Professional Organizations Paper - Essay Example

American Nurses Association (ANA) Nazim Wafa American Nurses Association (ANA) Nazim Wafa “A professional body is a group of people in a learned occupation who are entrusted with maintaining control or oversight of the legitimate practice of the occupation.” (Harvey, 2004)Professional organizations primarily concentrate to advance the precise profession and react towards the issues relating to the profession itself. These organizations work for the benefit of the public in general and welfare of the professionals in specific, because they are characteristically authoritative and influential both in public and private sectors.

Professional bodies also enforce codes of professional conduct and ethics in order to protect the professions in conjunction with public interests. Moreover members of professional institutes are protected through regulations supported by their respective organisations should the member get him/herself in a situation, e.g. like a labor union. Most learned societies require certain level of experience, qualifications, accreditations and references for acquiring professional status in a particular discipline.

Membership of a Professional BodyNursing profession advocates families and individuals in maintaining good health conditions; consequently nurses have central position for a healthier society. (Nursing, 2008)If one is pursuing nursing profession as career then joining American Nursing Association would be an excellent decision. Because it’s about professionalism ANA membership differentiate one among other nursing practitioners, giving industry recognition of one’s skills and experience apart from benefits depicted below:Career Services Financial and Insurance Services Gifts and Shopping Travel Discounts Member Benefits Advocacy Services from ANAWork place Quality AssuranceDiscounted BooksConferencesFree Subscriptions to Industry PublicationsProfessional Development SchemesAccess to ANANurseSpace.

org another distinct platform exclusively available for ANA members only.American Nurses Association Role as LeaderAmerican Nurses Association (ANA) is the only oldest and largest full service organization of nurses having over 2.9 million registered members and 54 constituent members associations since 1911. ANA is truly a voice of nurses by promoting highly professional practice standards, publicizing positive view of nursing in addition to protecting nurses in workplace. It firmly tries to influence Congress and other regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting citizens.

(About ANA, 2008)With the advent of Internet and advances in information technology along with the society’s publications, journals and conferences ANA platform gives nurses an opportunity to speak on current and imminent health issues. These thoughts reach at larger scale through ANA’s mutual relationships with other organisations, which help nurses to better prepare for the ever changing needs of profession and patients. Apart from credentialing members in specialized areas of work, American Nurses Association sincerely fosters legislations for the advancement and recognition of the nursing line of work and of those who are connected to this profession.

As a leader in profession American Nurses Association not only advocates members’ rights and interests but it also makes sure that each member is governed by professional code of practice and standards and the member has required qualifications and competency level for the selected area of work. ANA members are strictly abided by its rules and regulations wherever they practice.Individual ContributionIndividuals make the organizations and put them on progressive path, increase the reputation of the organization by professional practice and conduct as it is the case with professional bodies because they are prevailing just because of their members’ contributions, efforts and actions.

The trust level, by public and private sector, one can see in professional organizations solely depend upon their members’ accreditations in the subject area, competency in practice, awareness of applied legislations and responsible behaviour. Therefore, the impact of the individual’s contribution either positive or negative is seriously effective in terms of reputation, recognition, growth and survival of that particular organisation. BibliographyAbout ANA, (2008) Retrieved April 3, 2008, from http://www.

nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/AboutANA.aspxHarvey, L. (2004), Analytic Quality Glossary, Quality Research International, Retrieved April 3, 2008 from, http://www.qualityresearchinternational.com/glossary/Nursing, (2008) Retrieved April 3, 2008, from, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursing