We frequently find ourselves in the position of clarifying ANA-MAINE's purpose and our actions. Here is a "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ).
Q. Does ANA-MAINE administer nursing licenses in Maine?
A. No.. It is the Maine State Board of Registration in Nursing that administers the application and renewal process for nursing licenses in the State of Maine. Their number is (207) 287-1133. The purpose of the Maine State Board of Nursing is to "protect the public". ANA-MAINE is an "advocacy group" for nurses and for healthcare issues in the state. We maintain a collegial relationship with the Maine State Board. The ANA provided the impetus to form the various State Boards in the early part of this century, and the ANA is deeply concerned with maintaining the integrity of each state Nurse Practice Act. It is a core mission of ANA-MAINE to support the Nurse Practice Act, but all the regulatory functions are carried out by the State Board.
Q. Do you need a baccalaureate degree to join ANA-MAINE?
A. No. Membership in ANA-MAINE is encouraged for all nurses in every area of practice, or level of education or experience. Many are staff nurses. All members in good standing are eligible to participate in all activities, including running for office. Participation and involvement is completely up to the individual, but you have to show up to the party.
Q. Why are the dues so much?
A. Doing business is costly. We are a serious political entity and an advocacy group. We are funded primarily by our membership dollars and all work is driven by our Board of Directors and members. We get no handouts or free rides and our work represents ALL nurses. ANA-MAINE dues are already much lower than a lot of professional associations. Many people are willing to spend a lot more on items that do nothing to improve their work life. We provide various ways to pay dues including a quarterly payment option. Slightly more than half of your dues goes to support ANA in Washington DC.
Q. Are you a union?
A. ANA-MAINE does not engage in collective bargaining. ANA-MAINE wants nurses to be informed, educated and unified. Such nurses are valuable to the place where they work. They will perform a variety of professional activities with greater knowledge. ANA-MAINE shares a goal with hospitals: to create a safe and comfortable working environment and provide quality care for the patients.
Q. Does my dues money go to political candidates?
A. No. ANA-MAINE works with the ANA-PAC, one of the top ten Political Action Committees in the USA. We abide by the FEC rules for membership organizations regarding candidate endorsements and funding. It is absolutely critical for nurses to be politically active. Politics controls everything we do and everything that happens to us. Making "friends" in the political arena helps us get our voice heard.
You may feel that other disciplines or organizations have more money to spend but the truth of the matter is nurses are the single largest group of health care professionals. If every nurse contributed just a small amount of money, we could be a powerful force. We can not do it without money.
Q. Do I need to belong to ANA-MAINE if I belong to my specialty organization?
A. The ANA and its state groups are recognized as the political leaders when it comes to the big nursing issues. ANA-MAINE fully supports membership in specialty organizations. Many of our members belong to more than one. Specialty organizations serve a different purpose. The specialty organizations generally address issues that are pertinent to that specialty. Only ANA-MAINE can address issues that affect all of nursing. ANA-MAINE can work with our members who belong to specialty groups to craft legislation related to issues that affect them and their practice.
Q. What if I don't have time to go to meetings or do anything else to help?
A. Many of our members fall in this category. Membership means different things for different people. Those that only pay dues and read the ANA-MAINE Journal are valued members of the association too. They provide valuable support and allow the work of the association to go on through the work of elected leaders, delegates, and a dedicated staff.
"They" should do this...
Nurses continually speak of the invisible "they" who should fix their problems, or the "they" who have created their problems. As a profession we need to take responsibility for ourselves. We can create a stronger "we". All social and political change happens through the action of a committed group of people…and it does not happen overnight. ANA-MAINE is not a governmental agency or a pure political entity. It is an organization made up of nurses just like you. The members are volunteers. Everyone in ANA-MAINE is committed to improving the status of nursing, it's personal with us. We are NOT a "they" - we are YOU!
In summary, we need more members, and there are many reasons to join ANA-MAINE. We know that some people really do have financial issues. We have members who make ANA-MAINE a priority in their budgets so they have a voice in the future of nursing in Maine. Our dues are about $20 per month.
Remember when you ask ANA-MAINE to do something for you, you are not simply asking the 11 members of the Board of Directors. If the nurse next to you pays their dues, they are carrying you for free. That other person is paying for your advocacy. We are not "they", we are your colleagues... and we need your voice and your membership.
[This article is based on one written for the Florida Nurses Association by Willa Fuller, RN, their Director of Member Services and Public Relations. It has been adapted by about ten other states, and the author kindly gave permission for us to adapt it and use it here in Maine.]
ANA-MAINE: Frequently Asked Questions
