Topic > Benefits of Joining the Emergency Nurses Association

Introduction There are many benefits to getting involved in a nursing organization. It's a way to stay connected to your profession, feel a sense of belonging, and receive support from others with the same interests. Nursing organizations also offer continuing education, as well as information on new trends and what's happening in your profession. This is a great way to enhance your personal and professional development(Cardillo, n.d.). One organization that prides itself on doing these things is the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). About this organization Currently located in Des Plaines, Illinois, this organization was originally comprised of two separate organizations, the Emergency Department Room Nurses Organization founded in 1970 on the East Coast by Anita Dorr, RN and the Emergency Department Nurses Association trained by Judith Kelleher, RN on the West Coast. Both women felt there was a great need for nurses directly involved in emergency nursing to come together to develop better methods to advance and improve the field of emergency nursing; this also included offering continuing education courses. The two organizations merged and in 1985 were renamed to what it is called today. Its current president is Gail Lenehan,EdD,MSN,RN,FAEN,FAAN. He leads a larger group on the organization's Board of Directors (ena.org, n.d.). Its mission includes advocating for patient safety and excellence in the discipline of emergency nursing practice. This organization's goal... halfway through this document... is different from that of other nurses. This organization exists to promote that specialty, as stated in its mission statement (ena.org, n.d.). Therefore. the research and subsequent training offered by this organization is therefore of the utmost importance, because the more trained and educated nurses are, the more equipped they will be in managing certain emergency circumstances, thus improving patient safety and decreasing the occurrence of adverse outcomes. ReferencesCardillo, D. (n.d.). ENA - Emergency Nurses Association - Safe Practice, Safe Care. Why emergency nursing?. Retrieved March 14, 2014, from http://www.ena.org/membership/Pages/ WhyEmergencyNursing.aspxENA - Emergency Nurses Association - Safe Practice, Safe Care. (n.d.). Instruction. Retrieved March 14, 2014, from http://www.ena.org/education/Pages/default.aspx