Professional nurses associations and their organizational roles at multiple governance levels

Roles of Professional Nursing Associations

Conduct a web search of at least two professional nurses' associations and describe how each organization defines its respective role at local, state, and national levels.

Identify the organization and its website. What are some examples on the website demonstrating that the organization addresses policy and politics?

The website for the American Nurses Association (ANA) can be found at www.nursingworld.org, and by reviewing the wealth of content provided by the ANA through this interactive forum it is evident that the organization actively addresses both public policy and political issues. Through the auspices of its American Nurses Association Political Action Committee, or ANA-PAC, the ANA seeks "to promote the improvement of the healthcare system in the United States by raising funds from & #8230; members and contributing to support worthy candidates for federal office who have demonstrated their belief in the legislative and regulatory agenda of the American Nurses Association" (2012). The ANA website also offers several ways for politically minded nurses to engage in the policymaking process during this election season, providing members with updates on legislative actions which concern the profession, and notifying nurses about upcoming nursing-related ballot initiatives.

As opposed to the ANA's primarily domestic coverage of issues relevant to working nurses, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) specializes in monitoring the state of nursing on a global scale. Through the ICN website, found at http://www.icn.ch/, nurses working in nearly every country on Earth are provided a forum to connect and communicate with peers. The ICN Strategic Plan 2011-2014 provides a detailed explication of the organization's various policy advisory roles on the local level, as well as their efforts to standardize nursing practices on a global scale. The ICN states explicitly that its overall purpose is "to represent nurses worldwide, and to be the voice of nursing internationally thereby advancing the profession and influencing health policy" (2011), demonstrating the group's overall commitment to the pursuit of prudent nursing policy.

2.) Is your facility involved in professional organizations? Identify how your organization aligns itself or does not align itself with the websites ideologies.

At ____ hospital, where I currently work as a ____, the administrative staff definitely advises staff members to actively involve themselves with professional organizations like the ANA and the ICN. While the hospital may not concur with every policy position taken by the ANA and the ICN, the facility's leadership believes that nurses, physicians and supplementary staff should exercise their freedoms. As far as particular points of agreement, my hospital shares the ANA's stance that nurses are best served by furthering their education throughout their careers. To this end, my employer is extremely accommodating when it comes to recognizing my school responsibilities and scheduling issues, allowing me the opportunity to pursue crucial certifications and training. The ANA's assertion that the organization "is committed to providing you with the resources you need to make the most of your career & #8230; From webinars to conferences, continuing education to certification" (Continuing Professional Development, 2012) is shared by my hospital, which posts notices regarding upcoming training seminars and other opportunities for nurses to improve their skill set.

3.) Identify how these organizations influence day-to-day care at a health care organization.