Re:Topic 5 DQ 2
There are many benefits to belonging to a professional organization. Having a membership in a professional organization allows a nurse to be in control of their professional future by leading to an improved attentiveness or nursing issues. It provides networking and support from peers and nursing leaders, it allows nurses to exchange ideas and work together on issues and challenges in the profession.
It allows nurses to stay connected with each other at state and national levels, and offers many professional, educational, and personal development opportunities through the resources it provides like journals or seminars. "Joining professional associations gives nurses a competitive edge by making them active, informed members of their profession and connecting them with their peers" (Frank, 2005, p. 13).
Networking within an organization allows nurses to be introduced to new information and ideas, new techniques for procedures, and changes in the workplace environment. Networking with nurses outside your work place can allow for a broader perspective of health care. Networking could also provide new career opportunities.
Organizations provide strength in numbers and nurses are the largest group in the health care field, we are also highly respected. That can be very affective when it comes to contacting or influencing legislators on an issue. On May 12th the National Nurses United association, held rallies in Washington D.C. to pass mandatory minimum nurse to patient ratio. Demonstrations like this can be extremely powerful.
References
Frank, K. (2005, July). Benefits of professional nursing organization membership.AORN JOURNAL, 82(1), 13-14.
(2015, June 1). What nurses really want.NATIONAL NURSE, 12-15.