Assignment Instructions
Discuss how professional nursing organizations support the field of nursing and how they advocate for nursing practice. Explain the value professional nursing organizations have in advocacy and activism related to patient care. Choose a professional nursing organization that relates to your specialty area of interest. Discuss how this organization keeps its members informed of health care changes and opportunities the organization provides for continuing education and professional development.
Sample Answer
Discuss how professional nursing organizations support the field of nursing and how they advocate for nursing practice.
Professional nursing organizations support the nursing field through professional development, acting as a source of research publications and networking opportunities. Different professional organizations provide nurses with opportunities for continuing education and certification in various specialties. This is usually through seminars, workshops, and conferences that allow nurses to remain updated on the current research in their field. For instance, the American Nurses Association (ANA) provides nurses with development resources such as certification review materials, online courses, and webinars (ANA, n.d.). Professional nursing organizations enable nurses to share experiences, connect with each other, and learn. Networking leads to mentorship opportunities and collaborations. Additionally, the various professional nursing organizations publish newsletters that feature case studies, the latest research, and articles on the best practices.
Explain the value professional nursing organizations have in advocacy and activism related to patient care.
Professional nursing organizations advocate for patients through fostering public awareness, policy advocacy, and workplace advocacy. Nursing organizations provide a voice that advances the nursing profession, protects the rights of the patients, and improves patient care. For instance, ANA regulates the practice standards of the nurses and advocates for factors that enhance the health of the patients and regulate the work environment of the nurses (Chiu et al., 2021). Professional nursing organizations raise the awareness of the patients on the nurses' roles, challenges faced by nurses, and the contribution of nurses in healthcare. Additionally, nurses advocate for a safe working environment for nurses and the conditions that affect the work of nurses such as fair compensation, workplace safety, and nurse-to-patient ratios.
Choose a professional nursing organization that relates to your specialty area of interest. Discuss how this organization keeps its members informed of healthcare changes and opportunities the organization provides for continuing education and professional development.
One of the professional nursing organizations that relate to my specialty is the American Nurses Association (ANA). ANA keeps its members informed through its website, email updates, and newsletters. It provides nurses with opportunities for professional development and continuing education through conferences, online learning opportunities, and certification programs (ANA, n.d.). ANA advances the nurses' careers by providing career advice and job listings.
References
ANA. (n.d.). Career and Professional Development. https://www.nursingworld.org/resources/individual/
Chiu, P., Cummings, G. G., Thorne, S., & Schick-Makaroff, K. (2021). Policy advocacy and nursing organizations: A scoping review. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 22(4), 276-296. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8600587/