Introduction
Professional associations in nursing, such as the American Nurses Association (ANA), are important for advancing the nursing profession and protecting the rights of nurses. They provide an essential opportunity for nurses to stay informed on the latest developments and trends in nursing and to connect with other nurses. The ANA provides a variety of resources and services, including continuing education, professional development, advocacy, and networking (American Nurses Association, 2023). Professional associations also advocate for nurses’ rights on the job and in the community and provide a platform to voice concerns and share best practices. The associations in nursing, like the ANA, are important for strengthening the profession and improving patient care.
Discussion
The American Nurses Association is the preeminent organization representing the nation’s 3.6 million registered nurses (American Nurses Association, 2023). Founded in 1896, the ANA is dedicated to advancing the profession of nursing through leadership, advocacy, professional development, and promotion of excellence in practice, education, research, and policy (American Nurses Association, 2023). The ANA’s mission is to promote excellence in nursing and healthcare by shaping health policy, setting standards, and influencing care delivery (American Nurses Association, 2023). The ANA’s vision is to be the leading voice for the nursing profession and the best source of nursing knowledge (American Nurses Association, 2023). The American Nurses Association is committed to upholding its responsibility of improving the quality of care given to the public. This includes setting up timelines to ensure newly entering nurses are qualified, creating a consistent credentialing process, developing systems that hold the professionals accountable for their work, and providing opportunities for continued growth and education in the nursing field.
The American Nurses Association provides a variety of benefits to its members, including professional education, networking opportunities, and an array of resources to help nurses stay up to date on the latest trends in nursing. Members also have access to discounts on professional liability insurance, continuing education, and a variety of other services. In addition, the ANA offers members the chance to be involved in the development of nursing policy and to participate in the legislative process (American Nurses Association, 2023). Being a member of the ANA makes nurses connect with other nurses in their specialty area, exchange knowledge and ideas, and promote the profession (Smith et al., 2018). The organization also provides members with the latest research and information on nursing practice, as well as access to educational programs and resources.
Networking is an important part of any profession, including nursing. It can help nurses stay informed of the latest developments in their field, connect with other professionals learn from their experiences, and expand their network of contacts. In medical surgery nursing specifically, networking can provide nurses with access to resources, support, and information that can help them provide better care to their patients (Haddad et al., 2022; Dyrbye et al., 2019; Smith et al., 2018). It can also help them stay up to date on current trends, best practices, and the latest advances in their field. The ANA provides nurses with numerous networking opportunities. The organization has several divisions, each dedicated to different aspects of nursing, such as medical-surgical nursing.
The ANA holds conferences, webinars, and other events that provide nurses with opportunities to network and collaborate with their peers. The ANA gives members access to exclusive online resources such as journals, articles, and other educational materials. Through their membership, nurses can join discussion forums and online communities to connect with other nurses and discuss relevant topics (American Nurses Association, 2023). Moreover, the ANA offers mentorship programs, which can be beneficial for nurses new to the field.
The ANA keeps its members informed of healthcare changes and changes to practice that affect the medical surgery nursing profession through a few channels. First, The ANA provides members with a range of materials and resources, including updates on current issues, legislative and regulatory news, publications, and continuing education opportunities (Haddad et al., 2022; Dyrbye et al., 2019). Second, The ANA holds conferences, seminars, and other events to provide members with the opportunity to learn about current and emerging trends in the medical surgery nursing profession. Finally, ANA regularly communicates with its members through its website, email, and social media channels to keep them informed of any changes to practice or healthcare policies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the nursing profession must be able to guarantee that the public receives high-quality nursing care if nurses are to take on more responsibility. The professional association has a duty to set up procedures and regulations for assessing the competence of its practitioners and evaluating the standard of care since the public holds the profession (as a whole) accountable for the competence of its practitioners. The American Nurses Association enables nurses with a wealth of resources and opportunities to continue their education, develop professionally, and stay up-to-date on current trends in healthcare. Through these resources, nurses can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to remain current, competitive, and successful in their profession.
References
American Nurses Association. (2023). American Nurses Association Home. Web.
Dyrbye, L. N., Shanafelt, T. D., Johnson, P. O., Johnson, L. A., Satele, D., & West, C. P. (2019). A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between burnout, absenteeism, and job performance among American nurses. BMC Nursing, 18(1), 1-8.
Haddad, L. M., Annamaraju, P., & Toney-Butler, T. J. (2022). Nursing shortage. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
Smith, J. G., Morin, K. H., & Lake, E. T. (2018). Association of the nurse work environment with nurse incivility in hospitals. Journal of Nursing Management, 26(2), 219-226. Web.