Being a nurse is a life long journey of studying and adopting various new practices. It is important for nurses to come together to exchange ideas and also learning the best ways to dispense their duties. One of the most common ways of uniting nurses from various areas is through the formation of professional associations. Professional associations are groupings of people from the same profession which are aimed at improving the ease of sharing ideas and also restricting entry into the profession by setting and maintaining high standards of practice ( Gumus et al., 2011 ). One of the largest professional organizations for nurses in the United States is the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). There are several benefits that I can enjoy as a member of the AANP.
One of the advantages that I can get from joining the AANP is networking with other people within my profession. Professional organizations such as the AANP provide many opportunities for their members to interact, socialize, and network ( Walsh, & Daddario, 2015 ). Networking is made possible through events such as seminars and conventions. As a member of AANP, I can use such opportunities to meet and interact with my peers in the field of nursing, mentors, together with other industry leaders. Networking is important to my professional development as it provides me with a new and wider perspective regarding the healthcare industry and its market. Learning from the experiences of other people will also help me avoid making professional mistakes that others have made, thus growing rapidly in the field of nursing. Additionally, learning the experiences of other people makes it possible to understand that everyone faces challenges and not to get demoralized. From the benefits that I will draw from my membership of AANP, I believe that networking will be the most important among other benefits.
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Another benefit of joining the AANP is the opportunity to further my education. Medicine as a field is constantly changing due to the emergence of new challenges such as new diseases. This requires medical professionals to be in a constant state of learning. Walsh and Daddario (2015) argue that professional organizations provide the right environment and resources to enable their members to be updated on any current issue or new practice. Furthermore, professional organizations such as the AANP offer certification courses which are vital in career development. The organizations also offer educational materials such as journals on new scientific breakthroughs, which may help in the adoption of best practices while carrying out my duties as a healthcare professional ( Gaffney, 2012) . Finally, professional bodies offer mentorship programs to their members where they are assigned to more experienced and qualified professionals to act as their guiding figures. Through mentorship programs, nurses can identify the right way to grow their careers and attain their career goals. Continually acquiring new and relevant information improves the quality of service provided to patients.
In conclusion, there are many advantages that I can get from joining a professional body, notably the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). One of the benefits that I can get from joining the AANP is networking with other people within my profession. Another advantage is the opportunity to further my education and grow my nursing career. From the analysis of the importance of professional organizations, it is evident that they can help a person develop in their careers.
References
Gaffney, A. D. (2012). Promoting advanced practice nurses to the public . New York.
Gumus, G., Borkowski, N., Deckard, G. J., & Martel, K. J. (2011). Healthcare managers' perceptions of professional development and organizational support. Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, 34 (1), 42-63.
Walsh, A. M., & Daddario, K. (2015). The dynamic nature of professional associations: Factors shaping membership decisions. The Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 17 (3), 115-125.
