Where Have All the Members Gone?

Rhonda S. Olson, MS, RN, CRRN

Mary Joe White, PhD, RN

2002-2003 Goals:

Increase Chapter membership 25% (25 members)

Increase meeting participation to 35-40 members and guests

AbstractA discouraging trend in many specialty nursing organizations is the stagnate or decline in membership. The research committee of the Southeast Texas Chapter of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses decided to collect data and study this trend to determine what changes are necessary to increase membership. A multifaceted data collection approach was designed using convenience samples. First, a review of relevant literature was completed. Second, an email survey was sent to other ARN chapters. Third, a telephone survey was completed on other specialty organizations in geographic region. Fourth, questionnaires were given to the members of the local ARN chapter and four other specialty organizations, and lastly, questionnaires were given to staff nurses in the geographic area. Descriptive statistics and cross tabulations were used to determine why nurses do and do not join their organizations (N= 81). Most frequent reasons for joining an organization were to increase knowledge, professional benefit, networking, and continuing education units. Reasons for choosing not to participate were family responsibilities, lack of information, and too time-consuming. Changes to address the decline in membership are discussed.

Data Analysis supported by a grant from SETX ARN

Chapter

Literature Review

Herzberg’s Motivational Theory Generation X Employees Magnet Hospitals Few Studies

Rational for Study

Methods of Study

Survey of other nursing organizations Email survey of ARN chapters Questionnaires

4 nursing specialty organizations Staff nurses Members of SETX ARN

Methods of Study

Convenience sample Descriptive statistics Cross tabulation

Results

ARN Chapters

N=14

Membership Trends

7 - Stable

6 - Decrease

1 - Increase

Meeting Participation

9 - Stable

4 - Decrease

1 - Increase

Results of Specialty Organizations

N=9

Membership Trends

3 - Stable

4 - Decrease

2 - Increase

Results of Questionnaires

Membership Profile

Older age group Greater than 15 yrs

experience More likely certified

Figure 5

Reasons Why Staff Nurses Are Not Active Members

family responsibilities

no benefit to membership

politics in organization

lack of info on meetings

Figure 6

Reasons for Participating in a Professional Organization

Socialization

Gain CEUs

Job Requirement

Mentoring Opportunity

Networking

Strategies to Increase Membership and Revitalize

Chapters

Get the word out Mentoring programs Chapter website Marketing Energize membership Thinking outside the box

Get the Word out

Personal Phone calls

Website

Mentoring

Desired by Generation X

Website

Technoliterate Communication Marketing

www.arnsoutheasttx.org

Marketing

Target flyers F/U phone calls Posters Target magnet

hospitals

Energizing Membership Membership

committee Contest for new

recruits Meeting structure

Thinking Outside the Box

Satellite Videotape Virtual Meetings

Conclusion

Study provided data to stimulate discussion on strategies to increase membership and energize the chapter

2003-2004 Goals:

Maintain stable membership Maintain meeting participation at 40

members and guests