PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

One of the hallmarks of a profession is that its members band together in collegial association to provide a variety of services for its members. These services include such things as continuing education, collective bargaining, legislative advocacy, and information about the profession. These organizations are not set up by state laws or through the government.

The American Nurses Association is the nationwide professional organization representing the interests of nurses. In Ohio, professional associations include the Ohio Nurses Association, Licensed Practical Nurses Association of Ohio, Ohio Association for Advanced Practice Nurses, Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and state chapters of other specialty associations such as perioperative nurses, critical care nurses, nephrology nurses, dialysis technicians, and other groups. Typically, associations are run by boards of trustees elected by members who pay voluntary membership dues.

OHIO NURSES ASSOCIATION

Vision: The Ohio Nurses Association is the recognized leader and advocate for professional nurses and nursing in Ohio.

Mission: To advance professional nursing in Ohio. This will be accomplished through:

  • Evolving evidence-based practice
  • Influencing legislators
  • Promoting education
  • Improving economic and general welfare
  • Advocating for quality healthcare in a cost-effective and economically stimulating manner

Core Values:

  • Social Responsibility
  • Collaboration
  • Integrity
  • Professionalism

(ONA, 2021)

The primary difference between the Ohio Board of Nursing and professional organizations is that professional organizations have no legal authority, whereas the Ohio Board of Nursing has authority because it was established by the Nurse Practice Act with the unambiguous function of promoting and protecting the health of citizens through safe nursing practice.

CODE OF ETHICS FOR NURSES

In addition to abiding by the laws established in the Nurse Practice Act, every member of a profession is expected to read, understand, and abide by the ethical standards of its occupation. In the case of nursing, the American Nurses Association (ANA) publishes the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements to guide nurses’ professional practice.

The following provisions of the code broadly describe the ethical obligations of nurses:

Provision 1. The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every individual.

Provision 2. The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or population.

Provision 3. The nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient.

Provision 4. The nurse has authority, accountability, and responsibility for nursing practice; makes decisions; and takes action consistent with the obligation to provide optimal care.

Provision 5. The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to promote health and safety, preserve wholeness of character and integrity, maintain competence, and continue personal and professional growth.

Provision 6. The nurse, through individual and collective effort, establishes, maintains, and improves the ethical environment of the work setting and conditions of employment that are conducive to safe, quality health care.

Provision 7. The nurse, in all roles and settings, advances the profession through research and scholarly inquiry, professional standards development, and the generation of both nursing and health policy.

Provision 8. The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public to protect human rights, promote health diplomacy, and reduce health disparities.

Provision 9. The profession of nursing, collectively through its professional organizations, must articulate nursing values, maintain the integrity of the profession, and integrate principles of social justice into nursing and health policy.
(ANA, 2015)