In this week’s module, you have focused on your professional development. You have examined the role of professional nursing organizations as part of this development. This discussion will give you the opportunity to take a virtual field trip to one of the organizations.
Discussion Prompt
Choose a professional nursing organization that interests you (ex: American Nurses’ Association, Association for Operating Room Nurses, etc.). Visit the website homepage for the organization. In one to two paragraphs, identify/describe the following. Provide rationale for your response with at least one scholarly source using an APA in-text citation and full reference.
Mission
Member Benefits
One educational offering
Membership Cost
Do you plan to join this organization? How could this organization influence your professional development?
How does joining this organization align with your facility’s mission and vision?
Mission
The ANA is the largest professional organization of nurses in the world, representing the interests of the nation's 4 million registered nurses. The ANA's mission is
to "advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public." (ANA, 2023)
Member Benefits
ANA members receive a variety of benefits, including:
- A subscription to the American Journal of Nursing
- Access to the ANA's online learning center
- The ability to participate in ANA's advocacy efforts
- A discount on ANA's annual conference
- The opportunity to network with other nurses
One Educational Offering
The ANA offers a variety of educational offerings, including:
- Webinars
- Online courses
- In-person conferences
One specific educational offering that I found interesting is the ANA's "Nurse of the Future" program. This program is designed to help nurses prepare for the future of nursing by providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a changing health care environment.
Membership Cost
The cost of ANA membership varies depending on the type of membership and the nurse's location. For example, the cost of individual membership is $115 per year for nurses in the United States and $150 per year for nurses outside of the United States.
Do I Plan to Join This Organization?
Yes, I plan to join the ANA. I believe that the ANA's mission and values align with my own, and I am confident that the organization will provide me with the resources and support I need to advance my nursing career.
How Could This Organization Influence My Professional Development?
The ANA could influence my professional development in a number of ways. For example, the organization's educational offerings could help me stay up-to-date on the latest nursing trends and research. The ANA's advocacy efforts could help me make a difference in the lives of my patients and the nursing profession as a whole. And the ANA's networking opportunities could help me connect with other nurses and learn from their experiences.
How Does Joining This Organization Align With My Facility's Mission and Vision?
My facility's mission is to "provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients and families
." The ANA's mission is to "advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice." These two missions are clearly aligned, and I believe that joining the ANA would help me further my facility's mission by providing me with the resources and support I need to deliver high-quality care to my patients.
References
American Nurses Association. (2023). About ANA. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/