Nursing Organizations and their Importance
Nurses have a huge responsibility in the healthcare industry to contribute to the improvement of people's health. They make up a sizable section of the profession, and their numbers are growing by the day. Considering these statistics, it is critical to realize the value of organizations in offering a platform for networking, education, and advocacy. Nursing organizations provide a forum for nurses to advance their careers through education and research. Nurses can opt to join specialty organizations that cater to their specific areas of interest, or they can join generic groups that accept nurses of all specializations (Daly, 2005). The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is a general society that accommodates students, professional nurses, and organizations from all specialties. It has garnered a membership of over 222,000 members in a bid to lead the healthcare sector to be patient-centered in a bid to enhance the healthcare sector and has been in existence for many years (AANP, 2017).
Aim and relevance to the nursing practice
Nurses in all specialties are given a role to serve all patient through the removal of hindrances to the nurses. These organizations ensure that nursing is two way by providing patients with quality care and ensuring the nurses adhere to a strict code of ethics (Kelly & Tazbir, 2014). Through the organization over 30 laws have been passed giving mandate on issues such as prescription and recognition of signatures input by nurses. Attending conferences if fundamental to making contacts in the career with the aim of advancing one's career. Joining organizations provides a niche to attendance at discounted rates (Greggs-McQuilkin, 2005). AANP host annual conferences on health and leadership in different parts of the country allowing nurses to come together and share their understanding with the aim of enhancing the care given to patients.
Nurses need to stay abreast of issues in the industry
through research, education and especially in areas of science and technology (Greggs-McQuilkin, 2005). These are provided through publications made in their e-newsletters, peer-reviewed journals, and various discussion papers. These platforms ensure that one is updated at all times on new developments.
AANP as an international networking platform
AANP is an international body that enables one to network with nurses from various parts of the world. Through conversational platforms, nurses can collaborate by sharing ideas, and resources. AANP also provides a leadership program which is run for 12 months. Nurses throughout the nation are recruited and taken through a rigorous program to develop their leadership skills. Locational barrier is overcome by ensuring there is an electronic learning platform for the program.
Becoming a member
Membership in the AANP is open to students starting in the profession and nurses that may be retiring in the career from all specialties. Students willing to join the organization require being enrolled for learning in an entry-level program for nurses. An annual fee of $55 is required to confirm membership. Membership is allowed for nurse practitioners that are fully certified at a price of $135. Postgraduate students, retired nurses, and associates are given an opportunity to join with different fees. Vying for leadership roles in the organization requires members to be in good standing for 12 months.
Benefits of the membership
Key benefits that AANP members enjoy are a platform to engage in professional activities that enhance growth and excellence for nurses. There is a platform for persons in various specialties to form communities where they can collaborate in their efforts, discuss, and share documents. Finding a job ca be a daunting task, however, joining the organization provides an opportunity for the placement of resumes and job advertisement through the JobCenter.
AANP provides an advocacy platform which is continuous, active and enhances leadership. They become the central persons in consultancy between the policymakers, consumers, and key stakeholders. Advocacy allows them to perform surveys and research to gather information that promotes standards in the healthcare sector.
AANP provides a platform for research on various nursing based practices. It is an essential opportunity for career growth and enhancement as one can test their ideas based on their viability to the improvement of the well-being of the patients. Learning is constant on membership as one gets access to publications for free as opposed to paying a fee each time one needs to learn something.
Membership comes with financial benefits as one gets competitive rates when seeking health insurance and long term care plans through Mercer. The nursing field is sensitive and having adequate health policies ensures that one can take care of themselves as they are caring for the patients.
Personal benefit of becoming a member
Learning and growth key for me as a nursing student and in my role as a nurse. Learning is possible on an individual level, but organizations enhance continuous and dynamic acquisition of knowledge (Kelly & Tazbir, 2014). It is through education my role as a nurse is shaped and takes form through the advancement of healthcare provision (Daly, 2005). AANP publications play a fundamental role in learning as they do not take ages to publish but are done weekly, monthly and annually. Learning in this era needs to be continuous as the needs of the patients keep changing, new diseases and conditions come into existence and technology keep evolving. As a nurse, I cannot afford to sit and rely on the knowledge gained in class as the sole source of information in taking care of patients. The ability to interact with nurses from an international perspective provides a dynamic learning environment. Davis, Taylor, & Reyes (2014) in their study show that continuous learning enhances a questioning mind that is key in dynamic reasoning that allows nurses to deliver high-quality service to the patients.
In my role as a nurse, I endeavor to research in a bid to improve various areas in the healthcare sector. AANP provides a comprehensive platform for research which is vital in the learning process. Research is essential in promoting evidence-based practice in nursing. The practice ensures that the ultimate needs of the patients are met, and the relationship between the nurse and the patient is improved. Implementation of evidence-based practices is a challenge that has to be done with proper strategies to meet the challenges. It is through the support of organizations that one would manage to overcome the challenges smoothly (Titler, 2008).
Conclusion
Joining nursing organizations costs a small fee in a year but comes with countless benefits. The ability to learn, network and perform research for a nurse is crucial as they have a pivotal role in improving the well-being of patients are well and unwell. Organizations provide a dynamic platform to learn and grow in the role.
References
AANP, (2017). AANP - Home. Aanp.org. Retrieved 5 March 2017, from https://www.aanp.org/index.php
Daly, J. (2005). Professional nursing (1st ed.). New York, NY: Springer Pub. Co.
Davis, L., Taylor, H., & Reyes, H. (2014). Lifelong learning in nursing: A Delphi study. Nurse Education Today, 34(3), 441-445. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2013.04.014
Greggs-McQuilkin, D. (2005). Why join a professional nursing organization?. Nursing, 35, 19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00152193-200509001-00006
Kelly, P. & Tazbir, J. (2014). Essentials of nursing leadership & management (3rd ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Delmar.
Titler, M. (2008). The Evidence for Evidence-Based Practice Implementation (1st ed.). Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
