American Nurses Association

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a professional organization to advance and protect the profession of nursing.

From 1996-2000 the President was Beverly Malone.

Primary mission

The ANA is involved in public education, clinical nursing standards, and lobbying state and federal lawmakers to advance the profession. They address ethics, public policy, and the economic and general welfare of nurses.

Publications

*"American Nurse Today"
*"The American Nurse"
*"Foundations of Nursing"
*"Capitol Update"

Maintain standards of conduct

They are also responsible for creating the Code of Ethics for nurses.

1. "The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.
2 The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community.
3 The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the [health] , [safety] , and [rights of the patient] .
4 The nurse is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimum patient care.
5. The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal and professional growth.
6. The nurse participates in establishing, maintaining, and improving health-care environments and conditions of employment conducive to the provision of quality health care and consistent with the values of the profession through individual and collective action.
7. The nurse participates in the advancement of the profession through contributions to practice, education, administration, and knowledge development.
8 The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public in promoting community, national, and international efforts to meet health needs.
9. The profession of nursing, as represented by associations and their members, is responsible for articulating nursing values, for maintaining the integrity of the profession and its practice, and for shaping social policy." [ANA Code of Ethics, [http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/EthicsStandards/CodeofEthics/2110Provisions.aspx] , 2001]

11 Canons of the ANA [Canons of the ANA, [http://nursingworld.org/ethics/code/protected_nwcoe813.htm] , 2001]

1. A nurse will provide services in a manner that respects human dignity unrelated to creed, color, or gender
2. A nurse will safe guard the privacy of all patients.
3. A nurse will act in a manner to safe guard all patients well-being.
4. A nurse will assume responsibility and accountability for there actions at all times.
5. A nurse will demonstrate competence in nursing.
6. A nurse will use informed judgment using individual competency and qualifications when performing nursing functions.
7. A nurse will participate in ongoing development and help to increase the nursing professional body of knowledge.
8. A nurse participates and helps in implement the standards of professional nursing.
9. A nurse will participate and maintain conditions of employment that is conducive of high quality of care.
10. A nurse will protect the public from misinformation and misrepresentation and maintain integrity.
11. A nurse collaborates with other health professions and other people in the community to help meet the health needs of the public.

Further reading

*cite book |author=Flanagan, Lyndia |title=One Strong Voice: The Story of the American Nurses' Association |publisher=American Nurses' Association |location=Kansas City, Mo |year=1976 |pages= |isbn=0-913504-31-9 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=

External links

* [http://nursingworld.org American Nurses Association website]

References