Professional associations of nurses in the United States are organizations that unite specialists in the field of nursing. Their objectives are the implementation and protection of the rights of nurses, the development of nursing activities, and the promotion of scientific research. Such organizations develop norms and rules in the field of healthcare, procedures for the provision of medical care and its standards, as well as advanced training and continuing education programs for nurses (Wright et al., 2020). This paper examines the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses and the importance of this professional association.
The purpose of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses is to develop the nursing profession through education and research. The mission of this association is to support the education, competence, and development of professionals in this field. This is a community of leaders who, using knowledge in their activities, improve the health of people (Wright et al., 2020). The code of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses is the ethical framework for nursing practice around the world. It contains standards, guidelines, and policies in nursing practice, education, management, research, and socio-economic welfare.
To achieve its goals and objectives, the association promotes the development of professional standards and a quality control system for nurses. It implements moral, ethical, and legal norms of nursing practice, makes changes and additions to it in connection with social, scientific, and technological progress. It protects the civil, political, socio-economic, and other rights of nurses, provides them with legal, social and public support in case of violation of these rights (Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, 2019). It promotes the protection and improvement of work conditions, as well as fair pay for medical-surgical nurses. The organization keeps its members informed of health care changes and promotes the development of a lifelong learning system, supports specific training programs and other cultural, social, and professional activities of nurses in this particular field.
The main advantages of participation in the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses are the growth of prestige of this profession, the protection of interests of its members, and the improvement of the quality of work. The members exchange their experiences and develop their professional skills. The benefits include bringing together professionals, standardizing nursing care, improving working conditions, shaping a modern philosophy of nursing, as well as inspiration, integration, consolidation, and motivation (Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, 2019). The Academy organizes a free exchange of views among the professional environment of nurses, medical students, teachers of medical schools, colleges, and other medical and scientific organizations. The association promotes the creation of conditions for the fullest disclosure of the potential and professional abilities of its members.
The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses gives opportunities for continuing education and professional development. It creates networking opportunities for nurses in this particular field and sets tasks aimed at developing the knowledge and skills of the organization’s members. This organization disseminates best practices to improve the quality of nursing care for patients, as well as provides the necessary information to specialists to fulfill their functional duties (Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, 2019). The Academy creates training centers and courses, organizes and conducts seminars, conferences, symposia, congresses, and allows its members to take part in various medical events to exchange experience and information. It organizes the familiarization of its members with the achievements of science and technology in the field of surgery and also creates information resources, systems, and networks within the scope of its interests (Wright et al., 2020). The association promotes scientific development and research in the field of medical-surgical nursing and organizes advanced training for nurses in the system of continuing education. Its members are involved in the development of nursing certification programs.
The organization keeps its members informed of health care changes in various ways. The Academy annually holds various scientific and practical meetings and training seminars. It conducts large-scale work at the national and international levels, makes every effort to update the nursing profession, and provides medical-surgical nurses with quality information (Wright et al., 2020). It also creates conditions for ensuring the availability of the most effective and safe modern medical technologies. Nursing is considered closely related to the development of the healthcare system, whether it is clinical specialization as a result of the emergence of new technologies or the need to expand expertise in health promotion.
The changes taking place in the healthcare system in recent years dictate new rules of work that break many prevailing norms and stereotypes. That is why the question of the need for the strength of professional nursing associations that support and guide nurses arises. Professional organizations play a significant role in the organization of the healthcare system. What concerns the work of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, the analysis shows that this organization faces global tasks aimed at improving the quality of work of medical personnel and increasing the role of a nurse in this field. This association helps to increase the prestige of this profession and the quality of medical care. Moreover, it disseminates advanced experience and scientific achievements among its members.
References
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) | Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc. (2019). Web.
Wright, V., Whitehead, D., & Romano, C. (2020). Registered nurses’ self-assessment of their clinical leadership knowledge and competence. Journal of Excellence in Nursing and Healthcare Practice, 2(1), 17-23.