The American Nurses Association (ANA), through its 54 constituent member associations (CMAs) (state and territorial nurses associations and the Federal Nurses Association [FedNA]), is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation's 2.7 million registered nurses. According to the ANA's Web site, the "ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and lobbying Congress and the regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public."
Traditionally, nurses have joined the ANA through their CMAs, which monitor and lobby for legislation and regulations at the state and local levels, provide collective bargaining and workplace advocacy services to their members, and offer numerous other benefits, such as publications and continuing education.
Organizations can join the ANA as an associate organizational member (AOM) or as an organizational affiliate. Currently, the ANA has two AOMs-the United American Nurses, AFL-CIO (UAN) and the Center for American Nurses (CAN). A complete list of affiliates can be found at http://www.nursingworld.org/affil.
In addition to joining through their CMAs, RNs may join ANA directly as individual members if they live or work in states that have voluntary agreements with the ANA. RNs may also join as individual affiliates through a new on-line membership program. For information about the ANA, its benefits at a reduced fee, and membership options, contact the ANA at:
8515 Georgia Ave., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: (800) 274-4ANA, Fax: (301) 628-5002, [email protected]; http://www.NursingWorld.org
ASSOCIATE ORGANIZATION MEMBERS
The Center for American Nurses (CAN) establishes and implements a national workplace advocacy program to address the personal and professional issues affecting individual nurses in the workplace.
Phone: (800) 685-4076; (301) 628-5063, Fax: (301) 628-5297, [email protected]; http://www.NursingWorld.org/can
The United American Nurses, AFL-CIO (UAN), is the union for nurses, by nurses, representing 100,000 RNs nationwide-and an affiliate of both the ANA and the AFL-CIO.
Phone: (877) 262-6742 or (301) 628-5118, Fax: (301) 628-5347, [email protected]; http://www.NursingWorld.org/uan
RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
The American Academy of Nursing (AAN), according to the ANA's Web site, "is an organization of distinguished leaders who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions in nursing education, management, practice, and research. An invitation to fellowship affords members an opportunity to serve the public and nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge."
Phone: (414) 287-0289, Fax: (414) 276-3349, [email protected]; http://www.NursingWorld.org/aan
The American Nurses Foundation (ANF), according to the ANA's Web site, is a "national philanthropic organization that promotes the continued growth and development of nurses and services to advance the work of the nursing profession. As a nonprofit organization, ANF relies on support from individuals, corporations, other foundations, and government agencies that possess a strong interest in advancing nursing's future. Contributions to ANF are tax-deductible. The ANF also works to increase public understanding of nursing and to improve access to, and quality of, health care."
Phone: (301) 628-5227, Fax: (301) 628-5354, [email protected]; http://www.NursingWorld.org/anf