Abstract
Professional organizations and associations in
nursing are critical for generating the energy, flow of ideas, and proactive
work needed to maintain a healthy profession that advocates for the needs of
its clients and nurses, and the trust of society. In this article the author
discusses the characteristics of a profession, reviews the history of
professional nursing organizations, and describes the advocacy activities of
professional nursing organizations. Throughout, she explains how the three foundational
documents of the nursing profession emphasize nursing advocacy by the
professional organizations as outlined in the American Nurses Association Code
of Ethics for Nurses With Interpretive Statements. The author concludes by
encouraging all nurses to engage in their professional organizations and
associations, noting how these organizations contribute to the accountability
and voice of the profession to society.
PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS: NURSING
INTRODUCTION
Professionals
create organizations to work collectively on behalf of issues that enhance
their work and their involvement in communities, ensure continued learning and
competence, and use political action to influence policymakers to support
mission of organization. Professional organizations offer a supportive way to
learn leadership skills, to test ideas, and to follow these ideas to
completion. Nursing has a national organization open to all graduate nurses,
Indian nursing council, Trained nurses association of India.
OBJECTIVES
Ø To understand
the role of professional organisations in empowering nurses in their emerging
professionalism.
Ø To discuss
the functions of each professional organisations.
Ø To discuss
importance of self assertiveness in safeguarding our profession.
Ø To study the
vast scope of collective bargaining in nursing profession.
Terminologies
Collective
bargaining- Negotiation
between organized workers and their employer or employers to determine wages,
hours, rules, and working conditions.
Assertiveness- it's demanding what you want in a
confident way that harms no one but in the same time preserves your rights.
Unions- A union or labor organization is
any organization in which employees participate for the purpose of dealing with
their employer about grievances, labour disagreements, wages, hours of work,
and conditions of employment.
Criteria
of a profession
Various
vital components of a profession are,
1. Education takes place in a
college or university
2. Education is prolonged
3. Work involves mental
creativity
4. Decision making is based
largely on science or theories
5. Values, beliefs and ethics
are an integral part of preparation
6. Commitment dominates
material reward
7. Accountability rests with
Individual
Nursing as a profession
Nursing pathway to professionalism
has not been smooth. For decades an ongoing subject for discussion in nursing
circles has been the following question “is nursing a profession”. Sociologists
do not agree that nursing is a profession. They believe it’s an emerging
profession. Nursing is rather considered by everyone as a profession now.
Nursing complies with all criteria of a profession.
It has all greatly changed Now,
· Today, there is a body of knowledge that is
uniquely nursing’s own
· Nursing is no longer based on trial and error
but increasingly relies on theory development and research as a basis for
practice. We call it Evidence-based practice.
· Nursing is now engaged in an ongoing effort to
identify and standardize nursing diagnoses, interventions and outcomes all of
which are parts of nursing process
· Individual accountability has become a part of
nursing practice. Now society hold nurses individually responsible for their
actions
· Majority of programmes offering basic nursing
education are now associate degree and baccalaureate programs located in
college and universities
Various
professional organizations and functions
AT
CENTRE LEVEL
INTERNATIONAL
COUNCIL FOR NURSES (I C N)
THE
COMMONWEALTH NURSES FEDERATION
THE
INDIAN NURSING COUNCIL (INC)
THE RED
CROSS SOCIETY
WORLD
HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO)
AT
STATE LEVEL
THE
STUDENT NURSES ASSOCIATION (SNA)
THE
NURSES LEAGUE OF CHRISTIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
THE
COMMONWEALTH NURSES FEDERATION
The
Commonwealth Nurses Federation was formally organised in 1973 and operates in
Six regions of the world which are East, Africa, Atlantic,
Australia, Pacific, South
Asia and Europe.
The TNAI is
also affiliated with the Commonwealth Nurses Federation .It is made up of
nurses associations from commonwealth countries.
AIMS:
1. Promote
sharing, better communications and closer relationships between its member
associations. 2. Provides expert professional advice. 3. Scholarships for
advanced study. 4. Financial assistance for professional meetings and seminars.
5. Running an office through which funds can be received and dispersed for the
benefit of nursing in countries which are represented.
THE
INDIAN NURSING COUNCIL (I N C)
The Indian
Nursing Council, which was authorised by the Indian Nursing Council Act of
1947, was established in 1949.
PURPOSE:
Providing
uniform standards in Nursing education and reciprocity in Nursing Registration
throughout the country. Nurses registered in one state were not necessarily
recognised for registration in another state before this time. The condition of
mutual recognition by the state nurses registration councils, which is called
reciprocity, was possible only if uniform standards of nursing education were
maintained
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.
Prescribes curricula for nursing education in all the states. 2. Refuses or
Recognises Programmes of Nursing Education according to standards required.
3. Support
high standards in Nursing. 4. Providing registration for foreign nurses. 5.
Maintenance of the Indian Nurses Register. This register contains the names of
all nurses, midwives, auxiliary nurse midwives who are enrolled on all state
registers.
RED
CROSS SOCIETY
It follows
the directions of the Geneva
conventions in an effort to protect victims of armed conflict. Its headquarters
is in Geneva, Switzerland.
They
delegate visit and inspect prisoner of war camps. They arrange for delivery of
mail and food packages to the prisoners. They also offer emergency relief by
providing food and medical supplies. A very valuable service is that of a
central tracing agency which helps to locate prisoners of war and missing
persons long after a conflict is over.
At times of
armed conflict or natural disaster within country these help to give
comprehensive care to the affected.
THE
WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION
The world
health organisation, commonly called the WHO is also a specialised agency of
the United Nations. It was organised in 1948 for the purpose of helping to
achieve the highest possible level of health for all people
The WHO has
been active in nursing education and practice in a number of ways in India. It has
offered guidance in setting up programmes of Nursing Education. The WHO
promotes public health in many ways around the world. It is currently known for
the declaration of working towards “Health for all by 2000 AD”. This declaration
has given a tremendous push to developing primary health care and recognizing
the very essential role of nursing in health care system
THE
STUDENT NURSES ASSOCIATION (SNA)
The Student
Nurses Association organised in 1920, is associated with and under jurisdiction
of the TNAI. In addition to providing a means of personal and professional
development for the nursing student. The assistant secretary of the TNAI serves
as advisor for the SNA.
PURPOSES
AND FUNCTIONS:
1. Help
student Nurses learn how the professional organisation serves to uphold the
dignity and ideals of the nursing profession. 2. Promote a close rapport with
other student Nurses. 3. Furnish student Nurses advice in their courses of
study leading up to professional qualifications. 4. Encourages leadership
ability and help students to gain a wide knowledge of the nursing profession in
all of its different branches. 5. Encourage both professional and recreational
meetings, Games and Sports.
6.
Encourage students nurses develop a co-operative spirit with other student
nurses which will help them in future professional relationships.
ACTIVITIES:
1. Fund
raising for the TNAI. 2. Fund raising done for fine arts and sports
competitions and conferences. 3. Special prizes given for outstanding achievement
in specific areas of nursing education. 4. Unit activities include maintaining
the diary of unit activities, giving quarterly reports, preparing articles for
publication and distributing application forms for membership in the TNAI.
MEMBERSHIP:
Fees are
minimal and easily met by the nursing student. Nursing students who participate
in the Student nurses association have a valuable opportunity to begin to
develop leadership skills, competitive skills and an interest for the
profession as a whole.
THE
NURSES LEAGUE OF THE CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
The Nurses
league of the clinical medical association of India was founded in 1930. It
became affiliated to the TNAI in 1936 and promotes membership in this
organisation.
OBJECTIVES:
Promote
cooperation and encouragement among Christian Nurses.
Promote
efficiency in nursing education and service.
Secure the
highest standards possible in Christian nursing education through the Christian
schools of nursing.
Considering
the special work and problems of Christian nurses wherever employed.
ACTIVITIES:
Activities
include national and area conferences and retreats for its members. Development
of leadership abilities is encouraged by participation in these meetings.
Each
meeting also allows for sharing of problems common to the Christian nurse.
Provides
expert professional advice.
Provides
scholarships for advanced study.
Provides
financial assistance for professional meetings and seminars
MEMBERSHIP:
Membership
fees are required and a life membership is available. Nursing students may
become associate members of the league. Membership in the Nurses league may be
a requirement for certain nursing positions under control of Christian
employing authorities.
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