About
The National Association of Orthopedic Nurses, also known simply as NAON, is a non-profit organization that exists for the specific purpose of enhancing the lives and careers of nurses who specialize in orthopedics. The association aims to promote nursing standards and ensure that they stay at a high level by:
- Educating its practitioners
- Promoting research
- Encouraging effective communication between orthopedic nurses and other groups with similar interests
Many health care professionals across the country who are particularly interested in musculoskeletal health care are members of this association. In fact, at the moment there are more than 6,000 RNs, LPNs, LVNs, student nurses, and associate members.
Mission Statement
“The mission of the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses is to advance the specialty of orthopedic nursing through excellence in research, education, and nursing practice”.
Value Statement
“The National Association of Orthopedic Nurses promotes a culture of professional collaboration developed through trust, respect, integrity and passion for the specialty of orthopedics”.
Core Values
The following are the essential core values according to which the association chooses to function:
- Integrity
- Trust
- Vision
- Innovation
- Stewardship
Benefits Of Belonging To NAON
As with any professional organization or society there are a number of benefits that you will be eligible for if you become a member of the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses:
- Communications
- Publications
- Educational Opportunities
- Local Learning
- Special Interest Groups
- Orthopedic Nurse Certification
- NAON Works on Your Behalf
Communications
One of the main benefits of being a member of NAON is that you will receive all of the communications that the association has to offer. These communications are extremely useful when it comes to keeping you up to date in terms of the most recent practices and even legislative changes in nursing. As a result you are able to ensure that your skill set is kept at an appropriate and acceptable level. In addition you will advance your career and be a better orthopedic nurse. The three specific communication mediums that you will have access to are the following:
- NAON’s bi-monthly electronic newsletter, NAON News
- The bi-monthly Orthopedic Nursing journal
- NAON Discussion Forums
Publications
There are a number of educational publications that you can get for a far reduced rate as a NAON member. Non-members have to pay much higher rates in order to gain access to these publications. This serves to give you an edge in the employment market as an orthopedic nurse. Be sure to login before you visit the eStore.
Educational Opportunities
The education programs that NAON offers are excellent and will mark you out as an expert in the field of orthopedic nursing. According to the Association’s website, these are the educational opportunities that you will have access to:
- You can earn more than 30 contact hours simply by attending NAON’s Annual Congress
- It is also interesting to note that you can get a significant discount as a member of the association for the NAON Annual Congress
- You will be able to attend half-day courses at the Allied Health Program co-sponsored by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS)
- There are a number of online contact hours offered via the Virtual Congress and journal articles that you can take advantage of from your desktop
- Last, but certainly not least, you can get exclusive members-only eligibility for education/certification scholarships and research grants
Local Learning
The National Association of Orthopedic Nurses has a vast industry presence which essentially allows you to connect with nurses from near and far easily. The Local Chapters that exist in certain areas allow you to establish professional relationships specifically with other nurses and health care professionals within your own area. This in turn allows you to gain access to potential career-advancing information and resources. There are also a number of local workshops and events that you can attend specifically in your area which exist with the purpose of expanding your knowledge and therefore your employment opportunities in mind.
Special Interest Groups
According to the association’s website the following is possible through the NAON:
- “Receive peer support from a Special Interest Group (SIG) of your choice, formalized groups that focus on identifying and fostering common special interest areas of orthopedic nurses. These groups meet annually at Congress and provide networking opportunities to discuss issues and challenges that face orthopedic nurses. They identify and complete projects that serve as resources, provide support, and enhance the mission of NAON and the roles and practice of orthopedic nurses.
- Solve problems, discuss education and development issues, anticipate future trends, and overcome daily challenges”.
Orthopedic Nurse Certification
It is well worth becoming a certified orthopedic nurse through the Orthopedic Nurses Certification
Board. The requirements that you must meet in order to achieve this are as follows: - You must be a U.S. registered nurse
- You must have at least two years of nursing experience
- You must have at least 1,000 hours of work experience as an RN in orthopedic nursing within the past three years.
It is important to note that members of the NAON receive discounts on certification fees which can make a very big difference indeed. Once you are certified there are several special members-only discounts on educational programs and products that you can take advantage of.
NAON Works On Your Behalf
The following are indications that NAON works on your behalf (taken from the association’s website):
- NAON believes that, to protect the consumer and the integrity of the nursing profession, the practice of nursing should be provided by qualified practitioners.
- NAON advocates increased federal funding for research that specifically supports nursing issues impacting patient care/prevention issues encountered by orthopedic nurses, the retention of nurses in the nursing profession, and the mentoring of nurses.
- NAON supports the allocation of financial resources to assist consumers in obtaining basic health care services and catastrophic care expenses.
- NAON promotes quality health care and awareness in the areas of pediatrics, gerontology, and for the disabled.
Chapters
The following is a list of chapters to which you can belong as an orthopedic nurse (http://www.orthonurse.org/p/cm/ld/fid=45):
- INT-220 SingHealth Nurses
- NC-106 Rock River Valley
- NC-115 South Central IL
- NC-117 Northopedics
- NC-136 Lake Michigan
- NC-139 Rochester Area
- NC-149 Hawkeye
- NC-15 Chicago Metropolitan
- NC-155 Summit City Area
- NC-171 North East Wisconsin Ortho
- NC-186 Western Montana
- NC-200 Wyoming
- NC-201 Central Illinois Orthopedic Nurses
- NC-213 Southeast Michigan
- NC-27 Des Moines – Ortho Nurses of Central Iowa
- NC-29 Minnesota – Twin Cities
- NC-48 Medical Center
- NC-49 Greater Metropolitan Area
- NC-51 Capitol
- NC-54 Central Indiana
- NC-71 Greater Sioux Falls
- NC-74 Black Hills
- NC-87 Wisconsin Ortho Nurses
- NE-10 Dayton Area
- NE-127 Nation’s Capital
- NE-13 Philadelphia
- NE-151 Southern New Hampshire
- NE-156 Greater Akron
- NE-17 Baltimore
- NE-183 The Long Island Ortho Nurse
- NE-191 Orthopedic Nurses of CT
- NE-203 Orthopedic Nurses Association of Southern Ohio
- NE-214 Western Mass of NAON
- NE-215 Rhode Island
- NE-216 NYC
- NE-221 New Jersey
- NE-30 South Central PA
- NE-31 NAON of Mass
- NE-59 Pittsburgh
- NE-69 ONNY
- NE-82 Connecticut
- NE-86 Greater Syracuse Area
- NE-98 Worcester NAON
- SC -157 Southeast Nebraska
- SC-1 St. Louis
- SC-152 Magic City
- SC-192 Thomas G. Otto MD
- SC-217 Fort Worth Association of Orthopedic Nurses
- SC-24 Northeastern Oklahoma
- SC-3 Texas Gulf Coast
- SC-34 Dallas Ortho Nurses
- SC-35 City of Fountains
- SC-45 Baton Rouge
- SC-52 Central Missouri
- SC-62 Denver
- SC-88 Mid-Plains
- SE -146 Coastal Carolina
- SE-125 Triad Chapter of NC
- SE-148 Greenville
- SE-158 Ortho Nurses of Central VA
- SE-170 Blue Ridge
- SE-2 Atlanta Association
- SE-205 Hill City NAON
- SE-208 Horse Capital
- SE-210 Fredericksburg
- SE-211 St Augustine
- SE-212 Carolina Mountain Chapter
- SE-218 DC NOVA
- SE-219 Bay Area
- SE-222 Smokey Mountain of East Tennessee
- SE-223 River City Orthopedic Nursing Association
- SE-23 Triangle
- SE-32 Middle Tennessee
- SE-55 Mid-Shenandoah Valley
- SE-6 Piedmont
- SE-63 Central Florida
- SE-76 Broward
- W-107 Orange County
- W-196 North Valley
- W-197 Inland Northwest
- W-202 Sacramento
- W-224 San Francisco Bay Area
- W-37 San Diego
- W-68 East Bay
Belonging to an association such as this one boosts your standing in the nursing industry, specifically within your chosen specialty of orthopedic nursing. Benefits aside, it is psychologically important that you associate yourself with a specific organization as it will give you an increased sense of purpose in life. If you are interested in finding out more about the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses, please use the contact information below to get hold of the organization:
NAON National Office
401 N. Michigan Avenue
Suite 2200
Chicago, IL
60611
Phone: 800.289.NAON (6266)
Fax: 312.673.6941
naon@orthonurse.org
