American Nurses Association (ANA): Vision, Mission, and Benefit to Members
One leading professional nursing organization is the American Nurses Association (ANA). The association represents up to four million nurses in the United States from diverse backgrounds and specialties (ANA, 2022). It is an umbrella professional entity comprising partner specialty organizations, affiliate organizations, and direct membership. The organization was founded in 1896 to advocate efforts to improve the quality and safety of care for all individuals. The mission of ANA is to enable nurses to advance their profession to enhance health for all individuals. The organization’s main goals are to enhance advocacy efforts for nurses and patients, bolster high practice standards for nurse practitioners, and promote an ethical and safe healthcare environment for nurses and patients.
Members of ANA can enjoy numerous benefits or perks. The first benefit is that members get the opportunity to advance their nursing profession and practice. The association provides free developmental resources and webinars members can utilize to advance their careers. The second benefit is it enables its members to stay current with the most up-to-date nursing news. The organization organizes conferences to communicate nursing news, including any changes in practice, to its members (Copeland, 2021). Moreover, it has online websites and platforms to disseminate information to its members and affiliate organizations. Secondly, the association also nurtures its members’ leadership and managerial skills. It provides a platform for leadership and managers to interact. The interaction and networking enable its members to learn from each other and improve the quality and safety of nursing care in their respective organizations.
Members of ANA can also save money through numerous discounts they are entitled to. Some discounts are provided when purchasing books from its library, student loans, financial plans, and insurance packages. The other benefit members enjoy is the ability to network and connect with other registered nurses through numerous ANA programs, websites, and conferences. ANA has a mentorship program that acts as a career development and online networking tool helping nurses connect with others(ANA, 2022).. additionally, it has meetings and conferences that offer additional platforms for networking and connecting with other nurses. Finally, ANA ensures that the voices of its members are heard. They work on behalf of its members at the national level. They speak to federal organizations to ensure that their concerns are heard. They advocate for better working conditions and salaries.
Why networking is important and how the organization creates networking opportunities
Networking is crucial in nursing practice. It involves the process of interaction of nurses from diverse settings to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. The opportunities nurses get from networking are limitless (Eastern Michigan University, 2020). Networking makes nurses involved and engaged. One can acquire crucial leadership and managerial skills during networking. Similarly, networking can improve the quality and safety of nursing practice. During networking, nurses may share experiences on how they can improve the quality and safety of care. One can gain useful insights during interactions that they may apply when returning to their health care settings. Finally, professional networking allows nurses to find professional resources and advice to help them make informed decisions about their professional development in their nursing careers. They may share their concerns regarding nursing professions. Other nurses may inform them on how they deal with challenges in the nursing profession.
ANA creates networking opportunities in many ways. Firstly, ANA has a mentorship program that provides members with networking opportunities. The program offers an online networking tool where nurses can find and connect with others for career development. ANA also organizes conferences and meetings that bring nurses from diverse settings together to discuss the nursing profession. During such conferences, nurses can interact with one another and share ideas regarding the nursing profession. One such conference is the quality and innovation conference that occurs annually. The conference allows nurses to adapt to the new trends and practices in nursing practice. Finally, the organization offers networking opportunities through its webinars and websites. Its website is accessible to nurses across different states. It provides them an opportunity and platform to interact and share ideas regarding healthcare delivery and professional development. The ANA webinar is an interactive online event where nurses can listen to professionals delivering seminars or presentations remotely(ANA, 2022). Webinar has question-and-answer sessions where nurses can share their concerns regarding nursing practice.
How The Organization Keeps Its Members Informed Of Healthcare Changes And Changes To Practice
The American Nurses Organization keeps its members up-to-date with information regarding changes in healthcare and nursing practice in many ways. First, the organization continuously informs its members by releasing bulletins and newsletters. These resources inform members of recent changes in healthcare practice(ANA, 2022). The organization also utilizes its online platforms, such as the webinars, to interact with nurses nationally regarding the approaches they can utilize to improve the quality of nursing practice. The organization organizes innovation conferences. In such conferences, nurses are educated on changes in healthcare and nursing practice. They can also be trained to implement new practices in nursing care. Finally, the organization has a platform where it publishes the findings of research studies on various nursing care concerns. Nurses can utilize such resources to implement support implementation of evidence-based change initiatives.
Opportunities For Professional Development And Continuing Education
ANA has many approaches that provide its members with opportunities for professional development and continuing education. First, ANA has a career center that helps nurses to find their dream job. The career center provides nurses with key information regarding existing nursing career opportunities that match their educational qualifications. Secondly, the organization has a platform with study modules, research, and books. Nurses can utilize these resources during education or nursing practice. Thirdly, the organization offers its members discounts on ANCC certification (American Nurses Credentialing Centre ). The ANCC certification program allows nurses to advance their careers and improve the quality of nursing practice (ANA, 2022). Finally, the organization organizes networking activities. Through networking, nurses can grow professionally under the guidance of their mentors. They can also be educated on the significance of continuous education in nursing practice. When they understand the significance of continuous education, they will be motivated to advance their education level in nursing.
Conclusion
Professional nursing organizations improve the quality and safety of nursing practice for patients and nurses. The American Nurses Organization offers nurses numerous benefits, including career development and mentorship opportunities. Nurses should join professional organizations to enable them to advance their careers and grow professionally.
References
American Nurses Association (ANA) (2022). About ANA. https://www.nursingworld.org/ana/about-ana/.
Copeland, D. (2021). A critical analysis of the American Nurses Association position statement on workplace violence: Ethical implications. Advances in Nursing Science, 44(2), E49-E64. https://doi.org/10.1097/ans.0000000000000345
Eastern Michigan University (September 15, 2020). Why networking is important for nurses. https://www.google.com/search?q=networking+in+nursing&oq=networking+in+nursing&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60l2.4779j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
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