The American Society for Perianesthesia Nurses, or ASPAN as it is commonly referred to, is an organization that is aimed at specifically representing the needs of Perianesthesia nurses and ensuring that they receive advocacy at a national level. Like all professional organizations of this kind there are a number of benefits to membership. The benefits do, however, extend beyond the advantages that you as an individual receive. Organizations such as this one exist for the best interests of the profession as a whole. As an active member of the sub profession of Perianesthesia Nursing you will also benefit indirectly from the strength of the industry as a whole.
Membership Benefits
As with all professional organizations, there are a large number of benefits that you will have access to should you decide to become a member of the American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses:
Firstly are the many educational benefits that you will have access to. Continuing education is an important tool in gaining an edge in the job market, and the more advanced the knowledge and skills that you have are, the better you will be able to care for your patients. As a result the American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses offers an Annual National Conference that members can attend, usually at discounted rates in comparison to those that the general public is expected to pay.
There are also a number of ASPAN Seminars and Hosted ASPAN Seminars that you will be allowed to attend as a member. These seminars are on valuable topics for your career and they can also count towards your CEU credits for relicensing. In addition they provide you with networking opportunities. For student PeriAnesthesia nurses there is a Scholarship Program to help those who are struggling get through their studies and become significant contributors to the profession.
There are fairly strict eligibility requirements to consider, but it is worth applying as the worst that they can do is reject your application. If you are interested in researching an aspect of the industry further you apply for aid from the American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses’ Research Grant Programs. You will also have access to CE Articles in JoPAN and online.
Even if you are not someone who enjoys reading particularly much, you will enjoy the many publications that members of this association have access to as they provide you with interesting, current, and relevant information that will directly affect how you practice as a Perianesthesia nurse in the near future. The publications that you will have access to include:
- Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing (free to members)
- Breathline online newsletter (free to members)
- Perianesthesia Nursing Standards and Practice Recommendations (2010-2012)
- Competency Based Orientation and Credentialing Program for the Registered Nurse in the Perianesthesia Setting (2009)
- Redi-Ref for Perianesthesia Practices (2009, 4th Ed.)
- Competency Based Orientation and Credentialing Program UAP (2007)
- PeriAnesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum (2010, Second Ed.)
- The Research Primer (2009)
Having access to a community of other PeriAnesthesia nurses and being provided with an opportunity to network are important parts of advancing your career in the profession. The American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses is aware of this and has therefore put a number of measures in place to ensure that its members are provided with a host of networking opportunities. For example, there are a number of State components and organizations, allowing you to function at a local level as well as a national one. This increases the impact of your opinions and actions. In order to interact with other nurses who are in a similar position to yourself there are a number of online forums through which you can connect. This will allow you to simply interact and make friends as well as to gain access to advanced knowledge and advice that other nurses in the industry may have. There are also a number of Specialty Practice Groups as well as a Clinical Practice Network to which you can belong which allow you to keep in contact with experts in the field.
Advocacy is the feature of the American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses through which your voice is heard at a national level. The association provide advocacy through the following:
- Governmental Affairs
- Professional Partnerships
- Committees and Strategic Work Teams
- Perianesthesia Nurse Awareness Week (PANAW)
- Peer Recognition and Awards Programs
There are also a number of additional practical benefits that you will have direct access to as a member of this organization. Firstly you will receive significant discounts on all educational offerings and publications, making it easier for you than for non members to study and further their careers. This is not the only discount you will receive. In addition to this you get significant discounts on certification exams and National Conference registration. You also get free online access to Joanna Briggs Institute’s medical databases, something that most other nurses in your position will not have access to unless they are members of the American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses. In order to find the best job possible and to avoid missing out on employment opportunities the association provides a Career Center on its website which exists to match you to potential employers. Last, but not least, you will have access to products and services from ASPAN preferred vendors at discount prices including, but certainly not limited to:
- Business Services – FedEx Office
- Long Term Care – LTC Global
- Scrubs – Tafford Uniforms
American Society Of Perianesthesia Nurses State Liaisons
Each state has its own liaison who you can contact directly if you would like to do so:
- In Arizona the contact person is Valerie Boatwright: vaboat@comcast.net
- In Hawaii the contact person is William Swarens: bill5356@msn.com
- In Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon & Washington the contact person is Judy Evans: oldrock5@hotmail.com
- In Nevada the contact person is Beverley Edwardsen: bedwardsen40@yahoo.com
- In California the contact person is Beverley Edwardsen: bedwardsen40@yahoo.com
- In New Mexico the contact person is Valerie Boatwright: vaboat@comcast.net
- In Colorado, S Wyoming, and W Nebraska the contact person is Mary Rachel Romero: mary.romero@uch.edu
- In Utah the contact person is David Kay: david.kay@imail.org
- In Iowa the contact person is Helen Riedesel: hlriedesel@aol.com
- In Louisiana the contact person is Jenny Kilgore: jennykilgore@cableone.net
- In Missouri and Kansas the contact person is Gayle Kiviniemi: nurse2309@cox.net
- In Mississippi the contact person is Jenny Kilgore: jennykilgore@cableone.net
- In Nebraska the contact person is Gayle Kiviniemi: nurse2309@cox.net
- In Oklahoma the contact person is Valorie Frederico: valorie.frederico@utsouthwestern.edu
- In Arkansas the contact person is Valorie Frederico: valorie.frederico@utsouthwestern.edu
- In Texas the contact person is Cindy Hill: cindy.hill@umchealthsystem.com
- In Illinois the contact person is Carol Matthews: cannmatthew@aol.com
- In Indiana the contact person is Carol Matthews: cannmatthew@aol.com
- In Kentucky the contact person is Kelley Kelly: kkelly@iuhealth.org
- In Michigan the contact person is Claudia Scroggs: clscroggs1@aol.com
- In Minnesota, N Dakota, and S Dakota the contact person is Helen Riedesel: hlriedesel@aol.com
- In Ohio the contact person is Kelley Kelly: kkelly@iuhealth.org
- In Wisconsin the contact person is Cindy Hill: cindy.hill@umchealthsystem.com
- In West Virginia the contact person is William Swarens: bill5356@msn.com
- In Connecticut the contact person is Judy Evans: oldrock5@hotmail.com
- In Massachusetts the contact person is Anne Halliday: spea1975@aol.com
- In Maine the contact person is Beverley Edwardsen: bedwardsen40@yahoo.com
- In New Jersey, Bermuda the contact person is Donna Goyer: dmgoyer@carilionclinic.org
- In New York the contact person is Seema Hussain: seema_hussain4@yahoo.com
- In Pennsylvania the contact person is Carol Matthews: cannmatthew@aol.com
- In Rhode Island Mary the contact person is Rachel Romero: mary.romero@uch.edu
- In Vermont and New Hampshire the contact person is Anne Halliday: spea1975@aol.com
- In Alabama the contact person is Karen Catchings: kcatchin@gmail.com
- In Maryland, Delaware, and Washington DC the contact person is Seema Hussain: seema_hussain4@yahoo.com
- In Florida the contact person is Tina Johnson: johntl@shands.ufl.edu
- In Georgia the contact person is Karen Catchings: kcatchin@gmail.com
- In North Carolina the contact person is Gena Near: gnear@wakehealth.edu
- In South Carolina the contact person is Leslie Edney: ledney@mcg.edu
- In Tennessee the contact person is Leslie Edney: ledney@mcg.edu
- In Virginia the contact person is Donna Goyer: dmgoyer@carilionclinic.org
By belonging to an organization such as this one you are significantly improving your employment opportunities. This is because professional membership gives you a significant edge in the job market that will make all the difference when it comes to applying for a job. Professional membership shows a potential employer that you are willing to go that extra mile for your specialty and that you probably have developed a number of additional skills as a result of your membership that other candidates will not have, giving you the professional advantage.
If you would like to know more about this association, please feel free to contact it directly using the information provided below:
American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
90 Frontage Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-1424
877.737.9696 / 856.616.9601 fax / aspan@aspan.org
