Professional Associations Membership: Becoming a Member of the AANP
Become a Member of the AANP, the Number one Advocate for the NPs
Whether you are a beginner as a nurse practitioner (NP) student or you have already retired from the profession, there is a membership group that meets your needs within the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (Cherry & Jacob, 2016). You stand to benefit from being a member of a professional organization that is forward looking and seeks to better the nursing practice for the practitioners and better services for your patients.
MISSION
The AANP mission is to empower the NPs to promote quality health care by using best practice, advocacy, education, research, and leadership. Therefore, the primary focus of the professional organization is to ensure that the members are a part of a team committed to providing quality of care to the patients and the community in general.
FUNCTIONS
AANP is The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner, representing the interests of the about 192,000 nurse practitioners across America. It has the function of advocating for the responsibility of the nurses represented as providers of care (AANP, 2017). Therefore, it ensures that the NPs are in a place to offer high-quality, comprehensive, cost-effective, and customized health care to patients and communities.
CORE PURPOSE
The primary purpose of AANP is promoting high-quality health care (AANP, 2017).
CORE VALUES
The AANP has some key core values guiding the members towards achieving the goal and operating according to the mission (AANP, 2017). All the members are expected to work according to these values to provide the high-quality service required.
Integrity
Accountability
Trust and transparency
Reliability
Ethical commitment
Respect
Excellence
Ongoing improvement
Meet and exceed expectations
Promote high-quality outcomes
Identify and document best practices
Professionalism
Unity within the NP profession
Personal and professional accountability
Discipline
Inclusivity
Leadership
Innovative
Visionary
Proactive
Stewardship
Service
Dedication to the NP profession
Continuing commitment to the members of the AANP, patients, as well as communities
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Within the fast-paced healthcare system in the United States, the NPS has become the health care partners of choice for millions of the people. They are clinicians who combine clinical knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions with extra focus on prevention of disease, through health promotion, and health management. The NPs are in a position to bring a more all-inclusive view to health care (Chism, 2015). Americans are every day, making visits to NPs seeking health care services.
Being a member of a team is more beneficial than working alone. As an affiliate of the AANP, the NPs have a louder voice and a network to advocate the issues affecting them. With the purpose of improving the care of the vast number of Americans they serve, the end can be better achieved in the environment of more collective bargaining. NPs, their specialty notwithstanding, have the chance to be part of this team aimed at bettering healthcare for individuals and the community. The interests of the NPs are well presented within the organization as opposed to when an individual operates outside it. Advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels creates a better environment where quality, personalized and cost effective care is provided. AANP also provides for continued learning and research, adding to the body of knowledge for the NPs (Cherry & Jacob, 2016). The knowledge published in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners and The Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the NPS has a pool of knowledge to borrow from in providing care to their patients.
RESOURCE INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS (AANP, 2017)
Contact information
AANP National Administrative Office
PO Box 12846
Austin, TX 78711
Phone: (512) 442-4262
Fax: (512) 442-6469
admin@aanp.org
AANP Physical Address
901 South MoPac Expressway
Building II, Suite 450
Austin, TX 78746
AANP Office of Government Affairs
225 Reinekers Lane
Suite 525
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 740-2529
Fax: (703) 740-2533
Membership Requirements
To qualify as a member of the AANP, one must have NP national certification from an accredited certification agency for nurse practitioners. The certification provides evidence that the individual professional had successfully excelled in assessing professional expertise (Chism, 2015). Any certified NP can become a member of the professional association.
Organizational Endorsements
The internet is awash positive reviews of the AANP, particularly from those who are already members. Regarding advocacy and representation, the association is highly rated.
UPCOMING EVENTS (AANP, 2017)
There are major events organized later in the year, which interested parties can attend to garner important information on the organization. During any of the events, the experts within the organization will answer important questions. If you have postponed deciding to join AANP, you have probably been waiting to attend one of our events to sign in eventually. See some of the events on the list below:
FEB 26
AANP 2017 Health Policy Conference
Washington, DC
Sunday, February 26, 2017, at 6:00 pm ET
JUN 20
Philadelphia, PA
Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at 6:00 am CT
JUN 20
Philadelphia, PA
Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at 6:00 pm ET
References
AANP (2017). American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved from https://www.aanp.org/all-about-nps/what-is-an-np
Cherry, B., & Jacob, S. R. (2016). Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, & management. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Chism, L. A. (2015). The doctor of nursing practice. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
