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The American Nurses Association (ANA), through its 54 constituent member associations (CMAs) (state and territorial nurses associations and the Federal Nurses Association [FedNA]), is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation's 2.7 million registered nurses. According to the ANA's Web site, the "ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and lobbying Congress and the regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public."

 

Traditionally, nurses have joined the ANA through their CMAs, which monitor and lobby for legislation and regulations at the state and local levels, promote nursing issues through the local media, provide collective bargaining and work-place advocacy services to their members, and offer numerous other benefits.

 

Organizations can join the ANA as an associate organizational member (AOM) or as an organizational affiliate. Currently, the ANA has two AOMs-the United American Nurses, AFL-CIO (UAN) and the Center for American Nurses, formerly the Commission on Workplace Advocacy.

 

In addition to joining through their CMAs, RNs may join ANA directly as individual members if they live or work in states that have voluntary agreements with the ANA. RNs may also join as individual affiliates through a new online membership program. The fee for joining ANA as "virtual" members is reduced. For information about the ANA, contact the ANA at:

 

8515 Georgia Ave.

 

Silver Spring, MD 20910

 

Phone: (800) 274-4ANA

 

Fax: (301) 628-5001 [email protected]; http://www.NursingWorld.org

 

ASSOCIATE ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS

The Center for American Nurses, established in 2003 by the ANA House of Delegates, establishes and implements a national workplace advocacy program to help individual nurses address their workplace challenges through policy research and advocacy, education, and communications.

 

Phone: (800) 685-4076; (301) 628-5063

 

Fax: (301) 628-5297

 

[email protected]

 

http://www.NursingWorld.org/can

 

The United American Nurses, AFL-CIO (UAN), is the union representing 100,000 RNs nationwide-and an affiliate of both the ANA and the AFL-CIO.

 

Phone: (877) 262-6742 or (301) 628-5118

 

Fax: (301) 628-5347

 

[email protected]

 

http://www.NursingWorld.org/uan

 

RELATED ORGANIZATIONS

The American Academy of Nursing (AAN), according to the ANA's Web site, was "established in 1973, [and] is an organization of distinguished leaders who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions in nursing education, management, practice, and research."

 

Phone: (414) 287-0289

 

Fax: (414) 276-3349

 

[email protected]

 

http://www.NursingWorld.org/aan

 

The American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) mission is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs and related services.

 

Phone: (800) 284-2378

 

Fax: (301) 628-5004

 

[email protected]; http://www.NursingWorld.org/ancc

 

The American Nurses Foundation (ANF), according to the ANA's Web site, is a "national philanthropic organization that promotes the continued growth and development of nurses and services to advance the work of the nursing profession. ANF relies on support from individuals, corporations, other foundations, and government agencies that possess a strong interest in advancing nursing's future."

 

Phone: (800) 274-4ANA

 

Fax: (301) 628-5354

 

[email protected]; http://www.NursingWorld.org/anf