Critical Care Nursing and American Nurses Association

Introduction

Nursing is a demanding job that necessitates ongoing learning and development. Professional nursing organizations give nurses a place to enhance their careers and stay updated on the newest practices in their fields. This paper will examine the importance of the American Nurses Association (ANA), a professional nursing organization, to critical-care nurses. The ANA equips critical care nurses with information, networking events, and awareness building that improve their work and promote their professional growth, making membership in such organizations mandatory for nurses in this specialized field.

Professional Associations in Nursing

Compared to other organizations, ANA is the country’s biggest professional nursing organization and has advocated for nurses and nursing practice. It safeguards the needs of over 4 million licensed nurses throughout the United States, making it a powerful influence in the nursing profession (Kalaitzidis & Jewell, 2020). The government needs to emphasize the importance of the organization to critical care nurses (Kalaitzidis & Jewell, 2020). Critical care nurses care for critically sick patients; their work is difficult and necessitates particular abilities and expertise.

ANA’s mission is to advance nursing and enhance healthcare coverage for all. ANA aspires to achieve its mission by advancing nursing practice, advocating for the nursing profession, and promoting high expectations for nursing education. The American Nurses Association aims to promote the nursing profession in improving health care for all. The organization aims to create a world where all individuals and communities have access to good-quality, cost-effective, and humane healthcare services delivered by nurses who are critical to patient-centered care.

One of the primary advantages of membership in ANA is exposure to a platform of competent associates in the nursing profession. Members can network with other nurses in their specialist area, share insights, and learn new things about nursing. Furthermore, ANA members get unparalleled connections to resources, including research, publications, and best practices that nurses can use to improve patient care (Park et al., 2019). Members of the ANA also enjoy savings on continuous learning, certification examinations, and other professional development materials. Finally, through participating in the ANA’s management and advocacy efforts, members have a voice in defining the future of the nursing profession.

Networking is vital for critical care nurses since it allows them to benefit from other professionals in the industry and obtain fresh perspectives into nursing practice. Networking can also result in new career chances, recommendations, and exclusive resources like research projects, conferences, and writings. Furthermore, networking can assist nurses in the critical care specialist area in staying up to date on the newest trends and practices in the industry.

With its membership perks, events, and learning material, the ANA provides networking experiences for its members. Members of the ANA can join specialist practice groups, which enable them to communicate with other nurses in their specialized area (Dossey et al., 2019). The association also organizes national seminars and gatherings where members can interact with other nursing professionals. Finally, ANA members can access training tools such as webinars and online courses to help them gain new skills and knowledge.

Via different means, the ANA keeps its members aware of healthcare advancements and shifts in practice that influence the critical care specialty. ANA does this in part through publishing papers and other materials on current challenges and advances in nursing practice, especially critical care. For example, ANA produces “American Nurse Today,” a peer-reviewed journal that delivers evidence-based data on a wide spectrum of clinical and professional themes (Dossey et al., 2019). This publication contains papers on critical care nursing topics such as patient care, management, and practice advances.

Furthermore, the ANA offers members access to training tools such as webinars, podcasts, and online courses that address the most recent changes and advancements in nursing practice. Many of these materials are geared exclusively toward critical care nurses, providing views into the most contemporary best practices, breakthroughs, and development in this field (Ulrich et al., 2019). For example, ANA holds an annual convention that includes critical care nursing sessions and demonstrations. Members can network with other experts in their area, learn about the latest findings, and get fresh ideas into clinical practice at this event.

Additionally, ANA lobbies for regulations that enhance quality patient care and promote the nursing profession, notably in the critical care specialty. The association continuously follows legislative and regulatory advancements in the state and federal sectors and offers members information and notifications on problems that may affect their practice (Gandhi et al., 2021). For example, the American Nurses Association recently lobbied for hospital rules that promote the inclusion of nurse staffing ratios, which can substantially impact the quality of care delivered to critically sick patients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, joining a professional nursing organization, such as the ANA, can equip critical care nurses with various benefits that can help improve their practice and promote their professional development. Membership in a nursing association has numerous benefits, including access to continuous learning, chances for leadership and engagement, and the ability to stay up to date on the latest changes and advances in the industry. Critical care nurses who join these organizations can stay informed, involved, and committed to their field, thereby substantially influencing their patients’ treatment and general health.

References

Dossey, B. M., Rosa, W. E., & Beck, D.-M. (2019). Nursing and the Sustainable Development Goals: From Nightingale to now. AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 119(5), 44–49. Web.

Gandhi, A., Yu, H., & Grabowski, D. C. (2021). High nursing staff turnover in nursing homes offers important quality information. Health Affairs, 40(3), 384–391. Web.

Kalaitzidis, E., & Jewell, P. (2020). The concept of advocacy in nursing. The Health Care Manager, 39(2), 77–84. Web.

Park, J. H., Park, M. J., & Hwang, H. Y. (2019). Intention to leave among staff nurses in small‐ and medium‐sized hospitals. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(9-10), 1856–1867. Web.

Ulrich, B., Barden, C., Cassidy, L., & Varn-Davis, N. (2019). Frontline nurse manager and chief nurse executive skills: Perceptions of Direct Care Nurses. Nurse Leader, 17(2), 109–112. Web.