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Functions of Professional Nursing Organizations

Professional associations are crucial for any profession, providing a platform for shared values, collaboration, and change. In nursing, these organizations play a vital role in advocating for the needs of both nurses and their clients.

International Council of Nurses (ICN), the world's largest nursing organization, represents 13 million nurses globally. ICN focuses on unifying nursing worldwide, advancing the profession, and influencing health policy.

American Nurses Association (ANA), the only full-service professional organization for RNs in the US, focuses on policy development, organizational partnerships, lobbying, and publishing.

Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), an honor society for nursing, emphasizes learning, knowledge, and professional development for nurses committed to global health. It offers various resources including publications, scholarships, and networking opportunities.

National League for Nursing (NLN), established in 1893 as the first nursing organization in the US, focuses on promoting excellence in nursing education to build a strong and diverse workforce.

Benefits of Professional Organizations:

Personal benefits:

• Socialization and networking
• Travel opportunities through conferences
• Scholarships

Professional benefits:

• Career advancement
• Political influence
• Setting professional standards
• Credentialing
• Access to professional journals and expert advice
• Advocacy

Criteria of a Profession:

• Well-defined body of knowledge
• Service orientation
• Recognized authority
• Code of ethics
• Professional organization
• Ongoing research
• Autonomy

Nursing as a Profession:

• Nursing standards are based on a code of ethics set by professional organizations.
• The profession focuses on human responses to health problems, promoting wellness, and utilizing evidence-based practice.
• Nursing has evolved from a technical service to a person-centered approach that maximizes human potential.

Other Notable Organizations:

• Commonwealth Nurses Federation
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
• International Red Cross
• UNICEF
• WHO

FUNCTIONS OF ICN

1. Professional Nursing Practice
   Provides guidelines and policies for-
   • International classification for Nursing Practice, Education, Management &
   Research


2. Nursing Regulation
   • Code of ethics
   • Continuing Education
   • Regulation and credentialing
   3.Socioeconomic welfare of Nurses
   • Occupational Health
   • Human resource management (HRM)
   • Career development


3. Partnerships and Alliances
   AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION (ANA)
   • The only full service professional organization representing the RNs of USA
   Functions:
   •Policy development
   •Organizations partnership
   •Lobbying
   •Publications and Newsletters

The American Nurse
American Nurse Today
SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL (STTI)
• Honour society of Nursing – 1922 by six students from the Indiana University
Training School for Nurses in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• Storgé, Tharsos and Timé meaning "love," "courage" and "honour
• Organizational Mission
“….support the learning, knowledge, and professional development
of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide.”
• Membership is by invitation
• Baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in
scholarship
• Nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing.
Core Areas
• Education
• Leadership
• Career development
• Evidence-based nursing
• Research and scholarship
SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL
• Journal of Nursing Scholarship
• Reflections on Nursing Leadership
• WORLD views on Evidence-Based Nursing
• Chapter Leader Emphasis (Focus of the chapter leader)
• STTI connect
• Scholarly books on a wide range of topics in nursing
• Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library
SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL- PUBLICATIONS
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR NURSING (NLN)
• The Voice for Nursing Education
• Created in 1893 - The 1st Nursing organization in USA..
• “the establishment and maintenance of a universal standard of training” for
nursing
Mission
“…..promotes excellence in nursing education to build a strong and
diverse nursing workforce”
in nursing.
INTRODUCTION
• Professional associations are a vital part of any profession.
• Professional organization and associations in nursing are critical for generating the
energy, flow of ideas, and proactive work needed to maintain a healthy profession
that advocates for the needs of its clients and nurses, and the trust of society.
• The formation of associations and ongoing work reflect economic and political
trends, changing values, and turbulence in organizations and institutions.
• Nurses in the past shaped nursing and today’s nurses are a significant force in
shaping the future of the profession.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN NURSING
Definition:
• Professional associations have been defined as groups of people who share a set of
professional values and who decide to join their colleagues to affect a change.
Poder-Wise (2007)
• A Professional Organization is an association that is formed to further the interests
of people engaged in a specific profession, to advance a particular profession and
serve the public good.
NURSING AS A PROFESSION
• Nursing standards are set forth by professional organizations and are based on
established code of ethics.
• Nursing focuses on human responses to actual or potential health problems.
• Nursing increasingly focused on wellness; an area of caring.
• Nursing is scholarly, with academic qualifications, research, and publications specific to
the profession.
• Nursing interventions are focused on evidence-based practice, which is practice based
on research.
• Nursing is evolved through history from a technical service to a person-centered
process that maximizes potential in all human dimensions.
CRITERIA OF A PROFESSION
• Well defined body of specific and unique knowledge.
• Strong service orientation
• Recognized authority by a professional group
• Code of ethics
• Professional organization that set standards.
• Ongoing research.
• Autonomy
NURSING PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
• One of the criteria of a profession is having a professional organization that sets
standards for practice and education.
• Nursing’s professional organizations are concerned with current issues in nursing and
healthcare, and influence healthcare policy and legislation.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION- ITS BENEFITS
Personal benefits:
• Socialization - Networking
• Travel – conferences
• Scholarships
• Stay Connected to professional issues
Professional Benefits:
• Spring Board your Career
• Political Influence
• Professional Standards
• Credentialing
• Professional Journals
• Quick Access to Staff experts on Practice
advocacy
INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
• International Council of Nurses (ICN)
• American Nurses Association (ANA)
• Sigma theta Tau International (STTI)
• National League for Nurses (NLN)
• Commonwealth Nurses Federation
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
• International Red Cross
• UNICEF
• WHO
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF NURSES (ICN)
• World’s largest and widest reaching
international organization
• 130 National Nurses Organizations
• Represents 13 million International
Nurses
• Founded in 1899.
The Three goals are:
• To bring nursing together
worldwide
• To advance nurses and nursing
worldwide
• To influence health policy.
Core Values:
• Visionary Leadership
• Inclusiveness
• Flexibility
• Partnership
• Achievement