PROFESSIONAL NURSING
ORGANIZATIONS
P R E S E N TAT I O N B Y D A N I E L L E R O D R I G U E Z
WHAT ARE PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS?
Professional organizations deal with issues of concern to those practicing in the
profession. In addition to the educational organizations that exist, there are a
variety of specialty organizations as well. For example, some organizations focus
on specific areas such as critical care, advanced practice, maternal-child nursing,
and nursing research. Professional organizations seek to:
improve the standards of practice
expand nursing roles
foster the welfare of nurses within specialty areas
State and provincial Nurse Practice Acts (NPA) establish specific legal regulations
for practice, while
professional organizations establish
standards of practice
as criteria for nursing care.
MISSION & IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS
• Professional nursing organizations are an effective means by which the nursing
profession can influence healthcare policy, represent and protect the interests of
nurses, provide continuing education opportunities for nurses, and advocate for the
highest quality care possible to the public.
• Some organizations are meant to serve RN’s as a whole, while some are geared toward
representing specialty nurses to support the interests of those who practice in specific
clinical environments.
• Participating in professional organizations can facilitate leadership development,
develop skill in collaboration, provide networking opportunities for each member, and
potentially result in career advancement. To fulfill their mission, nursing organizations
further the development of nursing standards of practice, expand the body of
knowledge through research and evidence-based practice, and promote nurses’
general welfare in the workplace. Nursing organizations also provide continuing
nursing education, foster the continued development of nursing as a profession, and
serve as legislative and political advocates for nurses and those served by nurses. The
organizations may be local, regional, national, or international in scope.
NATIONAL STUDENT NURSES
ASSOCIATION (NSNA)
• Professional organizations present educational programs
and publish journals. As students, we have the
opportunity to join the National Student Nurses
Association (NSNA)
• NSNA is a nonprofit organization for students enrolled in
associate, baccalaureate, diploma, and generic graduate
nursing programs
• NSNA considers issues of importance to nursing students
(e.g. career development, NCLEX preparation) and is
dedicated to fostering the professional development of
nursing students
• NSNA offers scholarships annually to undergraduate
nursing students
NATIONAL STUDENT NURSES
ASSOCIATION (NSNA)
• The NSNA’s membership statement states, “NSNA is dedicated
to fostering the professional development of nursing
students. With 60,000 members nationwide, NSNA is the
voice of the future for the nursing profession.”
• The group’s mission statement says, “NSNA’s mission is to
mentor students preparing for initial licensure as registered
nurses, and to convey the standards, ethics, and skills that
students will need as responsible and accountable leaders
and members of the profession.”
(NSNA, n.d.)
NATIONAL STUDENT NURSES
ASSOCIATION (NSNA)
AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION
(ANA)
• The ANA is the largest and one of the most powerful of all U.S.
professional nursing organizations, representing the interests of our
nation’s 4 million registered nurses
• The ANA has established a Code of Ethics, as well as the Scopes and
Standards of Nursing Practice
• The ANA also provides numerous continuing education opportunities,
access to three professional journals, a career center that offers career
counseling, and group discounts on personal and professional liability
insurance. With 54 state affiliations that you may join, you’ll have
more local information and opportunities closer to home should you
so choose.
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF NURSES
(ICN)
The International Council of Nurses
(ICN) is a federation of more than
130 national nurses associations,
representing over 20 million nurses
all over the world.
ICN mission & vision statement: “To
represent nursing worldwide,
advance the nursing profession,
promote the wellbeing of nurses,
and advocate for health in all
policies. The global community
recognizes, supports, and invests in
nurses and nursing to lead and
deliver health for all.”
TIMELINE OF ORGANIZATION
DEVELOPMENT
• 1896 - Formation of the Associated Alumnae of Trained Nurses of the United States
and Canada. This association became the American Nurses Association in 1911
• 1899 - International Council of Nurses founded as the first international nursing
organization
• 1950 – Formal Code of Ethics was created and accepted by ANA
• 1973 - ANA developed and published the first Standards of Nursing Practice
• 1987 - ANA developed and published the first Scope of Nursing Practice
• 1996 - ANA developed and published Scope and
Standards of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing
NFNSO, NOLF AND THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF NURSING ORGANIZATION ALLIANCE
(NOA)
• In 1973, The National Federation for Specialty Nursing Organizations (NFSNO)
was established to address practice and leadership issues to specialty nursing
• ANA then created Nursing Organization Liaison Forum (NOLF) in 1982 to provide
a formal structure in which national nursing specialty organizations and ANA could
discuss professional and national health policy concerns and promote action on key
issues
• In 2001, The Nursing Organizations Alliance (NOA) was formed when both coalitions
united to create a powerful collaborative that would promote a strong voice and
cohesive action to address issues of concern to the community of nursing
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE BOARD
OF NURSING (NCSBN)
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is an
independent, not-for-profit organization through which
nursing regulatory bodies act and counsel together on
matters of common interest and concern affecting public
health, safety and welfare, including the development of
nursing licensure examinations (NCLEX)
• Mission statement: NCSBN empowers
and supports nursing regulators in their
mandate to protect the public.
AMERICAN HOLISTIC NURSES
ASSOCIATION
• Holistic nursing is recognized by the ANA as a nursing
specialty with a defined scope and standards of practice by
which all holistic nurses are held accountable
• AHNA encourages members to become involved locally,
nationally, or internationally with their organization
• https://youtu.be/yi2tCInmAto
Thank you for joining!
REFERENCES
• https://www.ahna.org/Get-Involved/AHNA-Nationally
• https://samples.jbpub.com/9781284104899/9781284104981_C
H05_Pass03.
pdf
• https://www.ncsbn.org/member-boards.htm
• http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarke
tplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-17-2012/N
o1-Jan-2012/Professional-Organizations-and-Advocating.html
#
NCSBN09
• https://www.nursing-alliance.org/
