1. The importance of belonging to your professional organization <Speaker Name, Credentials> <Speaker Title> <Speaker Affilitation>
The purpose of this presentation is for a member of a TNA district to present to nursing students (and faculty) about the importance of joining TNA the value of TNA to nurses.
2016

2. Objectives Discuss what professional organizations do for members.
Describe how participating in health policy makes a difference for the nursing profession.
Recognize the value of Texas Nurses Association membership to the individual nurse.
Most TNA members recall the individual who impressed upon them the professional responsibility and value of participating in TNA. Often, this individual was an influential faculty member. It is vital that TNA has a strong relationship with schools of nursing and nursing student organizations.
<<Share your story >>
Example from Ellen Martin: When I was in the ADN program at Angelo State University the professor that really made sure her clinical group understood what it really meant to be a nurse was Esther Wooten. She was a Navy nurse and was so highly professional we all aspired to be like her. Maybe others did too, but she is the one I really remember encouraging the students to join TNA.

3. 109 years ago…1907 Texas Graduate Nurses
The roots of our profession are important because we are practicing in accordance with the principles they established – a profession based on education, competency, and compassion. Over the years, nurses have influenced important changes in practice. We stand where we stand now because of them. Being a part of TNA today honors their work over the past century and supports the mission: We empower nurses to advance the profession.
<<<ADD any historical notes you know of for nursing in your community>>
Miss A. Louise Dietrich
1st Education Secretary 1923
Texas Board of Nurse Examiners
Mrs. Jennie S. Cottle Beaty
President
1909 Texas Board of Nurse Examiners

4. Professional Organizations
Standards of practice
Code of Ethics – review and update
Advocate for nurses – State & Federal (ANA)
Inform members / Get feedback on issues
Highlight the Scope and Standards of Practice, the Code of Ethics that has evolved over the years as the world has changed – as healthcare truly embraces patient-centered care and our society thrives on social media.
The Winkler County case is an example of the importance of advocacy to protect nurses who speak up for safety. You can learn more about the Winkler County case on the TNA website at:
TNA established the TNA Legal Defense Fund to support them in their endeavor, that actually resulted in a $20,000 donation to the two nurses to be used for fees and fines.
Two way dialogue is valuable – we keep our members informed of practice changes and they inform us of what’s going on in the practice settings.

5. Professional Organizations
Networking opportunities
Share the values of the profession with new members
Ask audience what they think of when they think of the professional values in nursing? Integrity? Nurses are the most trusted profession.
Autonomy? Nurses support self-determination…
Invite members to share their stories of networking in their district and share your own.
Example: When I was a hiring manager in the Neuro ICU it was pretty rare to find a nurse with neuro experience already, so we had a training curriculum for the specialty content – so I hired for attitude and trained for skills. The district meeting was a great way to meet nurses who care about nursing practice issues.

6. Professional Organizations
Policy involvement
Promote the profession to the public
Professional organizations are involved in the policies that affect their profession so for us that is the board of nursing rules and regulations, the nurse practice act, hospital safe staffing laws and so on.
Students can stay abreast of the policy issues affecting nurses by becoming ANA “student subscribers” at
Invite the audience to share their observations on the image of nursing, such as the media, etc.

7. Why belong to TNA?
The only organization focused on professional nursing practice
Engagement in issues common to all practice settings
Support the mission & the work
“Empowering nurses to advance the profession”
Share with the audience why you belong to TNA and what you get out of being a member.

8. Specialty Organizations
Specialty organizations focus on clinical aspects of care and policy areas unique to that specialty
Resource for clinical competency

9. TNA & Specialty Organizations
The question is NOT which organization to join… TNA is the foundation of nursing practice. If you work in a specialty area then BOTH are important!

10. The Value of Membership
Advocating for the profession is a two-way street – we seek feedback from members on issues they are facing in their practice settings
Publications
Practice line
Continuing education
Services and Savings
Review the “You take care of Texas, Who takes care of you” brochure

11. Why should nurses participate?
Decisions affecting nurses will be made with us or without us
Nursing benefits from participation
Policymakers needs nursing’s input

12. TNA Represents Nursing
Legislative presence
Monitoring proposed rules and regulations
Influencing policy on multiple levels

13. Politics & Policy
Politics is about the people – and their party (beliefs drive behavior / decisions)
Policy is about passion for an issue – it’s where we can exert influence and make change happen
Talk about some of the policy issues you feel are most relevant.
Example: In Texas we have Safe Harbor Peer Review, which not all states have. Texas has a hospital safe staffing law, and other states don’t have that.

14. Nurses as leaders in public policy
Why me?
Share your perspective on why individual nurses are important to public policy
EXAMPLE: Personal stories have an impact – no one knows the issues of nursing better than nurses themselves.

15. 25 Legislative What Ifs Patient Advocacy Protections
Nursing Peer Review
Hospital Nurse Staffing
Safe Patient Handling
Mandatory Overtime
Assaults against ER Nurses
APRN – scope, prescriptive authority
Review the 25 legislative What If’s Brochure
Invite the audience to discuss ones that are relevant to them. For example, ask – is anyone thinking of working in the emergency room? If so, can talk about patients with weapons or intoxicated patients. Etc.

16. “Let us band ourselves together and be thankful there are such ways and means of education open to us as associations of graduate nurses.” - Louise Dietrich
Talk about the value of social support and the relationships you have made in your district.

17. How will YOU lead?
This is a photo of nurse day at the Capitol. The 3 nurse members across the front row are:
Susan King, from the Abilene area, Donna Howard from the Austin area, and Stephanie Click from the Dallas area.
INVITE QUESTIONS! BE prepared to ask them a question…