Advocacy for Nurses and the Nursing Profession

Please see the attachment that was sent to the Ohio Board of Nursing from a retired nurse. Download NNOCletterOBN.pdf . This document was mailed to the Ohio Board of Nursing and therefore was made available as an attachment to Board Members materials available to the public.

In the November 15, 2006 correspondence addressed to the NNOC/CNA (National Nurse Organizing Committee and California Nurses Association) and copied to the Ohio Board of Nursing, the nurse states:

If nurses have concerns regarding patient staffing ratios, they have a responsibility to work with their employer and ultimately with our existing organization, the Ohio Board of Nursing. That organization has served us well in the past and I'm sure will continue to advocate for and monitor all aspects of the nursing profession.

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Boards of Nursing do not advocate for the nurses and the profession of nursing. Boards of Nursing as state regulatory agencies exist to protect the public from unsafe nursing care. State nursing associations advocate for nurses and the professional practice of nursing. A state board of nursing is not "our" organization; its the state's organization. "Our" organizations are national and state nursing professional associations.

I think there are alot of us who assume that the state board of nursing advocates for and protects nurses. I think this also explains why nurses involved in disciplinary investigations before a state board of nursing don't realize, perceive, or understand that the process is adverserial. 

There are almost 3 million RNs in the United States and less than 150,000 belong to ANA, which is recognized as the national professional association of RNs in the United States. The majority of the 3 million RNs in the United States don't belong to any specialty nursing association either like the Infusion Nurses Society, Emergency Nurses Association, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Oncology Nurses Society, etc.

Why don't we as a profession of 3 million RNs belong to and support our professional associations?

If you don't like, can't, or absolutely will not support any of the existing national, state, or specialty nursing professional associations out there, start your own professional association and market it to nurses. We need a professional association were all nurses, RNs, LPNs, and Student Nurses feel comfortable joining and perceive value in paying dues.

What would this nursing professional association "look like" in your eyes? How would you market your association? What would its structure be?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!