Why is NNU National Nurses United ignored on ANA and AACN websites?

While the ANA is not exclusively a union, or, really, much of a union in the traditional, conventional sense, it does claim to be the collective bargaining unit for nurses, and the state constituent organizations (members of the ANA) do function in that role in some states. IIRC, the NNU originated by splitting off from the CNA because the individuals who founded the NNU felt the CNA (which did function as a collective bargaining unit for nurses in CA) wasn't doing a good enough job of representing them in collective bargaining situations. There is a section on the ANA website that addresses this:

Some constituent member associations of ANA serve as an advocate for the nurse by seeking to secure just compensation and humane working conditions for nurses. by engaging in collective bargaining on behalf of nurses. While seeking to assure just economic and general welfare for nurses, collective bargaining, nonetheless, seeks to keep the interests of both nurses and patients in balance. (Emphasis mine)

http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/WorkplaceSafety/Healthy-Work-Environment/Work-Environment/Collective-Bargaining

So, in that sense, the ANA and NNU are direct competitors, and it's not surprising that the ANA would not be publicizing the NNU's work or positions.

allnurses Guide · Oct 26, 2014

Why is the NNU National Nurses United who has been the most clearly vocal and specific in the national media regarding what SHOULD BE DONE TO PROTECT nurses from Ebola, why are they totally ignored on aacn and ana websites?

I misread the original post.

I think ANA. AACN, NNU, and other organizations have their own focus.

AACN is excellent on keeping it's members up to date on issues regarding critical care and progressive care nursing. I don't think there is a reason for them to write about NNU on their web site.

OCNRN63, RN · Oct 26, 2014

While the ANA is not exclusively a union, or, really, much of a union in the traditional, conventional sense, it does claim to be the collective bargaining unit for nurses, and the state constituent organizations (members of the ANA) do function in that role in some states. IIRC, the NNU originated by splitting off from the CNA because the individuals who founded the NNU felt the CNA (which did function as a collective bargaining unit for nurses in CA) wasn't doing a good enough job of representing them in collective bargaining situations. There is a section on the ANA website that addresses this:
Some constituent member associations of ANA serve as an advocate for the nurse by seeking to secure just compensation and humane working conditions for nurses. by engaging in collective bargaining on behalf of nurses. While seeking to assure just economic and general welfare for nurses, collective bargaining, nonetheless, seeks to keep the interests of both nurses and patients in balance. (Emphasis mine)
Collective Bargaining
So, in that sense, the ANA and NNU are direct competitors, and it's not surprising that the ANA would not be publicizing the NNU's work or positions.

The California Nurses Assn. is the founding organization of the NNU. This is an explanation of how they function:

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/site/entry/cna-about

MunoRN, RN · Oct 26, 2014

Neither the American Nurses Association (ANA) nor the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) are unions.

All the unions I've been a member of are ANA unions. The ANA has a number of state affiliate unions.

The history of ANA unions.

Altra, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2014

elkpark and MunoRN are correct - I did not consider the individual state affiliates of the the ANA, just the parent organization.

allnurses Guide · Oct 26, 2014

You don't have to be a member to read the history of CNA. We voted to leave ANA in 1995.It is on page 4:

http://nurses.3cdn.net/1d1e00cd8cc7b03592_jy8m6v5hd.pdf

TheNurseyNurse · Oct 27, 2014

Yeah, not sure I would expect them to recognize them in a large way.

Not that they wouldn't but I can see it being less of a concern to them.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Oct 27, 2014

The NNU is the competition and appear to be superior in getting the job done. The ANA actually has some unionized states, although not all. To me the ANA is ineffectual and too pro hospital to help bedside nurses and too far removed and living in the clouds about the joy of education and we should all have a BSN, no wait, let's make that an MSN for bedside and DNP for NP! How does that help the actual nurses doing their jobs? All it does is make work more difficult and add to student loan debt. The NNU is where the action is!