Expanded membership educational programs on nursing practice, strengthening clinical expertise, and patient advocacy. Increased legislative, regulatory and ballot initiatives to promote health care reform, support for direct care nurses, and patient protections. We also projected a stepped up public awareness campaign on the dangers inherent in the corporate healthcare system and establishment of strategic links with patients, consumers and national and international nurses' organizations that were similarly committed to these goals. Five years later, we can proudly say that we have accomplished many of our goals, though much more work lies ahead. Our achievements would not have been possible without the professionalism of our staff nurse leadership.
Experience shows why.
As nurses grapple with the search for a new national nurses' movement, there are two other paths some have chosen, both with considerable pitfalls. Despite some recent efforts to address staff nurse concerns, the ANA remains controlled by nurse administrators and educators. If we're taking a stand on mandatory overtime, these managers have a conflict of interest. Management is concerned with the corporate end of the hospital and not concerned with patient care issues and the bedside nurse. It's your nurse manager who will mandate your overtime.