Professional Nursing Organizations Serve Both

¶ … professional nursing organizations serve both the individual nurse and the profession. It will examine three nursing professional organizations, the ANA, the NJSNA and the AANA.

The American Nurses Association is a full-service professional organization representing the nation's 2.9 million registered nurses (RNs) through its 54 constituent member associations. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. The ANA's Mission Statement is as follows:

Dedicated to ensuring that an adequate supply of highly-skilled and well-educated nurses is available, the ANA is committed to meeting the needs of nurses as well as health care consumers. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the general public.

Their goals are to be at the forefront of policy initiatives pertaining to health care reform. Among the priority issues are: a restructured health care system that delivers primary health care in community-based settings; an expanded role for registered nurses and advanced practice nurses in the delivery of basic and primary health care; obtaining federal funding for nurse education and training; and helping to change and improve the health care workplace. Their stakeholders are all nurses and state organizations, such as the NJSNA, who are members of this national group.

The New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) is comprised of professional nurses, committed to making a difference for nurses in New Jersey. Their Mission Statement is as follows:

In accordance with its philosophy and bylaws the New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA), comprised of professional nurses, advances the profession, delineating the practice of nursing through standard setting, education and research, formulating public policy and fostering excellence

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EPIC Awards) and quality of health delivery in the State of New Jersey.

They represent nurses in New Jersey and are a federation member of the American Nurses Association, and are organized for individual professional nurse members through its regions to participate in activities for the advancement of nurses and nursing and to promote the profession as an essential, independent and distinct social service. Their stakeholders are all the member nurses in New Jersey.

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is an organization made up of certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, who are advanced practice nurses who specialize in anesthesia care. AANA is the professional association representing more than 30,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) nationwide and was founded in 1931. Their Mission Statement is as follows: Advancing patient safety and excellence in anesthesia. (March 2004) Their goals and objectives are integrity, professionalism, advocacy and quality. Their motto is "Supporting our members ~ Protecting our patients, with the goal of becoming recognized leaders in anesthesia care.