Member Spotlight: American Nurses Association

By Katherine Scott, Senior Manager, Member Services & Certifications

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation’s 4 million registered nurses. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all. All registered nurses are eligible to join ANA. ANA has affiliations with 50 state and constituent nurses’ associations and 38 specialty nursing organizations.  ANA is the voice of its members and their needs – and it has been since 1896.

Safe nurse staffing leads to improved patient outcomes and greater satisfaction for both patients and nursing staff. ANA believes that direct-care nurses, working with nurse managers and financial managers, are the best judge of what patients need day to day, and even hour by hour. ANA educates nurses about safe staffing and how to apply principles and approaches as well as engage in necessary dialogue on the topic in their work environment.

Workplace violence continues to be a critical issue in today’s health care system. Nurses routinely face varying degrees of abuse, ranging from verbal abuse to physical violence, in hospitals, clinics, and other health care settings across the country. In fact, the likelihood of health care workers’ exposure to violence is higher than prison guards or police officers.

Consider these stats: 1 in 4 nurses say they have been assaulted on the job and 13 percent have missed work from experiencing workplace violence. Safe work environments and quality care are critical in order to promote positive health outcomes for patients and communities. ANA works to address work place violence through #EndNurseAbuse – a social movement that puts the spotlight on these alarming and frequent incidents and encourages nurses and patients to take a stand.

The World Health Assembly has officially designated 2020 as the “Year of the Nurse and the Midwife,” in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. Given the wide range of nursing roles in the U.S., ANA has chosen to call it “Year of the Nurse,” to promote inclusivity and wide engagement of all nurses in this landmark year of activities.  During the “Year of the Nurse,” ANA will amplify awareness of nursing excellence; nursing leadership across the spectrum of health and health care; and stimulate nursing innovation to benefit patients and communities. This year offers abundant opportunities to leverage the public’s trust of the nursing profession and elevate the public’s understanding of nurses’ essential role in transforming health and health care.

ANA continues to be a proud NHC member. The mission of the National Health Council, to provide a united voice for people, aligns with ANA’s work to safeguard the needs of patients, advocate for key health policy, and drive initiatives to improve nursing practice and health care for all.

To learn more about the American Nurses Association, go to their website.

If you would like more information on NHC membership, please contact me.