The Significance of The American Nurses Association (ANA) to Nurses in their Specialty

The American Nurses Association (ANA)
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Description of the Organization and Its Significance to Nurses
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a professional nursing organization formed in 1896 to improve nursing by fostering high nursing practice standards; bolstering nurses’ health and wellbeing; promoting a secure and ethical work environment; and advocating on healthcare issues affecting nurses and the public (American Nurses Association, n.d). Its vision is to make the world healthy through nursing. The organization’s mission is to be the leading profession that shapes the future of nursing and healthcare (American Nurses Association, n.d). This nursing professional organization consists of about four million registered nurses in the US (American Nurses Association, n.d). It represents the interests of these nurses through joint membership with its constituent member associations (CMAs).
Being a member of ANA comes with numerous benefits. One of the benefits is professional development. ANA Membership is central to career development in nursing. Since its formation, the organization has supported and assisted its members’ professional growth (Matthews, 2019). They have accessed various programs and products designed only for registered nurses. ANA also offers its members networking opportunities. This is a significant way of connecting with other registered nurses at conferences, meetings, and online platforms for support and advice (Tastan et al., 2014). Through ANA, members can access online forums, ask questions, and explore different topics.
Additionally, ANA allows its members to influence health policy. This organization has a comprehensive advocacy effort that enables them to protect the safety and health programs (American Nurses Association, n.d). Lastly, ANA offers employment opportunities to its members. Active involvement in the organization indicates that the person has appropriate leadership skills, values teamwork, and is passionate about their career (Tastan et al., 2014). Employers are also interested in knowing about the community events a nurse participated in before hiring them.
Importance of a Nurse’s Networking and How ANA Creates Networking Opportunities
It is important for nurses in this specialty field to network because networking allows registered nurses to develop a strong support system within the healthcare community (American Nurses Association, n.d). It builds one’s nursing career by allowing the nurse to connect with other healthcare professionals. The physical interaction attained through networking enables nurses to cooperate with other healthcare professionals, learn from them, receive advice, share ideas, and explore changes in the nursing field (Tastan et al., 2014). This is where nurses can meet other experts who can help advance their knowledge and skills. The knowledge and skills gained from the interaction help a nurse in this specialty field to know how to solve daily challenges and provide quality healthcare to the patients they serve.
ANA creates networking opportuni...