Discuss how professional nursing organizations support the field of nursing and how they advocate for nursing practice. Explain the value professional nursing organizations have in advocacy and activism related to patient care.
The ANA states that “Organizations and associations in nursing are critical for generating the energy, flow of ideas, and proactive work needed to maintain a healthy profession that advocates for the needs of its clients and nurses, and the trust of society. People have a tendency to congregate, talk among themselves, and advocate for their causes. This has certainly occurred in nursing as evidenced by the breadth and depth of the various nursing groups that seek to enhance the work of nurses generally and in their specialty areas (2020, p. 2). There are over a hundred national nursing associations and organizations. The List of Nursing Organizations website, maintains a web-based list of organizations to name a few there are: Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, Academy of Neonatal Nursing, American College of Nurse Practitioners, Advanced Practice Nurses of the Ozarks, Association of Pediatric Oncology, etc. These organizations support the interest of nurses who practice in specific clinical environments. As an example,The Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses (APHON) supports nurses and their practice in order to optimize outcomes for children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer and blood disorders and their families. Nursing Organizations may very well be the foundation of professional development. The ANA says “When you are a member in a nursing organization this unites you with your peers. When nurses unite they have a stronger voice in the political arena on local, state and national level (2015, p.1).
I appreciate your post and thoughtful points. Nurses should have a voice in politics because we are in the trenches and since we are firsthand witnesses have the best voice to not only policies that will affect nursing and healthcare but also to patient care. Haidrani (2017) interviewed a nurse practitioner who has been involved in policy making changes and she reports that it not only has increased the vision of nurses but has expanded her view as well. True initially when entering into this foreign world of politics it may seem difficult but there is no better way to learn than to get into the thick of it. Nurses have a duty to advocate for patients and nurses (and healthcare) alike.
Changes in health care occur daily being a member in a professional nursing organization “provides nurses with continuing education, certification opportunities, role-related competencies and educational conferences”(AMN,2015). To fulfill their mission, nursing organizations further the development of nursing standard of practice, expand the body of knowledge through research and evidence based practice and promote nurses’s general welfare in the workplace. As we can see there are many advantages when you are a member of a nursing organization, nurses should be active in the organizations so that this way we can advocate for our patients and improve the health of our communities.
References
American Nurses Association [ANA]. (2015). ANA President Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Responds to Comments on ABC’s “The View” [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/MediaResources/PressReleases/ANA-President-Cipriano-Responds-to-Comments-on-ABCs-The-View.html