of workers joined to protect their common interests and improve their working conditions.

this content can be found on the following page:

http://www.investorwords.com/cgi-bin/getword.cgi?id=5156&term=union

unions are not the enemy and if we as nurses would organize the corporations would be forced to deal with us and to make the changes that are so emergently needed.

thank you for your activism and i hope that in this climate of change nurses will take part in the debate in a larger number. we have been silent and passive for to long. if we stand together we can get the change that our patients and fellow nurses deserve.

we must support barack obama so that the laws that have been favoring the corporation and keeping the worker silent will be changed and allow for our voices to be heard. i don't believe he will bring utopia but i do believe he is our best hope to allow us to change our profession and the health care industry in a positive way.

BillEDRN · Oct 11, 2008

Originally Posted by ~nurse~
It is my understanding that only about 3% of nurses are members of ANA. That means even if they do things for that 3%, they don't represent nurses/nursing. Defining standards of practice needs to be done by those who at least have a faint idea what practice is, working nurses!
We, the nurses that make healthcare happen and without whom healthcare would STOP, should be the ones defining standards. Definitions based on knowledge and experience assuring there is a strong dose of reality with every standard and rule.
We are also the only ones that should be able to determine what a "magnet" hospital is. Not some organization making tons of money being paid off by hospitals for the designation. Their tests for certification a somewhat of a joke as well.
There needs to be a new kid in town (the town of nursing?). An organization made up of nurses, for nurses, controlled by nurses where the actual members have true say in what goes on. We are also a huge workforce and should have benefits like those that other large groups get.
If we come together, not with unions but with nurses, we are unstoppable. Without us there is no healthcare, and it is okay for us to be recognized, respected and compensated appropriately to the responsibility of what we do. Together we can make policies that are appropriate and realistic. Lobby for laws that need to be there and against laws that shouldn't. No hospital should be able to fire a staff member because they question what the administration does!
I could not agree with you more and hope that people who read your post take it to heart. But what you have described is a union at its most basic level as defined:
An organization of workers joined to protect their common interests and improve their working conditions.
This content can be found on the following page:
http://www.investorwords.com/cgi-bin...156&term=union
Unions are not the enemy and if we as nurses would organize the corporations would be forced to deal with us and to make the changes that are so emergently needed.
Thank you for your activism and I hope that in this climate of change nurses will take part in the debate in a larger number. We have been silent and passive for to long. If we stand together we can get the change that our patients and fellow nurses deserve.
We must support Barack Obama so that the laws that have been favoring the corporation and keeping the worker silent will be changed and allow for our voices to be heard. I don't believe he will bring utopia but I do believe he is our best hope to allow us to change our profession and the health care industry in a positive way.

While you are correct that if nurses joined together to effect relevant changes to the healthcare industry, I have to ask what you are doing about it?

You may not agree with ANA, but if you and 100,000 like minded nurses were to join and mold the organization to your desires, then ANA would indeed represent you, the "working nurses." If indeed it doesn't adequately represent "working nurses" then most certainly it is because not enough "working nurses" participate in the processes that help direct the actions/direction of the organization.

I also think local nurses' unions are another way nurses could have a positive impact in their work enviornment, but all too often, nurses are much more vocal than they are active.

When I was part of the local nurses' union, (shop steward, local rep., negotiation committe, board member/chair, Exe. Director) I heard all the time about how the union didn't represent "me" or that we didn't fight hard enough in a discliplinary action. But, when asked to participate in the administration of the union, or to follow the contract language regarding issues associated with possible discliplinary action, nearly all declined and wanted "someone else" to do "it."

I don't mean to sound attacking, as that is not the intent. But change requires much more than just talk. It requires actions and unfortunately it frequently appears that nurses, as a group, aren't willing to put that much energy into it. Which, IMHO, is sad.