As for health care providers, it is essential for nurses to nurture and maintain the professional culture through constant development by joining specific professional organizations. The professional development is a vital obligation to pursue competence stability, the advancement of professional nursing practice, as well as uphold successful attainment of career goals. Professional organizations are created to advocate on behalf of their members by officially adhering to critical values of the professional nursing activity. Therefore, one of the leading professional nursing organizations, ANA (American Nurses Association), is considered the premier association for nurses due to its significant purpose, beneficial aspects, and overall opportunities for further education and professional development.
The primary purpose of any professional nursing organization implies its impact on healthcare policy, protection of nurses’ interests, the continuing educational development for nurses, as well as providing the highest quality care for society. As such, ANA is the largest professional nursing organization in the United States, involving over four million nurses. According to Roux (2017), ANA’s stated mission is “nurses advancing our profession to improve the health of all” (p. 109).
The organization’s vision is “a healthy world through the power of Nursing” (“ANA enterprise,” n.d., para. 2). In terms of the political focus, ANA represents the views and needs of members in various arenas of policy formulation. Moreover, ANA includes a political and legislative program that promotes the “reimbursement of healthcare services, access to healthcare, and appropriate nurse staffing ratios” (Roux, 2017, p. 113).
Other valuable programs of the ANA are concentrated on the health and safety of individual nurses and the profession in general. The political advocacy actions of the ANA include the following: health and environment, healthcare reform, registered nurse immigration, nurse workforce development program funding, safe patient handling, and school-based health centers (Roux, 2017). Hence, such a policy facilitates the beneficial aspect of being a member of the ANA.
The development of professional nursing organizations was caused by the relevance of networking for nurses, as their number is predominant amongst health care providers in the United States. Therefore, nurses have the capacity for influencing the shaping of healthcare reform. Furthermore, professional organization membership boosts the leadership qualities of oneself. As described on the ANA website, the organization advances the nursing profession by “fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, and bolstering the health and wellness of nurses” (“ANA membership,” n.d. para. 2).
These are the strategies that promote successful networking opportunities amongst ANA nurses. ANA is as well concerned about significant issues, including “Medicare reform, safe nurse staffing, workplace violence, whistle-blower protections for health care workers, and adequate reimbursement for health care services” (“ANA membership,” n.d., para. 4). Following the ideas of Kearney-Nunnery (2015), ANA takes political actions through grassroots efforts and successful lobbying by N-STAT system. In addition, nurses can register online to be informed about periodic alerts and take active measures toward political efficacy.
As the source of educational and professional development, ANA membership provides free access to multiple essential tools, such as CINAHL and other useful nursing resources to advance professional needs. The organization also assists with personal benefits for its members, such as travel discounts, student loans solutions, insurances, and others.
To conclude, professional nursing organizations pursue crucial aspects within the nursing field, including clinical, political, and regulatory policies. They perform a number of essential functions to assist individual nurses or its members in general in maintaining professional competence and provide opportunities for educational and professional development. American Nurses Association is one of the leading organizations in the nursing field that advocates the views of millions of members. Hence, by participating in such organizations, one may adopt beneficial opportunities for successful career growth, as well as provide the best health outcomes for patients.
References
ANA enterprise. (n.d.). Web.
ANA membership. (n.d.). Web.
Kearney-Nunnery, R. (2015). Advancing your career: Concepts of professional nursing. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.
Roux, G. (2017). Issues and trends in nursing (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.