Why don't nurses join the ANA?

Because of the position paper they released years ago, in which they stated that the BSN should be the entry level education for all nurses.

Also, many nursing issues which are important to me are not important to the ANA.

Copied from http://www.ana.org/about/faq.htm

Q - Is this association only for RNs? Yes, the American Nurses Association represents the interests of the nation' s 2.9 million registered nurses and only RNs are eligible to join.

They've gone on and on about how they represent nurses' interests, yet they managed to leave out LPNs. Also read the BSN remark. Kind of ironic to promote unification in print, while their definition of nursing doesn't sound RN only.

Granted i can't join now since i'm a lowly little LPN according to them, but i still won't join once i become an RN, heck no. I don't do elitist organizations.

See....there needs to be a national organization of ALL nurses at ALL levels and it needs to be CHEAP - like 20 to 40.00 a year max to be a member. Heck - it wouldn't even matter if you had a special category 1.00 membership for those who couldnt afford to be members as long as you could count them as members. Think of the lobbying and political influece an organization with millions of unified members would have.

Lobbying for patient advocacy issues should be the primary focus - and things that will improve patient safety naturally would improve nursing...one thing - you would think - would logically lead to the other. Improving healthcare by raising the voice of nurses in numbers for patients could actually matter if you could mobilize large numbers of nurses.

The old LPN vs ADN RN vs BSN RN vs whatever else there will ever be has done nothing but DIVIDE - if we continue to be divided we will continue to be conquered. By virtue of our numbers, we have an opportunity to make things better not just for nurses, but for healthcare, patients and public health. We aren't making use of it. Division is not the answer - we have seen that - so if division is not the answer, then something else must be.

See....there needs to be a national organization of ALL nurses at ALL levels and it needs to be CHEAP - like 20 to 40.00 a year max to be a member. Heck - it wouldn't even matter if you had a special category 1.00 membership for those who couldnt afford to be members as long as you could count them as members. Think of the lobbying and political influece an organization with millions of unified members would have.

Lobbying for patient advocacy issues should be the primary focus - and things that will improve patient safety naturally would improve nursing...one thing - you would think - would logically lead to the other. Improving healthcare by raising the voice of nurses in numbers for patients could actually matter if you could mobilize large numbers of nurses.

The old LPN vs ADN RN vs BSN RN vs whatever else there will ever be has done nothing but DIVIDE - if we continue to be divided we will continue to be conquered. By virtue of our numbers, we have an opportunity to make things better not just for nurses, but for healthcare, patients and public health. We aren't making use of it. Division is not the answer - we have seen that - so if division is not the answer, then something else must be.

Excellent post. ITA.

I don't mind the ANA, but I just don't feel like they are particularly relevant to me. My union does enough lobbying and they are actually pretty successful, so why would I shell out money to belong to the ANA?

ANA doesn't faithfully represent all nurses - not even all RNs. It should be the ABSN/APNA - Amer BSN/APN Assoc. Everybody else either need not apply or apply at the risk of having YOUR place in nursing be attacked and advocated AGAINST.

Also, ANA is more interested in LEFT WING politics than nursing advocacy.

If I wanted MY money to support Hilary for Pres, I'd send her a check directly.

~faith,

Timothy.

Add lobbying for the promotion of preventative health to that too

I guess I'm not a "real" nurse according to them, just an LPN. I don't think I would join even if I were eligible to, from what I have read they would really serve no purpose for me.

Just for the record.. I LOVE BEING AN LPN and AM VERY PROUD TO BE ONE!!

ANA doesn't faithfully represent all nurses - not even all RNs. It should be the ABSN/APNA - Amer BSN/APN Assoc. Everybody else either need not apply or apply at the risk of having YOUR place in nursing be attacked and advocated AGAINST.

Also, ANA is more interested in LEFT WING politics than nursing advocacy.

Absolutely agree about the BSN. That's always been the reason I've refused to join. Their dues are ridiculously high, too. They were always high, even when the average nurse was making less than ten dollars an hour.

As far as their politics, I don't care if they are left or right wing. I care that they have a partisan platform at all, rather than an agenda strictly supporting nursing issues.

I am a liberal democrat and I do not agree with the ANA's political views.

Because of the position paper they released years ago, in which they stated that the BSN should be the entry level education for all nurses.

Also, many nursing issues which are important to me are not important to the ANA.

I agree, they need to go out into the field and spend some

time with nurses at work before they dictate education and other

mandates. In our area BSNs receive no pay increase for the committment

in working and getting their degree.

Additionally, the education system is having intense budget problems.

My understanding is that due to budget problems a major State

Nursing program has downsized , leaving many hard working nursing students

without a place in the 2 year clinical segment of the program.

Many are trying to find another school to complete their studies.

From my point of view, the ANA does not address issues like the above.

Or the fact that all RNs should be honored for their

unique skills and contributions regardless of education program.