PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS : NURSING

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: NURSING

INTRODUCTION
Professionals create organizations to work collectively on behalf of issues that enhance their
work and their involvement in communities, ensure continued learning and competence, and use
political action to influence policymakers to support mission of organization. Professional
organizations offer a supportive way to learn leadership skills, to test ideas, and to follow these
ideas to completion. Nursing has a national organization open to all graduate nurses, Indian
nursing council, Trained nurses association of India.
OBJECTIVES
To understand the role of professional organisations in empowering nurses in their emerging
professionalism.
To discuss the functions of each professional organisations.
To discuss importance of self assertiveness in safeguarding our profession.
To study the vast scope of collective bargaining in nursing profession.
Terminologies
Collective bargaining- Negotiation between organized workers and their employer or
employers to determine wages, hours, rules, and working conditions.
Assertiveness- it's demanding what you want in a confident way that harms no one but in the
same time preserves your rights.
Unions- A union or labor organization is any organization in which employees participate for
the purpose of dealing with their employer about grievances, labour disagreements, wages, hours
of work, and conditions of employment.
Criteria of a profession
Various vital components of a profession are,
1. Education takes place in a college or university
2. Education is prolonged
3. Work involves mental creativity
4. Decision making is based largely on science or theories
5. Values, beliefs and ethics are an integral part of preparation
6. Commitment dominates material reward
7. Accountability rests with Individual
Nursing as a profession
Nursing pathway to professionalism has not been smooth. For decades an ongoing subject for
discussion in nursing circles has been the following question is nursing a profession. Sociologists do
not agree that nursing is a profession. They believe its an emerging profession. Nursing is rather
considered by everyone as a profession now. Nursing complies with all criteria of a profession.
It has all greatly changed Now,
Today, there is a body of knowledge that is uniquely nursings own
Nursing is no longer based on trial and error but increasingly relies on theory development and research as a
basis for practice. We call it Evidence-based practice.
Nursing is now engaged in an ongoing effort to identify and standardize nursing diagnoses, interventions
and outcomes all of which are parts of nursing process
Individual accountability has become a part of nursing practice. Now society hold nurses individually
responsible for their actions
Majority of programmes offering basic nursing education are now associate degree and baccalaureate
programs located in college and universities
Various professional organizations and functions
AT CENTRE LEVEL
TRAINED NURSES ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (TNAI)
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR NURSES (I C N)
THE COMMONWEALTH NURSES FEDERATION
THE INDIAN NURSING COUNCIL (INC)
THE RED CROSS SOCIETY
WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO)
AT STATE LEVEL
THE STUDENT NURSES ASSOCIATION (SNA)
THE NURSES LEAGUE OF CHRISTIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
THE CHRISTIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF INDIA
TRAINED NURSES ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (TNAI)
The Trained nurses association of India is a national professional association of Nurses. The
present name and organization were established in 1922.
AIMS:
Aims center upon needs of the individual member and problems in the nursing profession as a
whole. Such aims include 1. Upgrading. 2. Development and standardisation of nursing
education. 3. Improvement of living and working condition for nurses in India. 4. Registration
for qualified nurses.
ACTIVITIES:
1. TNAI gives scholarships for nurses who wish to go on for advanced study either here or
abroad. 2. It helped to remove discrimination against male nurses. 3. Initiated much needed study
and improvement of economic conditions for nurses.
4. The TNAI opposes strikes unless all other means of negotiating have failed to bring about
satisfactory working conditions.
MEMBERSHIP:
Obtained by application and submission of a copy of your state registration certificate. It is
possible to apply for a life membership. The official organ of the TNAI is The Nursing Journal
of India which is published monthly. The cost of this is included in the annual subscription for
membership in the association.
It helps you to be informed of current events in nursing and offers opportunities to publish
articles and voice opinions.
Policies and Practices of TNAI:
The Trained Nurses Association of India has for many years been greatly
concerned about the economic welfare of Nurses and action which may
be taken to negotiate for better benefits and working conditions for the
profession. The following facts have emerged during this time:
The TNAI cannot be legally appointed as a negotiating body either at
a Local, State or National level.
The advice of the TNAI is listened to, with respect, and sometimes
acted upon. But such advice is given on the initiative of the TNAI,
but the TNAI does not have the right of representation in
negotiations.
The TNAI as a national body can give a broad support to local or state
organizations of Nurses.
The organization of the TNAI makes it possible for all nurses to participate at some level. Beginning
with the local unit, which is usually made up of personnel in a specific institution, the level of
organisation moves to the district, state and national levels. Members of the TNAI are usually most active
on the level of the local unit. Activities and conferences, however, are planned regularly by the state
branches and provide opportunities for valuable professional participation and development of the
individual member.
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR NURSES (I C N)
It was formed in 1899. Its an international association for all nurses in the world. Great
emphasis has been on non discrimination.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Promote the development of strong national nurses associations. 2. Assist national nurses
association to improve the standards of nursing and the competence of nurses. 3. Assist national
nurses associations to improve the status of nurses within their countries.
4. Serve as the authoritative voice for nurses and nursing internationally.
ACTIVITIES:
1. Makes policy statements on health and social issues. 2. Offers a great variety of seminars 3.
Maintaining and improving the status of Nursing around the world
MEMBERSHIP:
All nurses can become members of the ICN but not as individuals. The individual nurse
becomes a member if his/her national nurses association is a member of ICN. Nurses in India
become members of ICN when they become members of the TNAI.
THE COMMONWEALTH NURSES FEDERATION
The Commonwealth Nurses Federation was formally organised in 1973 and operates in Six
regions of the world which are East, Africa, Atlantic, Australia, Pacific, South Asia and Europe.
The TNAI is also affiliated with the Commonwealth Nurses Federation .It is made up of nurses
associations from commonwealth countries.
AIMS:
1. Promote sharing, better communications and closer relationships between its member
associations. 2. Provides expert professional advice. 3. Scholarships for advanced study. 4.
Financial assistance for professional meetings and seminars. 5. Running an office through which
funds can be received and dispersed for the benefit of nursing in countries which are represented.
THE INDIAN NURSING COUNCIL (I N C)
The Indian Nursing Council, which was authorised by the Indian Nursing Council Act of 1947,
was established in 1949.
PURPOSE:
Providing uniform standards in Nursing education and reciprocity in Nursing Registration
throughout the country. Nurses registered in one state were not necessarily recognised for
registration in another state before this time. The condition of mutual recognition by the state
nurses registration councils, which is called reciprocity, was possible only if uniform standards
of nursing education were maintained
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Prescribes curricula for nursing education in all the states. 2. Refuses or Recognises
Programmes of Nursing Education according to standards required.
3. Support high standards in Nursing. 4. Providing registration for foreign nurses. 5.
Maintenance of the Indian Nurses Register. This register contains the names of all nurses,
midwives, auxiliary nurse midwives who are enrolled on all state registers.
RED CROSS SOCIETY
It follows the directions of the Geneva conventions in an effort to protect victims of armed
conflict. Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.
They delegate visit and inspect prisoner of war camps. They arrange for delivery of mail and
food packages to the prisoners. They also offer emergency relief by providing food and medical
supplies. A very valuable service is that of a central tracing agency which helps to locate
prisoners of war and missing persons long after a conflict is over.
At times of armed conflict or natural disaster within country these help to give comprehensive
care to the affected.
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION
The world health organisation, commonly called the WHO is also a specialised agency of the
United Nations. It was organised in 1948 for the purpose of helping to achieve the highest
possible level of health for all people
The WHO has been active in nursing education and practice in a number of ways in India. It
has offered guidance in setting up programmes of Nursing Education. The WHO promotes
public health in many ways around the world. It is currently known for the declaration of
working towards Health for all by 2000 AD. This declaration has given a tremendous push to
developing primary health care and recognizing the very essential role of nursing in health care
system
THE STUDENT NURSES ASSOCIATION (SNA)
The Student Nurses Association organised in 1920, is associated with and under jurisdiction of
the TNAI. In addition to providing a means of personal and professional development for the
nursing student. The assistant secretary of the TNAI serves as advisor for the SNA.
PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS:
1. Help student Nurses learn how the professional organisation serves to uphold the dignity and
ideals of the nursing profession. 2. Promote a close rapport with other student Nurses. 3. Furnish
student Nurses advice in their courses of study leading up to professional qualifications. 4.
Encourages leadership ability and help students to gain a wide knowledge of the nursing
profession in all of its different branches. 5. Encourage both professional and recreational
meetings, Games and Sports.
6. Encourage students nurses develop a co-operative spirit with other student nurses which will
help them in future professional relationships.
ACTIVITIES:
1. Fund raising for the TNAI. 2. Fund raising done for fine arts and sports competitions and
conferences. 3. Special prizes given for outstanding achievement in specific areas of nursing
education. 4. Unit activities include maintaining the diary of unit activities, giving quarterly
reports, preparing articles for publication and distributing application forms for membership in
the TNAI.
MEMBERSHIP:
Fees are minimal and easily met by the nursing student. Nursing students who participate in the
Student nurses association have a valuable opportunity to begin to develop leadership skills,
competitive skills and an interest for the profession as a whole.
THE NURSES LEAGUE OF THE CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
The Nurses league of the clinical medical association of India was founded in 1930. It became
affiliated to the TNAI in 1936 and promotes membership in this organisation.
OBJECTIVES:
Promote cooperation and encouragement among Christian Nurses.
Promote efficiency in nursing education and service.
Secure the highest standards possible in Christian nursing education through the Christian
schools of nursing.
Considering the special work and problems of Christian nurses wherever employed.
ACTIVITIES:
Activities include national and area conferences and retreats for its members. Development of
leadership abilities is encouraged by participation in these meetings.
Each meeting also allows for sharing of problems common to the Christian nurse.
Provides expert professional advice.
Provides scholarships for advanced study.
Provides financial assistance for professional meetings and seminars
MEMBERSHIP:
Membership fees are required and a life membership is available. Nursing students may
become associate members of the league. Membership in the Nurses league may be a
requirement for certain nursing positions under control of Christian employing authorities.
THE CHRISTIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF INDIA
The CMAI began in 1905 as a fellowship of Christian missionary doctors to provide spiritual
sharing and support. It gradually developed into a larger organisation which included other
Christian health professionals and health institutions
FUNCTIONS
To provide professional training through formal and informal education, publication of
textbooks and other materials and scholarships.
To encourage community health work through training, advisory services and technical
support.
To assist and support churches and health institutions with study and training.
To disperse health related information which will help with health education and lean towards
a more healthy and just society.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to doctors, registered nurses and ANM/Health workers, all health
professionals. Students in health professional courses may also become members
SUMMARY
Participation in professional organisations is of profit to you and to profession. The profession
provides a means through which united efforts can be made to elevate standards of nursing
education and practice. It also offers a means of voicing your opinions, developing your abilities
and keeping informed of new trends. Registration is necessary for active nursing practice either
here or abroad. This is done through your State Nurses Registration Council. It provides you
with legal protection and protects the patient from poor nursing care.
CONCLUSION:
Be clear what one feels; Be clear what one needs, and How it can be achieved.
Being able to communicate calmly without attacking the other person, and saying Yes when
the person wants to say Yes. Its about being confident about handling conflict. Being able to
openly talk about oneself. Its about having ability to give and receive positive feedback
maintaining optimistic outlook in life.