Q: What impact do professional nursing organizations have on nursing practice?
A: Every day, we have the privilege to contribute to the chronicle of our shared profession. Critical to our history and our future is the work of professional nursing organizations (PNOs). PNOs have been in existence for well over 100 years, with roots dating back to the late 1800s.1 Events including international conflict, societal change, disease emergence, and ever-advancing science, among others, activated changes within the nursing profession.1 As a result, new PNOs began to form around professional clinical interests, populations, age groups, advanced practice specialties, and education.1
Nursing organizations, also known as nursing associations and societies, engage in and advocate for the mission-specific work of the PNO.2 The strength of each PNO is found in common purpose, practice expertise, and the unique perspectives of its individual members. One of the most important things to know about how PNOs work is that they are comprised of groups of nurses, like you and me, working together to address problems, promote health, and advance the profession (see Example nursing organizations).
PNOs provide multiple opportunities for members that are primarily grounded in networking and mentorship. Here are a few select ways in which PNOs have an impact on nursing practice:
* Education. PNOs may offer continuing education, conferences, and/or publications for professional development, all of which provide the most recent evidence for practice.1-4 PNOs also support specialty certification with resources to demonstrate nursing expertise extending beyond initial licensure.
* Leadership. PNOs provide nurses with service opportunities on committees, workgroups, and boards. Recognizing that leadership growth is essential for nurses, many PNOs offer specific programs targeting leadership competency development, which augments experiences in traditional practice environments.1-3,5
* Policy and advocacy. PNOs help nurses strengthen their policy acumen by organizing visits with policy makers at the local, state, and national levels. Ensuring that nurses are contributing members in policy and decision-making spaces is essential for the development of well-informed health and nursing policy.1,4
* Standards. Members of PNOs use their practice experiences to contribute to the development of professional practice competencies. Drawing on relevant research, they add to best practices through the creation of evidence-based practice guidelines.1,4
PNOs will continue to serve a very important role in working through and advancing the recommendations put forth in The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 report.5 Specifically, PNOs play the incredibly important role of fostering the development of a well-prepared nursing workforce that's nimble enough to respond quickly to rapidly advance the needs of public health.5
PNOs help us help each other and the communities of life that we serve. Today, we have the responsibility to shepherd the profession in the wake of COVID-19 and amid evolving social change. With our diverse experiences and collective expertise, we have the knowledge, skill, and ability to address the concerns of our profession for the future, ensuring quality healthcare is available for all.
I've been fortunate to be a member of multiple PNOs over the course of my career. I would encourage you, if you aren't already a member of a PNO, to consider researching and joining the one that best aligns with your professional experience and goals. I'm grateful for the many experiences, relationships, and overall awareness that PNOs have brought to my practice and wish the same for each of you.
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