¶ … Nursing Organizations The purpose, mission, activities, benefits, and target audience of two professional nursing organizations: The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the American College of Nurse Midwives

A nurse beginning her medical career will likely want to join an organization that can support her throughout her tenure in the profession. On a personal level, professional organizations provide a source of continuing education and networking. On a professional level, organizations such as the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) and the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) act as advocates for the interests of professionals. They demand that nurses' unique areas of expertise are honored and treated with respect, and that the interests of children and their parents are honored. When selecting which organization to join, however, a nurse must ask herself this critical, soul-searching question: what area is her primary field of practice? Does the nurse seek out a specialty that does not directly relate to childbearing? Is the nurse unsure of her pediatric specialty? If so, then NAPNAP is likely to provide more expansive resources than the more focused area of interests represented by ACNM.

The purpose of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners identifies its mission as "promoting optimal health for children through leadership, practice, advocacy, education and research" ("Home," NAPNAP, 2012). It is "the only national organization dedicated to improving the quality of health care for infants, children and adolescents and to advancing the PNP's role in providing that care" ("Home," NAPNAP, 2012). The organization assumes a role of advocacy as well as provides information for practitioners. "NAPNAP...

NAPNAP prides itself in the caliber of its members, which includes national child health care experts, respected authors, distinguished faculty, and practicing professionals" ("About us," NAPNAP,2012). It is an organization with a clear vision of how to improve healthcare for children. It is willing to take controversial stances. It was the first nursing organization to sign a voluntary pledge supporting transparency in member interactions with "pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers and other for-profit companies in the healthcare field" ("NAPNAP continuing education center," NAPAP, 2012)
For members, NAPNAP has local branches and specialty divisions to allow practitioner-members to share experiences. Continuing education is cited as one of the main reasons for members to join and pediatric medicine is always changing in its recommendations for practitioners, even more so than other professions (DeNoon 2008). Nurses have the ability to add to both their anecdotal knowledge by connecting with colleagues online and also reading the journal published by the organization, which is available to members. Members can add to their formal certification, which is often a requirement to advance professionally in many healthcare institutions. For example, NAPNAP advertises a member can "earn FREE online CE credit -- read JPHC article 'Antipsychotic Medication Prescribing Trends in Children and Adolescents'" and take the quiz afterward ("NAPNAP continuing education center," NAPAP, 2012)

The membership of the American College of…