President's Message

Alabama Nurse,  Mar-May 2005  by Donoghue, Janet

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"What's in it for me?"

This is a question that many nonmembers and some members ask about joining the Alabama State Nurses Association (ASNA) and our national organization, the American Nurses Association (ANA). There are actually several approaches to that question, and I'd like to discuss some of them in this article.

The first approach usually centers around specific, quantifiable benefits that come with membership in ANA/ASNA. For example, discounts are available on many Continuing Education classes through both state and national organizations. These CE opportunities are available on-line, in various publications and in onsite workshops/conferences. Both organizations have web sites that are filled with relevant professional, reference and contact information (Nursingworld.org and alabamanurses.org); there is a members-only section as well. ANA membership includes subscriptions to The American Nurse and the American Journal of Nursing. State membership comes with the quarterly periodical The Alabama Nurse, which actually goes to every nurse and nursing student in the state. There are also discounts available on a wide range of products and services, including a number of different types of insurance; auto rental from Alamo and Budget; hotels such as Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Ramada Inn, Travelodge, Wingate Inn and others. State membership includes one hour of free legal advice on any topic from our ASNA attorney, Don Eddins. State members also receive the ASNA Reporter, a members-only publication, and qualify for coupons worth $10 for each new member recruited. Of course the MBNA affinity credit card program is also available to our members. Nursebooks.org, the publishing program of ANA, offers nearly 100 titles, including ANA's Nursing Standards. Discounts of 20% or more are available to members.

The second approach involves perhaps less-quantifiable, but surely no less important benefits. ASNA is without question the largest, most influential and most recognized nursing association in Alabama. Our affiliation with the American Nurses Association yields those exact benefits on the national stage. Both organizations conduct political lobbying activities in theirrespective areas to advance the nursing profession, improve health care standards and practices, and advocate for nurses at every level. The American Nurses Foundation, the philanthropic arm of ANA, promotes the public health and advances the nursing profession through the funding, management and administration of both internal and external grants in research, education and clinical practice. Our own recently revitalized Alabama Nurses Foundation offers scholarships for both graduate and undergraduate nurses in Alabama, with an emphasis on programs leading to a career in education - thus directly targeting the worsening nursing shortage. The Center for American Nurses (CAN), an associate organization of ANA, is directly involved in workplace advocacy issues for nurses. Its' various services, products and programs include policy research and advocacy, education and communications. Your ASNA partnership with the CAN has greatly enhanced our ability to pursue workplace advocacy issues for Alabama nurses. Typical subjects include: staffing and overtime issues, Healthcare without Harm, Handle with Care patient movement education, Environmental Health issues, Nurse Competency in Aging, Healthy Blood Pressure programs, and the growing nursing shortage both in Alabama and throughout the United States.

Finally, membership on ANA/ASNA offers many superb opportunities for individual nurses to improve their skills, network with other professional in the state, and actively participate in raising public awareness about healthcare issues and the nursing profession. ASNA holds an annual Legislative Day in Montgomery; our annual CE program (the Elizabeth A. Morris Annual Clinical Sessions - FACES) - 27 April this year in Montgomery; and our annual Convention and House of Delegates - 29 September - 1 October in Mobile for this year. These are all opportunities to meet your contemporaries/peers and to exchange ideas with both old and new friends in the profession. In addition, our (soon to be 5 new) district organizations hold meetings at various times throughout the state, and a numbe r of counties have organizations as well. ASNA has a number of committees and Task Forces in which you could get involved, depending on your particular interests. We currently have Bylaws, Awards, Continuing Education, Strategic Planning, Ethics and Human Rights, Government Affairs, Membership, Nominating, Peer Assistance, Convention Planning, Restructuring Task Force and Professional Issues. Active participation can afford you networking opportunities and help you stay connected to advances in your profession. It can also enable you to improve your speaking skills and provide leadership opportunities. Attending various meetings will also be a great way to stay in touch with colleagues, exchange ideas and find a professionally oriented support group. You can also write articles for The Alabama Nurse, published quarterly. Finally, there is truly great strength in numbers; the more members we have in ASNA, the bigger voice and greater leverage we can have in advocating for nurses and health issues in our state and in the nation. If you are currently a member of ASNA, we thank you for that. If you are not a member, we encourage you to join us, and look forward to welcoming you on board.