The American Nephrology Nurses Association

Healthcare systems and the way safe, quality health care is delivered are continually changing to better serve patients and communities. Professional nursing practice is a large component in the healthcare system today. Back in the 1960s, professional nursing leaders tried to adopt the bachelor degree programs as the only educational track to become a registered nurse (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). Due to nursing shortages and demands this motive did not hold fast. Individuals entering the nursing profession today must first decide which educational pathway to take to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

Ms. Conlon applies the nursing process to systems or processes at the unit/team/work group level to improve care. Deirdre has been the primary nurse for 6 hemodialysis patients. She has involved patients and families in monthly interdisciplinary meetings to promote self-efficacy and quality of life. With the help of the interdisciplinary team Deirdre has worked collaboratively to address and reinforce nutritional needs, social/family issues, barriers to care, and safety concerns. All of her primary care patients have maintained a goal of 100% for dialysis adequacy (benchmark is 85%) and a vascular access rate of 100% and dictated by KDOQI standards.

The role of professional nursing organizations is to advocate for the nursing profession and for the nurses working in the profession. These organizations work to create proactive work to help maintain a healthy nursing profession that not only thinks about the needs of the client but also of the nurses caring

Professional organizations play important roles in regulating professional practice and supporting, the role of State Boards of Nursing in their roles. 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 (Matthews, 2012). The characteristics and role of the history of professional nursing organizations, is the advocacy activities, of professional nursing organizations, directly related to the State Boards of nursing and practice (Health Care Reform, 2017 and Matthews, 2012)

The Professional Nursing Organizations and Regulatory Agencies for Nursing are what nursing professionals look to for standards, guidance, support, rules and regulations, along with licensure and discipline if necessary. One example of a professional nursing organization (PNO) would be the American Nurses Association (ANA). The role of the ANA includes: promotion/ development of the nursing profession, involvement with legislation and policy making, supporting the nurse in order for the nurse to provide quality care for the those receiving care. The mission statement of the ANA is simple and direct... "nurses advancing our profession to improve health

Nurses join professional nursing organizations to “have a voice in issues that affect nursing practice and to stay current in their field of specialty” (UC Davis Medical Center, 2016).

Representing the nursing profession and the values and beliefs of the organization to patients/families and other community groups

Nursing is a profession where you promote health and care for the ill. It is one of the most rewarding yet most complex professions there is with a wide variety of units and roles to choose from. However, many times when nurses practice in specialty fields or have special interests they subsequently have a desire to work with collogues who also share the same interests and later accompany an organization together. Nursing organizations give nurses an opportunity to get a bigger image of what nursing is all about, while also permitting them to explore new trends that might be related to their scope of practice. It also empowers nurses to feel confidence when they acquire leadership roles, to find a voice and to network with colleagues. Nursing

“I have been as a registered nurse for 20 years. My full time job is in UT South western dialysis center as a registered nurse. Most of my patients have chronic and severe diseases. They need more attention and observation. I have another job in family clinic as a nurse practitioner. The majority patients in medical clinic are healthy and stable patients.” (C.L. September 10, 2016)

Nursing excellence can have many different meanings depending on who you ask. Nursing excellence combines advancement in the nursing practice, education, shaping nurses’ into the best nurse possible, policies, and procedures. It is imperative that all of us as nurses have nursing excellence in our profession. The National League of Nursing (NLN) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) are two organizations that help nurses strive for nursing excellence. In this paper you will find how the NLN and AACN impact, educate, and how they support nursing excellence.

The importance of joining a nursing organization is to benefit the nursing profession and the opportunity to share your beliefs in the profession. Joining an organization is being able to speak out in order for all voices to be heard in order for best quality care for our patients. My work environment encourages us to think outside the box and to be a voice to help ensure best patient care services. Just like a professional organization, we are encouraged to be leaders in our field of nursing. Each nurse has a voice and with this ability we can make changes that affect not only our profession nut also the level and quality of health care that our patients receive. Our voice gives us the power of positivity and the choice to use it for advancement in the nursing field.

of ideas, and constructive work needed to maintain a strong profession. A healthy profession is one that advocates for both patients and nurses as well as maintaining the trust of the community. One of the many values of professional organizations is the ability to communicate quickly with their members and collaborate with a variety of other organizations. Bulletins and newsletters keep members aware of issues and help explain new things that may affect nurses and patient care. Issue-specific communication can be when things arise in the field as nursing such as evidence-based practice or recent legislation passed. Of the more than three million nurses in the U S, 2.6 million are part of the workforce, many, if not the majority, have access

Organizations like these strive to help share scientific findings and promote research in the field of nursing. With the help of these organizations, nurses will continue to be able to find new and improved innovative techniques for patient care and treatment.

Being part of a professional nursing organization take along numerous benefits including personal, educational and career growth prospects. Professional nursing organizations support nurses with leadership skills, mentorship support, stay up-to-date in their area of study or specialty, through educational resource, continue education, certifications, publication of journals with the latest and most innovative advances on the health care (Schroeder, 2013).

Walker, Marshall, and Polaschek (2014), found that the use of nephrology nurse practitioners with the help of practice nurses improved primary outcomes, such as proteinuria and secondary outcomes, such as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), as well as a reduction in 5-year absolute cardiovascular (CV) disease risk. This is relevant research because it shows the value of collaborative primary care professionals in reducing progression of CKD. The arguments the authors use to support their main points include the