American Nurses Association facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | ANA |
|---|---|
| Founded | February 11–12, 1897 |
| Type | Nonprofit professional association |
| Legal status | 501(c)(6) |
| Purpose | To advance and promote the improvement of health standards and the standards of nursing and to stimulate and promote the professional development of nurses and advance their economic and general welfare. |
| Headquarters | Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. |
| Loressa Cole | |
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President
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Jennifer Mensik Kennedy |
| Subsidiaries | American Nurses Foundation Inc (501(c)(3)), American Nurses Credentialing Center (501(c)(6)), American Academy of Nursing (501(c)(3)), Institute for Nursing Research and Education (501(c)(3)), ANA PAC (PAC) Nurse Marketplace Inc (For-profit), ANA Service Corporation Inc (For-profit), |
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Revenue (2017)
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$45,051,913 |
| Expenses (2017) | $48,000,366 |
| Endowment | $315,783 (2017) |
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Employees (2017)
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255 |
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Volunteers (2017)
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699 |
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Formerly called
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Nurses Associated Alumnae |
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a large group for nurses in the United States. It works to support nurses and improve healthcare for everyone. Think of it as a club and a support system for the nursing profession.
The group started in 1896 with the name "Nurses Associated Alumnae." It was officially renamed the American Nurses Association in 1911. Today, its main office is in Silver Spring, Maryland.
According to the ANA, nursing is both an art and a science. It's about caring for people by protecting their health, preventing sickness, helping them heal, and easing their suffering. Nurses care for individuals, families, and whole communities.
Contents
History of the ANA
The Beginning in the 19th Century
The idea for the ANA started on September 2, 1896, at a hotel near New York City. The plans were made official in Baltimore in 1897. Its first president was a famous nurse named Isabel Hampton Robb. One of the group's first big goals was to make sure American soldiers received better nursing care.
In 1899, the ANA joined with nursing groups from Great Britain and Germany to start the International Council of Nurses (ICN). This new group helped nurses from different countries work together.
Growing in the 20th Century
After World War II, the ICN held a huge meeting in 1947 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Over 5,000 nurses from 32 countries came. It was a big step in bringing the world's healthcare workers together after the war. The ANA planned the entire event. They even found places for visiting nurses to stay with local families.
In 1970, a nurse named Mattiedna Johnson spoke at an ANA event. She pointed out that there were not enough African American nurses in leadership roles. Her speech was very powerful. It helped lead to the creation of the National Black Nurses Association in 1971 to support Black nurses.
Working for Change in the 21st Century
The ANA continues to work on important issues. In 2022, the organization worked with members of the U.S. Congress on a law to help nurses who care for victims of violence. The goal was to make sure there are enough specially trained nurses to provide the best care to people who have been hurt.
What the ANA Does Today
The ANA is a professional group that represents registered nurses (RNs) across the United States. It helps set the rules for good nursing, protects the rights of nurses at their jobs, and works to improve their salaries and working conditions.
The ANA has its own views on healthcare rules. For example, it has raised concerns about laws that would set a fixed number of patients for each nurse. The ANA believes there are better ways to make sure patients get safe care.
The ANA also has three smaller groups that are part of it:
- American Academy of Nursing: This group uses nursing research to help improve healthcare for everyone.
- American Nurses Foundation: This is the charity part of the ANA. It raises money for nursing research and education.
- American Nurses Credentialing Center: This group gives special awards to nurses who are experts in certain areas. It also recognizes hospitals that provide excellent nursing care.
Famous Members of the ANA
Many important nurses have been members of the ANA. Here are a few of them:
- Katharine Jane Densford: She was the ANA president from 1944 to 1948. During World War II, she spoke to the U.S. government about the need for more nurses.
- Lavinia Dock: She was a nurse, teacher, and writer who fought for women's right to vote.
- Mary Keys Gibson: She worked to end segregation in nursing in 1948, helping all nurses work together.
- Mary Eliza Mahoney: She was one of the founders of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, which later joined with the ANA.
- Helen Maria Roser: She was a nursing educator who helped nurses find jobs through an ANA program from 1945 to 1953.
See also
- American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
- American Nurses Association Hall of Fame
