American Nurses Association
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| American Nurses Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | American Nurses Association |
| Alt | Logo of the American Nurses Association |
| Abbreviation | ANA |
| Formation | 1896 |
| Type | Professional association |
| Headquarters | Silver Spring, Maryland |
| Region served | United States |
| Membership | Registered nurses |
| Leader title | President |
| Leader name | Deborah Burger |
| Website | ana.org |
American Nurses Association is a professional organization representing registered nurses in the United States. It advances nursing practice, sets professional standards, and advocates for health policy affecting nurses and patients. The association engages with federal and state institutions, collaborates with clinical organizations, and publishes standards, position statements, and journals shaping nursing practice.
History
The organization emerged from late 19th-century nursing reform movements linked to figures such as Florence Nightingale-influenced educators and institutions like Johns Hopkins Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital. Founders drew from state-level associations such as the New York State Nurses Association and national conferences that included participants from the International Council of Nurses and the National League for Nursing. Throughout the 20th century the association intersected with major events including the Spanish–American War, the establishment of the American Red Cross nursing services, and the mobilization of nurses during World War I and World War II. The association contributed to initiatives tied to landmark legislation such as the Social Security Act of 1935 and later interacted with federal agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during public health crises. Throughout the civil rights era the organization confronted issues raised by leaders connected to National Association for the Advancement of Colored People activism and nursing figures who engaged with professional integration. Late-20th and early-21st century developments included collaboration with Institute of Medicine reports, responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and participation in pandemic response alongside Federal Emergency Management Agency and state health departments.
Organization and Governance
The association operates through a national headquarters and constituent state nurses associations, coordinating with specialty groups such as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, and the Emergency Nurses Association. Governance structures include a board of directors, a House of Delegates, and elected officers drawn from members with affiliations to institutions like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and academic centers such as University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Legislative and policy functions are carried out by committees that liaise with entities like the United States Congress, the Supreme Court of the United States on amicus briefs, and federal regulators. The association has entered partnerships with organizations including the American Medical Association, National Institutes of Health, and labor groups like National Nurses United in various collaborative or contested arenas.
Membership and Certification
Membership comprises registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, nursing students, and retired nurses with ties to state boards of nursing such as the New York State Board of Nursing and the California Board of Registered Nursing. The association offers credentialing guidance and promotes specialty certification overseen by boards like the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which interacts with credentialing standards recognized by institutions including the Joint Commission and Magnet Recognition Program hospitals. Members often practice in settings affiliated with systems such as Veterans Health Administration, Kaiser Permanente, and academic medical centers, and hold roles spanning bedside care, administration, education, and research.
Advocacy and Policy Positions
The association advocates on federal policy arenas including nursing workforce legislation, workplace safety, and patient care standards with positions filed before bodies such as the United States Senate and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It issues policy statements on topics involving public health emergencies, reproductive health, and telehealth, coordinating with agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The association has supported measures related to safe staffing, occupational protections under regulatory frameworks such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and funding for nursing education through programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Education, Standards, and Publications
The association develops professional standards and scopes of practice referenced by academic programs at universities including Columbia University School of Nursing, University of Michigan School of Nursing, and Yale School of Nursing. It publishes peer-reviewed journals and periodicals, collaborates with publishers and indexing services used by programs at institutions like Duke University School of Nursing and Brigham and Women's Hospital, and produces continuing education content. Standards are used in accreditation reviews involving organizations such as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and inform clinical guidelines alongside specialty societies like the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Awards and Recognition
The association administers awards recognizing clinical excellence, leadership, and research, often honoring recipients affiliated with institutions such as Harvard Medical School, Stanford University School of Medicine, and the National Academy of Medicine. Awards intersect with broader professional honors like listings in the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and recognition programs including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grants. Recipients frequently hold appointments at major centers including Massachusetts General Hospital and contribute to guideline development and academic scholarship.
Criticisms and Controversies
The association has faced criticism and internal debate over positions on labor relations, where tensions arose with unions including National Nurses United and debates over collective bargaining at facilities such as those operated by HCA Healthcare. Controversies have included disputes over policy stances during public health emergencies, reactions to endorsements or legal filings in cases adjudicated by the Supreme Court of the United States, and scrutiny from members tied to academic centers and state associations. The association's approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion and responses to high-profile workplace safety incidents at hospitals like St. Vincent's Hospital have prompted public discussion and independent reviews by professional stakeholders including state nursing boards and university-affiliated research centers.