25 Apr Choose a nursing association, discuss the mission and purpose of the organization.

The nursing association I’m deciding to discuss is The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA).  The ENA is comprised of 50,000 members worldwide and their mission is to advance excellence in emergency nursing (Emergency Nurses Association [ENA], 2024).  They have a five-year strategic plan compromised of four main goals in the emergency department:

· Practice Environment

· Education

· Community

· Culture

How is the organization governed?

The ENA is governed through their own bylaws, governance polices, and articles of incorporation.  The ENA also has their own leadership team with 50 state councils and more than 174 local chapters. The state councils are authorized by the ENA to implement their philosophy and objectives and serve as the decision-making body at a state level (ENA, 2024).

What is its legislative agenda?

The ENA’s most recent legislative agenda is the Public Policy Agenda.  This agenda is focusing on four major topics:

II. Nursing Education and Practice

The goal in this sector is to increase funding for nursing education/training and protecting the scope of practice for nurses and advanced practice nurses.  Allowing APRNs to practice autonomously and independently prescribing medications. 

III. Quality and Timely Access to Emergency Care 

This agenda was the lengthiest of the four which included over 10 subtopics.   The top three I see fit on this list include: Improving nation’s pandemic preparedness capabilities, maintain funding for poison control centers, and support programs to enhance access and improve care for patients with mental illness.  I think all three of these subtopics are of great importance given that the emergency departments are one of the primary stakeholders when these occur. 

IV. Injury Prevention 

Supporting federal and state initiatives to enhance highways and auto safety prevention measures.  Also to support the research and reporting of information related to firearms. 

In your opinion, is the agenda relevant at this time?

This agenda is a well thought out plan and is absolutely relevant at this time.  Every single topic the ENA touches on in their legislative agenda is of significant importance.  The idea of creating a five-year strategic plan makes the agenda feasible with a reasonable timeframe.  When the board of directors and the leadership team revisits this agenda in five years, some topics might need to stay while other topics may have been resolved and new ones brought up.

Have you or would you join this organization? Discuss your rationale

I actually became a member of the ENA January of this year.  The ENA provides so many CE’s for nurses, newsletters, up to date information, and most importantly a discount on the CEN.  The CEN is the specific certification given to ER nurses once passed, showing your proficiency in emergency medicine.  I plan on taking this exam this year and the ENA provides amazing preparation information for this test as well.  As an ER nurse for the past five years, supporting this organization is a no brainer.

References

Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). (2024).  About ENA. https://www.ena.org/about

Milbrath, G., & Snyder, A. (2021). The emergency nurses association: 50 years of advocacy and advancement. Journal of emergency nursing, 47(2), 224-238.