Membership in a professional organization provides a nurse with the format to enhance personal and professional growth in their field.

There are a variety of professional nursing organizations, each of which has a specific set of expectations and benefits. The opportunities range from general nursing groups to medical specialty organizations.

The Choices Are Many

There are many professional nursing organizations on the local, state, national and/or international level. Some local and state groups have national and/or international parent groups.

General nursing organizations offer a broad spectrum of support and information to the members. The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the most popular professional organization for all levels of nurses.

Specialty nursing organizations focus their attention on distributing information and offering support for specific medical conditions. These groups cover information on everything from pediatrics, peri-anesthesia and gastroenterology to nurse executives, critical care nurses, ambulatory surgical nurse and a variety of specialties in between.

The Benefits of Membership

Belonging to an organization offers many benefits, including:

Access to the Website - Professional organizations usually have a two-level website, one with information for the general public and one designed exclusively for members. The password-sensitive, members-only site is an invaluable resource for news, research and offers specific to the specialty.

Continuing Education - Continuing education units (CEU), required by most states for license renewal, are offered at a reduced rate for members. Specialty-specific programs are offered by the appropriate professional organizations. The CEUs are earned online or by attending live seminars or participating in webinars.

Specialty Certification - Certification in a specialty demonstrates a commitment to professional excellence in a designated field. Professional nursing organizations offer the process through which a nurse can attain such certifications. The usual practice includes educational sessions and successful completion of a competency test.

Networking - Professional connections made through peer networking, whether at the local, state, national or international level, can broaden the nurse’s knowledge base. Networking is achieved at live meetings, as well as online member chats.

Career Assistance - A members-only site often provides career assistance by offering a list of job openings in a nursing specialty. Current trends in salary, benefits and job descriptions are often identified on the organization’s site.

Be Involved

While it is prudent to list and then evaluate the benefits of joining a professional nursing organization, it is even more important to actually take advantage of the benefits they offer.

First, join an organization or two. Nurses often join a general organization and a job-specific specialty group as well. Then, jump in and participate to your fullest potential. The more a member is involved, on all levels, the higher the overall benefit. A few ideas to help a nurse get involved with the group include:

• Go to regular general group meetings, if scheduling allows
• Join an active committee in the organization
• Run for an administrative position
• Help with special projects, whether they are general or committee-based
• Offer to run an educational session for the group
• Consult with organization members, outside of the group’s specific agenda, for job-related support

Membership in a professional organization provides a nurse with the format to enhance personal and professional growth in their field. It keeps the professional nurse up-to-date on current trends in the healthcare industry.

What organization(s) are you joining?