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Nursing Associations Module

How to Use This Module

This module has been designed to help you start—or strengthen—your own nursing association. In it, you will find some step-by-step information to help get you started forming your own association. The majority of the information is presented in a resource library format that allows you to choose material that is most relevant to you and your stage of development.

Steps to Building an Association

Helpful Resources
Resource Library 1: Building an Association
When building a nursing association when none has existed before, take the time needed to carefully map out a detailed plan before moving forward. AIHA recommends you follow the general steps set forth below, adapting and expanding them to meet your particular needs:
  1. Studying and learning from successful models
  2. Defining your mission
  3. Developing association rules and regulations
  4. Setting reasonable dues and fees
  5. Securing and managing finances
  6. Selecting leadership
  7. Training leaders
  8. Promoting the association

1. Studying and learning from successful models

Begin the process by reviewing the materials contained in this module to get a better understanding of what goes into a successful professional nursing association. In the section marked “Resource Library 1,” you will find several documents that describe nursing associations and what goes into creating one that is successful.

2. Defining your mission

Begin by defining your mission and detailing your goals. A mission statement can be a very strong motivational tool for future members, will help keep you on track, and can become a wonderful marketing tool you can use to help publicize your association later on. The associations AIHA helped establish were encouraged to create a written mission statement.

To get a better feel for what a mission statement is, review these examples:

  • Corporate: "To make people happy." (Disney)
  • Non-profit: "The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies." (American Red Cross)
  • Educational institution: "The mission of the University of Cambridge is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence." (University of Cambridge)
Here are some tips to follow when creating your own mission statement:
  • Choose one theme. The theme should be easy to understand, non-controversial and translate into behavior that can gain support.
  • Use action words. Carefully choose words such as "strengthen," "contribute" and "support" in your mission statement. These action words can help demonstrate the benefits of what you are doing, not simply describe the association.
  • Focus on a few key attributes. Try to keep your mission statement brief, no longer than a few sentences and even shorter if possible. Trying to include too many details may weaken your mission statement.
  • Don't rush the process. Creating a mission statement may take some time. Be sensitive to the process as well as the end result. Write out several versions of your statement and request feedback from stakeholders.

3. Developing association rules and regulations

Developing comprehensive rules and regulations to govern the association is critical to success. It is important to establish these rules before moving forward in the process.

Several excellent resources are available here, allowing you to see actual charters, codes and regulations that have been developed and are currently being used by nursing associations in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Use them to help guide you as you author your own association rules.

Click on the following links to view these resources:

4. Setting reasonable dues and fees

Annual membership dues are an important revenue source for the association, but it is important to set the dues at a rate that is reasonable for all nurses based on their salary levels. You may also consider waiving dues for members for whom it would be a hardship to pay.

Continue reading about Steps to Building an Association.



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