Are Nursing Associations Such as ANA Relevant to Today's NP Needs?

Article Outline

• Support for ANA Membership Only
• Rationale Against ANA Membership Only
• Copyright

Ellen Carson, PhD, ARNP, BC, received a BSN from Pittsburgh State University, an MN in medical-surgical nursing from the University of Kansas, and a PhD in health science education from the University of Arkansas. Her clinical experience is primarily in acute care, emergency, operating room, and postanesthesia recovery. She has worked as a clinical nurse specialist and has held ANCC certification in medical-surgical nursing since 1990. She maintains a part-time clinical practice in gerontology services and currently is faculty at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. She also served as president of the Kansas State Nurses Association from 2005-2007.

Shirley Dinkel, PhD, ARNP, BC, NP-C, CNS, received a BSN from Marymount College in Salina, Kansas, a MSN specializing in community health nursing from the University of Kansas, and a PhD from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. She is board certified as an adult and family nurse practitioner. Her clinical experience is varied, with her current experience in primary care as an ARNP. She has 16 years of teaching experience in baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs. She is currently faculty at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. She holds membership in Sigma Theta Tau.

Professional nurses have been educated in the art and science of nursing and applied knowledge and skill when caring for individuals, families, and communities. Their overall goal is to promote health and prevent illness. However, to truly be defined as a professional, many scholars believe that membership in a unified professional organization is a privilege and a requirement for the advancement of the profession as a whole. Yet nurses represent a diverse collection of people. Some of us have been called to nursing through divine intervention, some view nursing as a stepping stone to other careers, some see nursing as a way to support themselves and their families, and some believe that nursing is indeed a profession. All have health promotion and disease prevention as their ultimate goal but have very different driving forces.

When considering the value and relevancy of membership in professional nursing associations, two questions remain. First, is the American Nurses Association (ANA) relevant to today's nurse practitioner (NP) needs, and second, would specialty organizations be more relevant?

What do you think? To comment on this matter, e-mail section editor Jacqueline Rhoads at jrhoad@lsuhsc.edu

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Support for ANA Membership Only 

Ellen Carson

Ibelieve membership in the ANA is a professional responsibility. It is important to belong to the association that represents my specialty. By history, these associations defined nursing practice and initiated the regulation of practice to protect the public. The state associations of today provide guidance and input into regulation of advanced practice by describing what is relevant in current practice. The ANA spearheaded reimbursement for advanced practice nurses.

Additionally, the association is recognized by government and community agencies as the voice for nursing as political activists that improve health and access to care. The state association is a prominent lobbying force for better working conditions for nurses, better access to health care for consumers, and always promotes the profession, including advanced practice. The state associations contribute to the development of professional standards by naming expert practitioners to national panels. This grassroots activity offers superior yet realistic professional standards that stand the test of time.

Personally, I belong because of the networking potential of the association. I have access to expert clinicians, researchers, educators, and advanced practice specialists because I have met them at district, state, and national meetings. The association has afforded me numerous leadership opportunities and the pleasure of representing the profession in a variety of venues where I was the only nurse in attendance.

Finally, membership is a way to contribute to the profession, even if all you do is pay dues. The financial support provided by dues is the lifeblood of any association, essential to meet its mission. This financial support will enable the association to conduct business, lobby, and provide essential representation to all concerned parties.

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Rationale Against ANA Membership Only 

Shirley Dinkel

Ibelieve that nursing associations such as ANA are not as relevant to today's NP as the specialty organizations. If we look at the mission statement of the ANA, we see, “The ANA is involved in public education, clinical nursing standards, and lobbying state and federal lawmakers to advance the profession.” They address ethics, public policy, and the economic and general welfare of nurses—very broad activities not meant to single out the NP but speak to the needs to all nurses. NPs should expect the ANA to represent all nurses, and while I appreciate the efforts of the ANA to promote the profession of nursing to legislators, their support for particular presidential candidates, abortion rights, and other controversial issues does little to create cohesiveness among all nurses. I believe that the ANA strives for quality membership representation, and with their broad perspective and political stance, advanced practice nurses are viewed as unique specialties, with specific concerns and beliefs.

As with many of my NP colleagues, I also support membership in specialty NP associations. Specialty NP associations offer state-of-the-art practice education, support, networking opportunities, and relevant research opportunities. I want to focus my attention and energy on an organization that addresses research in nursing that supports advanced practice nursing education and supports my advanced practice role in all of these areas.

Multiple memberships can be expensive, and to be truly active in all associations is a great demand on time. Perhaps no one professional association can be a “one size fits all,” and belonging to one or more specialty associations is the answer. I am privileged to have the resources to do just that.