AORN strikes deal to offer
ANA affiliate memberships
By Carina Stanton, MA
Senior News Editor/Writer
Soon the benefits of AORN membership will include an affiliate membership to the American Nurses Association (ANA), following an agreement AORN recently struck with ANA to provide every AORN member with affiliate, non-voting-status membership to ANA, effective July 1, 2008.
The ANA affiliate membership will allow AORN members to connect with the resources and advocacy activities of ANA and the broader nursing community.
"As affiliate members of ANA, our members will have the chance to unite with registered nurses across specialties and advocate for common nursing issues that impact legislation at the local, state and national level. By coming together we have greater influence on the issues that matter most to the nursing community," said Mary Jo Steiert, RN, BSN, CNOR, AORN president through April 3, 2007, who worked closely with AORN's board of directors, AORN Executive Director Linda Groah, RN, MSN, CNOR, FAAN, and ANA leaders to establish the agreement with ANA earlier this year.
"It's essential that ANA continue its long tradition of representing the interests of all nurses, including perioperative nurses," said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, RN, MSN, CNOR. "America's 2.9 million registered nurses make up the largest group of health care professionals, and this new partnership ensures that ANA will have a stronger voice on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures as we advocate for much-needed reform in nursing and in health care."
Patton announced the ANA affiliate membership agreement with AORN in March at AORN's 55th annual Congress conference in Anaheim, Calif.
"This is a critical time for the nursing community, and we recognize the need to foster close ties with our ANA partners. AORN is committed to strengthening the nursing community, but to make an impact we need to work together across specialties. An affiliation with ANA will not only benefit not only the perioperative community, but all nursing specialties as a whole," said AORN Executive Director Groah.
"We're nurses first. Standing together as nurses with a united presence, we are committed to improving patient safety in all settings. We believe this is the right time for what we know will be a powerful collaboration. ANA looks forward to working with AORN's dedicated perioperative nurses to advance nursing's agenda and to gain the momentum of the greater good on behalf of our profession and the public we serve," remarked ANA CEO Linda J. Stierle, MSN, RN, CNAA, BC.
Through the agreement, all current and new AORN members will automatically receive ANA affiliate memberships beginning July 1st. This starting date coincides with a new arrangement the ANA and its Constituent Member Associations will have with United American Nurses and the Center for American Nurses (The Center). At this time, the CMAs will have direct relationships with the UAN and The Center, not through or as a result of ANA's bylaws or policies.
While AORN will continue to pursue direct positions on its legislative priorities, the affiliate membership agreement with ANA will increase AORN's ability to promote nursing legislation, said Cathy Sparkman, director of AORN Government Affairs.
"AORN has great grassroots champions who work tirelessly to promote AORN's legislative priorities, primarily at the state level. Through this agreement we have an opportunity to band with our colleagues at ANA to maximize our voice at the federal level to support public policy matters that impact all nurses, such as workplace safety, safe staffing and quality medical care."