President's letter.

Membership

My President's Letter this issue focuses on the value and importance of your membership in the VSNA and ANA. A strong and committed membership is vital to the success of any professional organization. As previously mentioned, the ANA depends upon each Constituent Member Association (CMA); the VSNA, like other CMAs, depends upon each member. These components must work together so goals can be realized, great things can be accomplished, and our nursing profession strengthened.

In January, your VNSA Board of Directors assembled for a retreat during which we worked on our strategic plan for the 2007-2008 year. We strive to make our organization relevant to nurses. The mission of the VSNA is to work for the improvement of health standards and the availability of health care services for all people; foster high standards of nursing; stimulate and promote the professional development of nurses; advance the economic and general welfare of nurses; and serve Vermont nurses as the constituent association of the American Nurses' Association (ANA). When you join the VSNA/ANA, you join with nurses around the country in speaking with one strong voice on behalf of your profession and health care. Together we can make a difference! Membership is important so that nurses speak for nurses. There are too many organizations out there who wish to speak for us and who do not have our best interest at heart.

Whenever I am with a group of nurses I encourage those nurses to consider joining the VSNA. At a recent dinner meeting for nurse practitioners, one NP asked me why she should join the VSNA. My answer: the VSNA and the ANA advocate for all nurses, not just those who are members. We also represent all levels of nursing and in all practice settings. There are 2.9 million nurses in the United States but only about 150,000 registered nurses are members. In Vermont, imagine if all registered nurses were members! What incredible power we could have to ensure the viability of our nursing profession and achieve high quality health care for all. Advocacy for nurses, no matter what type of practice setting, is paramount to both the ANA and the VSNA. The ANA provides federal lobbying on issues important to nursing and health care--issues such as safe staffing, safe patient handling, nursing education, nursing workforce development, advanced nursing practice, overtime pay, and access to care. Lobbying efforts on a state level by the VSNA provide evaluation of proposed legislation and regulatory issues and their effect on nursing practice and the quality of health care delivery; as well as opposition to legislation which impinges on the ethical practice of nursing as defined by the Code for Nurses.

The ANA represents nursing where it matters in all aspects of government affairs, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and many others, including the White House. Recently the ANA opposed President Bush's proposal to cut funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSAs) Nursing Workforce Development Programs by 30%. The ANA also speaks for nursing through the media including stories in the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, 60 Minutes, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and NPR. In addition, the ANA speaks for U.S. nurses as the only U.S.A. member of the International Council of Nurses and attends meetings of the World Health Organization.

Both the ANA and VSNA guide our nursing profession, ensuring nursing quality and safety. The ANA maintains the Code of Ethics for Nurses which was first developed in 1926. ANA develops and publishes the Scope and Standards of practice for nursing and many of its specialties. Through the National Database on Nursing Quality Indicators, ANA is collecting data that link nurse staffing levels to quality nursing care. The ANA addresses workplace hazards such as back injuries, latex allergies, safe needles and workplace violence; because of this, every nurse benefits. The ANA also promotes several financial benefits for members: a special VISA bank card, reduced rates on liability insurance, auto insurance, car rental, a special life and health insurance plan, just to name a few. ANA members can now get a wide selection of our continuing education modules FREE ALL THE TIME in the new Members Only section of the ANA web site. All membership categories can take advantage of this new ANA membership benefit.

The VSNA has collaborated with other organizations to support the passage of legislation that promotes safe patient care, prevention, and nursing practice. The VSNA contributed to the Vermont Commission on Women's study and publication of its report on the health of women-acute and chronic illnesses, health promotion, barriers to care; and issues of incarcerated women, women small business owners, and women who lose health insurance through divorce or death of a spouse. The VSNA implemented strategies to help increase the number of RNs in Vermont. Successful lobbying resulted with increases in money and government support for nursing education. This year, the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) recommended an increase from $250,000 to $400,000 for undergraduate RN and LPN education. The VSNA also supported passage of bills addressing advanced directives and safe staffing.

Last year the VSNA listened to our membership and implemented a new membership option, the state-only membership for a cost of $99 year. So far, seven individuals have chosen to join with this option and we thank them for their membership. WE NEED MORE MEMBERS! I am asking each member to help our membership grow. Please think about why you joined the VSNA/ANA and why you value your membership. Talk to others about why you feel your membership is important and encourage those nurses to join. The VSNA Board of Directors is interested in why you value your membership. Feel free to contact us to let us know how/why your membership is important and if you have ideas regarding how the VSNA could better serve you and other Vermont nurses.

In closing, I am borrowing a popular television and radio advertisement gimmick: Membership in the VSNA:

* state-only membership dues= $99,

* VSNA/ANA membership dues=$256,

* Reduced membership dues= $128.

* Special membership dues for 62 and over, not employed or disabled = $64

For more information on the benefits of membership, visit the ANA website at www.ana.org and find a link to Member Benefits and Discounts. See the VSNA website at www.vsna-inc.org.