Professional nursing organizations exist to benefit nurses in various ways including research, support, education and overall continuous development of nurses and the nursing profession. Professional nursing organizations, based on their composition, range from specialty specific organizations such as the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) to general professional nursing organizations comprising different nursing specialties, an example of which is the American Nurses Association (ANA). Through the support and benefits derived from membership to professional nursing organizations, nurses’ competency and leadership skill are nurtured while their contributions to nursing as a profession are enhanced (Cardillo, 2017) .
Networking is one of the values derived from membership to professional nursing organizations. Nurses build personal and professional relationships with members of professional nursing organizations to which they belong. These relationships can become powerful connections over time. For instance, in changing specialties and looking for jobs, or seeking to interact with thought leaders in various areas of practice, nursing associations are instrumental in making these connections. Mentorship opportunities are also made available to new nurses from experienced practitioners in their specialties within the nursing organizations (Cardillo, 2017) . The networks built through professional nursing organizations also enable nurses to learn about evidence-based practices and discover best practices allowing them to better handle problems in their local settings (Schroeder, 2013) .
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Health Care Reform being one of the major issues in American healthcare, professional nursing organizations are actively involved in the legislative processes. Legislation in health care affects the quality of health care dispensed to patients, informs health care policy and impacts the nursing profession (AAACN, 2017) . Therefore, professional nursing organizations engage themselves in promptly communication changes in legal requirements in nursing to ensure compliance for their members. Various organizations such as the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN) have established legislative teams through which they are engaged in advocacy efforts. The teams review and assess nursing practice initiatives and advise on supporting or rejecting legislation that affects them (AAACN, 2017) .
References
AAACN. (2017). Legislative Involvement . Retrieved February 20, 2018, from American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing: https://www.aaacn.org/about/committees/legislative-team/legislative-involvement
Cardillo, D. (2017). Why You Should Join Professional Nursing Associations . Retrieved February 20, 2018, from Nursing Link: http://nursinglink.monster.com/benefits/articles/3056-why-you-should-join-professional-nursing-associations
Schroeder, R. T. (2013). The Value of Belonging to a Professional Nursing Organization. AORN Journal, 98 , 99-101. doi:10.1016/j.aorn.2013.06.002
