Examine the importance of professional associations in nursing. Choose a professional nursing organization that relates to your specialty area, or a specialty area in which you are interested. In a 750‐1,000 word paper, provide a detailed overview the organization and its advantages for members. Include the following:
- Describe the organization and its significance to nurses in the specialty area. Include its purpose, mission, and vision. Describe the overall benefits, or “perks,” of being a member.
- Explain why it is important for a nurse in this specialty field to network. Discuss how this organization creates networking opportunities for nurses.
- Discuss how the organization keeps its members informed of health care changes and changes to practice that affect the specialty area.
- Discuss opportunities for continuing education and professional development.
You are required to cite a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be appropriate for the assignment and relevant to nursing practice.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
Rubric
Professional Associations Membership – Rubric
Criteria Description
Professional Association Membership (Significance to nurses in specialty area; purpose, mission, vision; membership benefits, and perks)
5. Excellent
42 points
Professional organization associated with a specialty area is clearly described. The purpose, mission, vision, and overall benefits of being a member are described in detail. The overall description demonstrates a clear understanding of the importance of professional associations.
4. Good
37.38 points
Professional organization associated with a specialty area is described. The purpose, mission, vision, and overall benefits of being a member are presented. Overall, the organization and its member benefits are accurately represented.
3. Satisfactory
33.18 points
Professional organization associated with a specialty area is described. The purpose, mission, vision, and overall benefits of being a member are summarized. There are some minor inaccuracies. More information is needed to accurately represent the organization, or the benefits to the members.
2. Less than Satisfactory
31.5 points
Professional organization associated with a specialty area is partially described. Description of purpose, mission, vision, and overall benefits of being a member is incomplete. There are significant inaccuracies.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Professional organization is not associated with a specialty area. The purpose, mission, and vision are not presented. The overall benefits of being a member are not discussed.
Criteria Description
Networking Opportunities in Professional Association
5. Excellent
42 points
Importance of nurses networking in a specialty field, and how the professional association creates networking opportunities for nurses to network, are thoroughly described. Narrative demonstrates insight into the overall importance of networking as a nurse.
4. Good
37.38 points
Importance of nurses networking in a specialty field, and how the professional association creates networking opportunities for nurses to network, are described. Some detail is needed for clarity.
3. Satisfactory
33.18 points
Importance of nurses networking in a specialty field, and how the professional association creates networking opportunities for nurses to network, are summarized. Some information is needed. The importance of networking as a nurse, or the role of the professional organization in helping nurses network, is unclear.
2. Less than Satisfactory
31.5 points
Importance of nurses networking in a specialty field, and how the professional association creates networking opportunities for nurses to network, are partially presented. There are significant inaccuracies.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Importance of nurses networking in a specialty field is omitted. Discussion on how the professional association creates networking opportunities for nurses is not presented.
Criteria Description
Professional Association Communication Regarding Health Care Changes and Changes to Practice
5. Excellent
42 points
A thorough description of how the organization keeps its members informed of health care changes and changes to practice that affect the specialty area is presented.
4. Good
37.38 points
A description of how the organization keeps its members informed of health care changes and changes to practice that affect the specialty area is presented. Some detail is needed for clarity.
3. Satisfactory
33.18 points
A summary of how the organization keeps its members informed of health care changes and changes to practice that affect the specialty area is presented. There are minor inaccuracies. Some information is needed.
2. Less than Satisfactory
31.5 points
An incomplete discussion of how the organization keeps its members informed of health care changes and changes to practice that affect the specialty area is presented. There are major inaccuracies.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Discussion of how the organization keeps its members informed of health care changes and changes to practice that affect the specialty area is omitted.
Criteria Description
Professional Association and Opportunities for Continuing Education and Professional Development
5. Excellent
42 points
An accurate and detailed discussion of the opportunities for continuing education and professional development is presented.
4. Good
37.38 points
A discussion of the opportunities for continuing education and professional development is presented. Some detail is needed for clarity.
3. Satisfactory
33.18 points
A summary of opportunities for continuing education and professional development is presented. Some aspects are unclear; or, some information is needed.
2. Less than Satisfactory
31.5 points
An incomplete discussion of opportunities for continuing education and professional development is presented. There are major inaccuracies.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
A discussion of opportunities for continuing education and professional development is not presented.
Criteria Description
Thesis Development and Purpose
5. Excellent
10.5 points
Thesis is comprehensive and contains the essence of the paper. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear.
4. Good
9.35 points
Thesis is clear and forecasts the development of the paper. Thesis is descriptive and reflective of the arguments and appropriate to the purpose.
3. Satisfactory
8.3 points
Thesis is apparent and appropriate to purpose.
2. Less than Satisfactory
7.88 points
Thesis is insufficiently developed or vague. Purpose is not clear.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Paper lacks any discernible overall purpose or organizing claim.
Criteria Description
Argument Logic and Construction
5. Excellent
10.5 points
Clear and convincing argument that presents a persuasive claim in a distinctive and compelling manner. All sources are authoritative.
4. Good
9.35 points
Argument shows logical progressions. Techniques of argumentation are evident. There is a smooth progression of claims from introduction to conclusion. Most sources are authoritative.
3. Satisfactory
8.3 points
Argument is orderly, but may have a few inconsistencies. The argument presents minimal justification of claims. Argument logically, but not thoroughly, supports the purpose. Sources used are credible. Introduction and conclusion bracket the thesis.
2. Less than Satisfactory
7.88 points
Sufficient justification of claims is lacking. Argument lacks consistent unity. There are obvious flaws in the logic. Some sources have questionable credibility.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Statement of purpose is not justified by the conclusion. The conclusion does not support the claim made. Argument is incoherent and uses noncredible sources.
Criteria Description
Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)
5. Excellent
10.5 points
Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English.
4. Good
9.35 points
Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. A variety of sentence structures and effective figures of speech are used.
3. Satisfactory
8.3 points
Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but they are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are used.
2. Less than Satisfactory
7.88 points
Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in language choice (register), sentence structure, or word choice are present.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice or sentence construction is used.
Criteria Description
Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment)
5. Excellent
4.2 points
All format elements are correct.
4. Good
3.74 points
Template is fully used; There are virtually no errors in formatting style.
3. Satisfactory
3.32 points
Template is used, and formatting is correct, although some minor errors may be present.
2. Less than Satisfactory
3.15 points
Template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken; lack of control with formatting is apparent.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Template is not used appropriately or documentation format is rarely followed correctly.
Criteria Description
Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style)
5. Excellent
6.3 points
Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error.
4. Good
5.61 points
Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is mostly correct.
3. Satisfactory
4.98 points
Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, although some formatting errors may be present.
2. Less than Satisfactory
4.73 points
Documentation of sources is inconsistent or incorrect, as appropriate to assignment and style, with numerous formatting errors.
1. Unsatisfactory
0 points
Sources are not documented.
Requirements: 750-1000
Answer preview
Nurses in the hospice care specialty field need to network to improve access to a broad spectrum of institutions and services in palliative care. It will increase the quality of end-of-life care and continuity of care for patients. The networks encourage critical discussions of the difficult taboos about dying. Nurses specializing in end-of-life care can voice their issues and enhance policy-driven incentives. It will also provide evidence-based clinical guidelines for nurses within specialty to apply during hospice care. For example, poor communication is identified as having a significant impact on effective palliative care. The American Nurses Association creates networking opportunities for nurses by suggesting conference events for members (American Nurses Association, 2016). It will expose the nurses to other professionals in similar fields and specialties. The connection and interactions in such events foster career development for the members. Networking opportunities are offered through contacts that members are allowed to use to discuss issues and changes in their areas of practice.
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