The Texas Nurses Association, sometimes referred to simply as the TNA, is an association that advocates for the rights and best interests of nurses working within the state of Texas. In addition, you can also become a member at national level with the American Nurses Association as well as at a district level for your specific region of Texas through the TNA. Belonging to any nursing organization benefits you in a number of practical ways, as well as boosting your resume when searching for a job in the nursing industry. The association’s website, namely http://www.texasnurses.org/, provides you with all of the information that you will need in order to become a member, maintain your membership, and benefit from the multiple programs and resources that the association has on offer.
Membership With The Texas Nurses Association
Membership Benefits For The Nursing Industry
There are a number of ways in which membership with the Texas Nurses Association benefits the industry as a whole. The first way is through nursing advocacy. It is a fundamental right for professionals to be advocated for in times of need, and the Texas Nurses Association guarantees this, rendering registered nurses are the recognized stewards of their profession. The association has worked for many years to ensure that the advocacy role is protected across practice settings within the nursing industry. According to the association’s website, patient advocacy is also achieved in the following way:
“First and foremost, nurses have a duty to patients. It is a professional duty to advocate for safe and appropriate care. In Texas, as a result of TNA legislative efforts, registered nurses enjoy legal protections for safe guarding their nursing licenses, in addition to their patients”.
Personal Benefits Of Membership
Although your membership with the Texas Nurses Association is instrumental in ensuring that the profession as a whole remains stable and of high quality, there are also, of course, a number of personal benefits that you can enjoy should you choose to join the association. These are as follows:
- Representation
- Professional development
- Leadership opportunities
- Nursing connections
- Access to career-advancing information
- The ability to explore information resources
- Jobs
Through the Texas Nurses Association your ideas and opinions will be fully represented at a state and local level. In order for you to make a difference in terms of what laws are passed in the nursing field, membership is essential. The Texas Nurses Association keeps up to date with evolving and changing health care policies so that it can inform its members of any important changes that are going to be made, or that have already been made.
Professionally you can also develop by virtue of being a member of the Texas Nurses Association. This is achieved in the following ways:
- You will have access to the latest practice-relevant information
- You will frequently be presented with opportunities for enhancing your practice competency
- You will be given a chance to grow as a professional through service on committees, task forces and special councils
Leadership opportunities are available for all members. If you rise to a leadership position within the association you will, effectively, be improving your chances of employment in the future as this is a significant resume booster. However, there are also other benefits that you may not immediately think of. You will, for example, be in a position of power where you will be able to actively influence legislative change. In addition you will clearly be recognized as a leader by others in your profession, thereby improving your professional standing within the nursing industry.
Through membership you will come into contact with a number of like-minded colleagues with a shared vision. This is extremely important for your future as a nurse as it gives you access to the ideas and support structures that other nurses may already have. In addition, this is a way in which you can find a possible mentor who will help you through your career.
There are a number of resources that you can access as a member. These include:
- Publications
- Electronic news
- Texas Nurses ‘n Action Center
What these resources do for you is supply you with information that will improve your ability to be an effective member of the nursing industry.
If you ever feel that you need additional information on a specific topic related to nursing or to a specific patient with whom you are dealing there are a number of books available both online and in hardcopy form from the association through which you can advance your knowledge on whichever subject you would like. This can also help you in terms of completing your compulsory continuing education credits and can therefore be a valuable resource in maintaining your nursing license as well as in terms of advancing your own general knowledge.
The Texas Nurses Association has a career center through which you can improve your chances of finding the perfect job for you. This resource allows you to:
- Receive job alerts electronically
- Create anonymous profiles
- Post available positions
Employers and prospective employees have access to this function. By posting jobs, employers can entice ideal candidates to their company. You, as a paying member, will be able to search through these job postings for any jobs that suit you. In addition, you can post your résumé so that interested in employers can find you.
Types Of Membership Options Offered By The TNA
Tri-Level TNA /ANA /District Membership
There are two main types of membership that the association offers. At the tri-level you will have membership in:
- The Texas Nurses Association
- The American Nurses Association
- In a local TNA District (the 29 different Districts are determined by the Texas county in which you live or work)
By becoming a member at this level you will have access to the benefits offered by each of the three different associations to which you belong, expanding your opportunities significantly.
TNA Direct Membership
If you are only interested in participating at a state-wide level you can get TNA Direct membership, which effectively means that you will only pay $99 a year, but that your ability to participate within the state of Texas, as well as the benefits that you will have access to, will be limited to what is on offer from the Texas Nurses Association. Although there is value in joining just the TNA there are also a number of advantages to having representation at nation-wide level, as well as local level in your particular district.
Membership Eligibility Requirements
There are a few basic eligibility requirements that you will need to meet if you wish to be a member to the Texas Nurses Association, either as a Tri-Level member or as a TNA Direct member. According to the association’s website “you must have been granted a license to practice as a registered nurse in a state, territory, possession or District of Columbia of the United States, and not have your license under suspension or revocation at any time”. Failure to meet these fairly basic requirements will mean that you are ineligible to apply for membership in this particular association.
Continuing Education
As a nurse you will need to maintain your license by engaging in continuing education. In addition, continuing education units are excellent for ensuring that you are kept up to date with the many developments in the nursing industry. The Texas Nurses Association offers a number of continuing education options to its members. If you would like to get more information about these units, please use the following contact details:
Contact the CNE Department at:
Texas Nurses Association
CNE Department
7600 Burnet Road
Suite 440
Austin, TX 78757-1292
OR
cne@texasnurses.org
1.800.862.2022 (Toll Free)
1.512.452.0645 Ext. 123 or Ext. 125
1.512.323.5379 (Dedicated Fax)
Benefits aside, it is extremely useful to belong to an association to which you can turn for help if and when you need it. Not only does the association provide you with practical and educational help, it also provides legal assistance and advocacy should you need it. By belonging to an association you are, effectively, covering yourself. However, in addition, it shows prospective employers that you have a vested interest in the nursing industry and that you are actively trying to improve your skills in this domain. If you are an active leader within the association you will also prove your ability to be a leader outside of the association. Belonging to the Texas Nurses Association is not compulsory for LPNs and RNs within Texas, but it does make a significant difference to your career and education opportunities and is often preferred by prospective employers in that state. If you would like to find out more about the association, please use the following contact details:
Office Address for TNA and all Affiliates:
7600 Burnet Road, Suite 440
Austin, TX 78757
Telephone and Fax Numbers:
Toll free: (800) 862-2022
Local: (512) 452-0645
Fax: (512) 452-0648
Website:
tna@texasnurses.org
