Benefits of professional nursing organization membership

AORN Journal,  July, 2005  by Kaeryn Frank

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Learning and developing are life-long processes. Professional nursing associations provide an opportunity for professional nurses to develop a bigger picture of nursing and health care overall. Membership in a professional association also gives nurses, including perioperative nurses, an opportunity to be in control of their professional destiny. Professional nursing organization membership can lead to an increased awareness of nursing issues and support for collective actions among nurses. Association members can explore trends and concerns facing their profession, and the association provides networking opportunities to connect them with peers, mentors, and nursing leaders. Membership in a professional nursing organization, like AORN, also provides nurses with opportunities to exchange ideas and collaborate on issues and projects as they face the challenges of providing quality health care.

Joining associations like AORN provides nurses with a competitive edge because they become active, informed members of their profession. They can stay connected to their peers at the local and national level. Joining an association also results in educational, personal, and professional development opportunities provided by the association's professional journal, scholarships, and seminars. There also are opportunities for visibility, support, and access to industry leaders and partners.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF MEMBERSHIP

Just joining a professional organization is not enough, however. To fully receive the benefits of membership, you need to be engaged with the association. Find a committee that interests you. In AORN, for example, members can get involved in education, membership, and finance committees as well as numerous other types of committees at both the local and the national level. Working on a committee provides an opportunity to hone a variety of skills.

Attending meetings will leave you feeling energized and rejuvenated. It is a great way to stay in touch with other nurses from the community, and meetings are good places to exchange ideas and find out how other nurses are handling hot issues. You may learn something new. We need each other for support and camaraderie. Networking with nurses outside your place of employment can give you a broader perspective on the market and health care in general.

You also might consider running for a local or national office. If you are elected, it will be a tremendous learning experience in your professional growth, and it will look good on your resume. If you are not elected, just running will provide you with visibility and credibility.

Volunteer for special projects and programs. Continuing education events, annual conventions, vendor fairs, health fairs, and media projects give you an opportunity to make a real difference and give something back to your profession. Try out your writing skills by submitting articles to the association's various publications. Agree to give a presentation at a chapter program.

Association membership also provides a number of networking opportunities. You can attend conventions, seminars, and award dinners where your colleagues are being recognized and honored. Take time to celebrate events that remind you why you became a nurse in the first place.

Most associations offer a number of continuing education programs. For example, AORN offers yearly seminars, conferences, online programs, certificate programs, educational CD-ROMs and videotapes, and articles in the AORN Journal as part of its educational offerings. Many of these programs have contact hours associated with them.

Another benefit of association membership is that many associations offer certification in the specialty they cover. Although certification is voluntary for nursing practices, it may have a dramatic effect on your personal growth, professional goals, and practice outcomes. Certification also may result in financial gains, such as salary increases and bonuses. Many nurses also can use certification as part of their career ladder for advancement.

STRENGTH FOR THE FUTURE

Every nurse should belong to his or her state or national association. There is strength in numbers. With any membership, however, you get what you put into it. Attend meetings, and reap the benefits offered to you as a member. Join your professional association and get involved to be the best nurse you can be. If you already are a member, invite a colleague who is not a member to join and help build a strong nursing voice.

RELATED ARTICLE: Finding a professional organization.

Following is a partial listing-of professional nursing organization. Membership information for these organizations can be found on their individual web sites.

* American Association of Critical Care Nurses http://www.aacn.org

* American Association of Neuroscience Nurses http://www.aann.org

* American Association of Occupational Health Nurses http://www.aaohn.org

* American College of Nurse Practitioners http://www.nurse.org/acnp