History of Nursing and Nursing Professional Organization Essay

History of Nursing and Nursing Professional Organization Essay

The history of nursing is intriguing, showing how it progressed from humble beginnings to the respect it has now. The inventions and people who came before the present significantly impacted nursing education, practice, and the overall healthcare system. This essay will examine two pivotal times in nursing history and analyze their relevance and long-term effects. It will delve into the contributions of two well-known nursing organizations.

Event One: Florence Nightingale and the Roots of Contemporary Nursing Education

Florence Nightingale established a lasting legacy as one of the most significant figures in nursing history. Nightingale was born in 1820, and from an early age, she had a burning desire to aid those in need. She realized nurses needed a scientific outlook and rigorous training to perform their duties properly. She cared for injured British soldiers when the Crimean War broke out in the 1850s. Nightingale saw astonishingly high mortality rates in military hospitals due to subpar hygiene and illnesses. In 1860, Florence established the Nightingale School of Nursing at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London after discovering the value of nurse education (Riegel et al., 2021). This was a crucial turning point since it signified the start of contemporary nursing education.

Based on Nightingale’s educational ideals, formal nursing education now includes academic knowledge, practical skills, and ethics. Her support for the nursing profession’s new focus on scientifically sound practices, sterility, and patient care sparked a revolution. Her efforts have given nursing the respect it deserves, making it a desirable profession for those who wish to dedicate their life to caring for the sick. Nightingale’s commitment to education and attention to the whole person revolutionized nursing.

Event Two: The Foundation of the American Nurses Association (ANA)

Since its establishment in 1896, the American Nurses Association (ANA), a national organization with a sizable international presence, has steadfastly advocated for nurses’ rights and privileges. Many nurses had to put in long hours for low pay and few prospects for professional growth because the nursing profession was still struggling for respect and recognition. The formation of the ANA was a significant turning point in the growth of the nursing profession in the United States. This provided a forum for nurses to discuss problems and offer solutions. The ANA’s efforts to create ethical standards have increased public awareness of the nursing profession and reinforced the links of friendship between its practitioners (American Nurses Association, 2021).

It was vital in the fight for uniform training and certification for nurses during the early stages of creating state nursing boards. By guaranteeing that only certified and qualified nurses practice, these boards’ introduction of required licensing exams has increased patient safety and the quality of healthcare practitioners’ services. Over a century has passed since the ANA began assisting nurses and the nursing industry. As a result, nurses’ status and contribution to healthcare policymaking increased at the federal, state, and municipal levels.

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Professional Organizations for Nurses

Nurse organizations are essential for promoting both professional and personal growth. These organizations’ members value their assistance, guidance, and chances for networking and professional development. Two of the most well-known professional nursing organizations are the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) and the American Nurses Association (ANA). This section will look into their worth, importance, purposes, resources, membership costs, and current concerns they are tackling.

1. The American Nurses Association (ANA).

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a powerful and prominent organization in the nursing profession. It has been vital in promoting the nursing profession and enhancing the quality of healthcare through advocacy since it was founded in 1896. It has lobbied for the rights of nurses, ensuring that they have been included in policymaking and get leadership training. The organization has become well-known for leading efforts to enhance safety in the workplace and elevate professional nursing practice. It ensures nurses acquire essential knowledge that drives their profession and practice through its numerous periodical publications. This vital package includes instructional materials, research papers, webinars, conferences, and recommendations for best practices based on evidence.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) does more than only help people find jobs; they also give grants for research and discounts on professional development training. Membership fees are from $45 and $195 per year, depending on the membership tier and the member’s state. The ANA speaks loudly and clearly for the nursing profession, with over a million members. Services for nurses’ mental health, solutions to nursing shortages, methods of attracting and retaining nurses, and encouraging a more varied and welcoming nursing force are all priorities for this organization.

1. The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

The NAPNAP is another crucial organization working to improve patient care and pediatric nursing standards. When pediatric nurses work together, they may better share information and raise the bar for their profession. NAPNAP amplifies the collective voice of pediatric nurse practitioners by including them in creating healthcare policy and practice. Members also gain from the group’s commitment to supporting their continued professional development and its emphasis on evidence-based practices.

Members of NAPNAP have access to a wealth of pediatric healthcare resources created specifically for them. Guidelines for clinical practice, job opportunities, grants for pediatric healthcare research, pediatric healthcare publications, and connections to specialized practices are all availed to its members. NAPNAP also holds an annual conference where members can meet and share information. Depending on the membership level, the annual cost of NAPNAP can range from $115 to $190. According to recently compiled statistics, more than 9,000 pediatric nurse practitioners in the United States are members of NAPNAP. Currently, it is working to improve child health outcomes by boosting vaccine knowledge, campaigning for better access to healthcare, and addressing pediatric mental health (NAPNAP, n.d.).

The Importance of Professional Organizations in Nursing

There are several convincing reasons why professional organizations play such a pivotal role in the nursing profession. They significantly impact healthcare policy and legislation because they are strong advocates. They do this to safeguard the rights of nurses and patients, enhancing the quality of healthcare delivery and patient health. Furthermore, these groups provide nurses with a wealth of helpful resources. Nurses can access many resources, including evidence-based practice guidelines, cutting-edge research articles, and educational opportunities (Morin, 2021).

Nurses can benefit from joining professional organizations because of the opportunities they provide for learning and working together. By joining, nurses can network with others in their profession and with experts and influential individuals in their fields. This promotes an environment conducive to lifelong learning, enhancing their professional development and making them better healthcare providers (Cline et al., 2019).

Many organizations provide certification programs, continuing education, and mentorship opportunities. Nurses can use these tools to further their education and professional development, increasing their ability to adapt to the ever-changing healthcare industry demands. These groups empower nurses by bringing them together for a similar goal. By working together, nurses and healthcare professionals can better address and advocate for pressing concerns. Nurses may significantly impact policymakers, inform healthcare reform talks, and propel beneficial changes in the healthcare system if they speak with one voice (Cline et al., 2019).

Professional nursing groups also actively promote research and innovation efforts. They aid in the development of the field of nursing science and the adoption of evidence-based practice by encouraging and participating in research. These initiatives result in ongoing enhancements to patient care, keeping nursing at the forefront of innovative medical practices. These groups also offer crucial assistance to nurses in advancing their careers. They aid nurses in finding their professional footing by providing them with career counseling, online job boards, and mentoring schemes. The success of nurses and the advancement of the nursing profession depends on their ability to use this information.

Conclusion

The nursing community places a high value on professional nursing organizations. They work to have nurses’ voices heard to shape legislation and policy that will benefit them and their patients. Nursing practice and healthcare benefit from the abundance of available, which facilitate knowledge transfer and collaboration. Possibilities for nurses to connect and work together contribute to an atmosphere of encouragement and help. They improve patient care through their commitment to research and innovation, which drives evidence-based practice. When nurses come together for a similar goal, they strengthen their collective voice and improve their profession’s ability to address pressing concerns. The nurses’ access to professional organizations drives improvement in nursing standards and patient outcomes.

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References

American Nurses Association. (2021). About ANA. Accessed on July 19^th, 2023 from https://www.nursingworld.org/ana/about-ana/

Cline, D., Curtin, K., & Johnston, P. (2019). Professional organization membership: The benefits of increasing nursing participation. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 23(5), 543–546. https://doi.org/10.1188/19.cjon.543-546

Morin, K. H. (2021). Editorial: Contributions of professional nursing organizations. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 77(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14808

NAPNAP. (n.d.). About Us – NAPNAP. Accessed on July 19^th, 2023 from https://www.napnap.org/about-us/#:~:text=With%20more%20than%208%2C000%20members%2C%20the%20National%20Association

Riegel, F., Crossetti, M. da G. O., Martini, J. G., & Nes, A. A. G. (2021). Florence Nightingale’s theory and her contributions to holistic critical thinking in nursing. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 74(2). https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0139

Building the Profession of Nursing

Write a 1000-1500 word APA paper addressing each of the following points. Be sure to completely answer all the questions for each bullet point. There should be two main sections, one for each bullet below. Separate each section in your paper with a clear heading that allows your professor to know which bullet you are addressing in that section of your paper. Support your ideas with at least three (3) sources using citations in your essay. Make sure to cite using the APA writing style for the essay. The cover page and reference page in correct APA do not count towards the minimum word amount. Review the rubric criteria for this assignment.

Explore the history of nursing and choose two events/topics from history related to nursing (ie education, practices, important people, etc.) and explain each one in detail and why they are important to the nursing profession.

Research two professional nursing organizations and discuss the following for each organization chosen:

The name of the organization and why this organization is important to nursing

What resources they provide to members

Cost of membership and how many members are part of the organization

Current issues the organization is working on

Finally, after researching this question answer in detail: Why are Professional Organizations in general important to nursing as a profession?

M1 Assignment UMBO –  3

M1 Assignment PLG – 1

M1 Assignment CLO –1

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Instructions & SpecificationsSubmissionsRubric

Start by reading and following these instructions:

Study the required chapter(s) of the textbook and any additional recommended resources. Some answers may require you to do additional research on the Internet or in other reference sources. Choose your sources carefully.

Consider the discussion and the any insights you gained from it.

Review the assignment rubric and the specifications below to ensure that your response aligns with all assignment expectations.

Create your assignment submission and be sure to cite your sources, use APA style as required, and check your spelling.

The following specifications are required for this assignment:

Length: 1000-1500 words; answers must thoroughly address the bullets above in a clear, concise manner.

Structure: Include a title page and reference page in APA format. These do not count towards the minimum word count for this assignment.

References: Use appropriate APA style in-text citations and references for all resources utilized to answer the questions.  A minimum of three (3) scholarly sources are required.

Format: Save your assignment as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx)

Filename: Name your saved file according to your first initial, last name, and the assignment number (for example, “RHall Assignment 1.docx”)