The
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) is the second-largest nursing organization in the world with approximately 135,000 active members.
Sigma Theta Tau.
| Abbreviation | Sigma |
|---|
| Motto | Improving world health through knowledge |
| Formation | 1922 |
| Type | Honor Society |
History of Professional Nursing Organizations. There are over a hundred national nursing associations and many other international organizations.
ANA exists to advance the nursing profession by: Fostering high standards of nursing practice; Bolstering the health and wellness of nurses; and. Advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public.
For example, most of the researchers reported the primary reasons given for nurses not joining professional organizations were time constraints, high membership cost, working too much, and lack of understanding the nature of the professional organization (Esmaeili et al., 2013; Gruenberg, 2015; Rapp & Collins, 1999).
ANA guides the profession on issues of nursing practice, health policy, and social concerns that impact patient wellbeing. Through our position statements, ANA amplifies the voice of nurses, and educates both consumers and policymakers.
Experts recommend joining the American Nurses Association (ANA) because it covers a broad scope of practice and offers a comprehensive way to stay on top of the trends in nursing. It also can be beneficial to join an organization that is specific to your specialty.
Regulatory bodies address issues from a public protection lens, professional associations address issues from a wider professional focus, and trade unions address issues from the needs of the individual nurse.
A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) seeks to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession and the public interest.
Joining a professional organization is critical in keeping abreast of the latest knowledge and practices locally, regionally, and globally. It helps the professional to stay abreast of current issues and opportunities and will also assist in personal advancement for the member who becomes involved.
The National League for Nursing (NLN) is a national organization for faculty nurses and leaders in nurse education. It offers faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to more than 40,000 individual and 1,200 education and associate members.
Join ANA and Your State Nurses Association Today for only $15 a month.
The Importance of Networking“It lets nurses get involved and become engaged. You meet like-minded people with the same struggles and ambitions, and gain insight into how nursing is changing.” The most important advantage of building a professional network is the opportunities it can bring for career advancement.
Professional membership is the status that a member is given when they have joined a professional body. Professional memberships aim to support individuals professionally and aid them in progressing within their career/profession.
PROFESSIONAL AND TRADE ORGANIZATIONS
| Largest U.S. Professional Associations |
|---|
| Association | Members |
|---|
| National Association of Realtors | 720,000 |
| American Bar Association | 380,000 |
| American Institute of Certified Public Accountants | 330,000 |
American Medical Association (AMA) is the premier national organization providing timely, essential resources to empower physicians, residents and medical students. American Nurses Association (ANA) is a national professional association which advocates for all registered nurses and the patients they serve.
A professional association is an individual or group of individuals, all of whom are required by law to be licensed in their profession or to obtain other legal authorization, incorporated for the purpose of rendering the same professional service to the public.
Generally you will have to register:
- Your association's name.
- Name and address of the registering agent (the founder)
- Address of the association.
- Names and address of the board members.
- Statement of purpose to which your association will operate.
Being a professional nurse means the patients in your care must be able to trust you, it means being up to date with best practice, it means treating your patients and colleagues with dignity, kindness, respect and compassion. It means understanding the NMC code of conduct. It means being accountable.
A professional nursing essay explains to readers why professionalism among nurses is one of the utmost importance which nursing educators need to highlight the fact early on so that nursing students can establish professional tendencies that will follow them throughout their career.
Sigma Theta Tau International
Membership in a professional nursing organization provides nurses with continuing education, certification opportunities, role-related competencies and educational conferences. Changes in healthcare occur almost daily. Nursing organizations promote and encourage the use of evidence-based practice to its members.
