American Nursing AssociationPractice Standards

Ashley Bade, Tim Bedell, Jessica Eastwood, Kathleen Gambill, Mackenzie Tunney

Iappfind (2010)

“The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the voice of nursing” (ANA, 2014b).

ANATHE AMERICAN

NURSES ASSOCIATION

What is it?

Representation“…the strongest voice for the nursing profession.”

Congress Federal agencies Board rooms (ANA, 2014f)

Mission Statement

“Nurses advancing our profession to improve health for all.” (ANA, 2014c)

The American Nurse“The official publication of the American Nurses Association.” Keeps nurses informed

Published 6 times a year Keeps readers up to date on how the

ANA advances the nursing profession.(ANA, 2014g)

Why was the ANA was created? Delegates from ten alumnae associations wanted to organize a

national professional association for nurses (ANA, 2014c).

When the ANA was first started, there were no laws regarding nursing licensure (ANA, 2014a).

  ANA acts as an advocate for every nurse, whether they are a

member or not (ANA, 2014a).

"The ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the nation's entire registered nurse population. From the halls of Congress and federal agencies to the board rooms, hospitals and other health care facilities, ANA is the strongest voice for the nursing profession”.

The ANA represents "the nation's 3.1 million registered nurses through its constituent and state nurses associations and its organizational affiliates”.

(ANA, 2014f)

ANA Professional Standards

"The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care

issues affecting nurses and the public”.

(ANA, 2014c)

Since the ANA has grown in membership, they have been able

to expand the services they offer. Some services included are:

published a wide variety of material on nursing practice

and the profession

established a code of professional nursing

developed and instituted the means for RNs to be

credentialed in areas of specialization

became legislatively involved to advance the nursing

profession so the roles, duties and practice areas of

nursing are respected in the world today.

(ANA, 2014a)

Who founded the ANA?In 1896, Isabel Hampton Robb worked with ten other alumnae associations to organize the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada. In 1911, the organization changed its name to the American Nurses Association (ANA, 2014b). Robb was made the first president (ANA, 2014d).

Isabel Hampton Robb (Kendall, 1909)

Prior to her contributions to the American Nurses Association, Robb held prominent nursing positions for the Illinois Training School and the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (ANA, 2014d). Some of her contributions as the Superintendent of the Illinois Training School for Nurses, and later as the first superintendent of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, included the promotion of longer programs for nursing education, 8-hour workdays, and the organization of alumnae associations (Jones, 2009).

Robb was also closely involved in the organization of the American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools for Nurses, which later became known as the National League of Nursing Education (NLN). Robb also served as president for the NLN at one point in time. In addition, Robb served as a member of the original committee that helped to found the American Journal of Nursing (Johns Hopkins Medicine, n.d.).

Throughout Robb’s lifetime, she was involved in several historically significant political and educational organizations that worked to promote nursing, including the International Council of Nurses, The Army Nurse Corps, and The Red Cross. Tragically Robb died in 1910 in a streetcar accident at the age of 50, forever cutting short her efforts in the promotion and regulation of nursing education and careers (Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives of The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, n.d.).

When was the ANA created?

On September 2, 1896, delegates from ten alumni associations met at Manhattan Beach Hotel, near New York City, for the purpose of organizing a national professional association for nurses.

Not one of the original attendees was a registered nurse, there were no laws licensing nurses at that time

(ANA, 2014a).

The Nurses’ Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada was incorporated under the laws of the state of New York, making it necessary to drop reference to Canada in the associations’ title.

On February 11-12, 1897, the constitution and bylaws were completed and the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada was organized.

(ANA , 2014b)

In 1911, The Nurses’ Alumnae Association changed its name to American Nurse Association (ANA,

2014a)

Iappfind (2010)

How do the ANA standards influence my practice?

The ANA nursing practice standards are guidelines that I follow to ensure that I am providing the best possible care for my patients, while maintaining

care that is within my scope of practice. Responsibility and ethical obligation are core

concepts over which the ANA was founded, and these values help to shape my professional practice daily. Therefore, the practice guidelines influence my nursing practice every patient, every time, and will continue to do so throughout the future of my

nursing career.

Ashley Bade

In my current practice area of the Adult Medical Observation Area at the University of Michigan Hospital, the American Nurses Association influences my nursing practice in the following ways:

Every eight hours, nursing staff participate in multi disciplinary rounds that provides collaboration of care between patient, family, nursing staff, medical providers and case managers.

I am required to complete and renew annual BLS and telemetry proficiency classes as well as attend an annual nursing-based educational Blitz that fulfills hospital and unit-based competencies.

As charge nurse, I provide leadership and delegation of responsibilities as well as utilize appropriate resources to maintain a safe and effective healthcare environment.

Kathleen M. Gambill, RN

How the ANA affects my personal practice…

The American Nurses Association has developed position statements that outline the ethical topics that nurses face everyday at work. I work in the area of oncology and aid patients and their families in making decisions regarding death and dying. The ANA has a stated position concerning the choice of do not resuscitate (DNR) as well as allowing natural death (AND). The ANA emphasizes that the nurse plays an active role in initiating these conversations with families when the time comes to make these tough decisions (2014e). As a nurse this is a tough position to be in. Reminding ourselves that by taking initiative makes these conversations easier for our patients.

Jessica Eastwood

I currently work in a surgical intensive care unit. The ANA practice standards influence my nursing practice by making sure I follow the Code of Ethics in order to provide the best care as possible. I consistently strive to be professional in all situations. I also maintain my patients as my first priority and act as an advocate on their behalf when necessary. I am responsible for their care and delegate tasks appropriately, as well as, promote patient health and wellness and continuously try to improve health care on a daily basis.

Mackenzie Tunney

How the ANA standards affect my practice…

I use the practice standards set forth by the ANA to guide my own practice. The ANA is a much

respected organization in the nursing world and their standards are held with that respect. These

standards serve as a foundation for nurses to go on, as well as, support the nursing scope of

practice. Working as a healthcare professional is a very important job, and representing the field

as a professional is as equally important. Above all else, the standards of practice maintain safe

administration of healthcare by nurses. I use the standards to ensure that I am delivering the best

care possible for my patients, and build on these standards to improve my practice. It is

important to use the standards the ANA has given as a base for practice, and strive to continually

build on these standards to provide safe, quality nursing care.

Tim Bedell

References

Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives of The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. (n.d.). The Isabel Hampton

Robb collection. Retrieved from http://www.medicalarchives.jhmi.edu/papers/robb.html

American Nurses Association. (2014a). ANA history. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/history

American Nurses Association. (2014b). FAQ. Retrieved from

http://nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/FAQs

American Nurses Association. (2014c). In review. Retrieved from http://nursingworld.org/Functiona

lMenuCategories/AboutANA

American Nurses Association. (2014d). Isabel Adams Hampton Robb (1860-1910) 1976 inductee. Retrieved

from http://www.nursingworld.org/IsabelAdamsHamptonRobb

American Nurses Association. (2014e). Position statements. Retrieved from

http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/Ethics-Position-Statements/Nursing-

Care-and-Do-Not-Resuscitate-DNR-and-Allow-Natural-Death-Decisions.pdf

References

American Nurses Association. (2014f). Statement of purpose. Retrieved from

http://nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/AboutANA/ANAsStatementofPurpose.html

American Nurses Association. (2014g). The American nurse. Retrieved from

http://www.theamericannurse.org/index.php/about/

IappFind. (2010). American nurses association. Retrieved from http://www.iappfind.com/app/488656352

Jones, R. (2009). Isabel Hampton: First superintendent of nursing. Retrieved from

http://archive.gazette.jhu.edu/2009/01/05/isabel-hampton-first-superintendent-of-nursing/

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). The Johns Hopkins school of nursing. Retrieved from

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/about/history/history8.html

Kendall, W. S.(1909). Portrait of Isabel Hampton Robb. [Painting]. Retrieved from:

http://www.medicalarchives.jhmi.edu/papers/robb.html