Organizations and Associations

Below is a selected list of national and Maryland health organizations relevant to the field of nursing. The HS/HSL information professionals have attempted to provide a representative list of organizations on the Web and would welcome suggestions for groups to be added to the list.

The American Nurses Association (ANA)
The ANA is a professional organization representing the nation's Registered Nurses. ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. This site provides information on topics such as membership, publications, educational opportunities, grants, credentialing, local contacts, and links to nursing resources.

National League for Nursing (NLN)
The mission of the NLN is to advance quality nursing education that prepares the nursing workforce to meet the needs of diverse populations in an ever-changing health care environment. This site provides the latest news in nursing education, conference information, information on NLN continuing education programs, on-line nursing assessment tests, and overviews of trends in nursing education.

National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA)
NSNA is a membership organization representing students in ADN, Diploma, Baccalaureate, generic Masters and generic Doctoral programs preparing students for Registered Nurse licensure, as well as RNs in BSN completion programs.

The Maryland Nurses Association (MNA)
This is the only statewide, nonprofit, multipurpose professional Membership organization for registered nurses in Maryland. This site provides information on membership, contacts, legislation, and conventions. Visit the Web site for District 5 of the Maryland Nurses Association for local information on Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, including the MNA 5 Nurse newsletter.

The American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA)
This is a nonprofit educational organization whose membership is open to nurses and other individuals interested in holistically-oriented health care practices. AHNA supports the concepts of holism: a state of harmony among body, mind, emotions and spirit within an ever-changing environment. The site includes information on educational opportunities, publications, upcoming events, and links to other related Web sites.

Health Ministries Association (HMA)
The mission of the HMA is to encourage, support, and develop whole-person ministries leading to the integration of faith and health. This site provides the on-line reading "Parish Nursing - A New, Yet Old Model of Care." Additional site features include information to assist in the planning and development of health ministries and parish nursing within communities of faith, and general recommendations on ways to find health information (where to start, what agencies to contact, etc.).

Nurses Christian Fellowship (NCF)
This organization serves as a local, regional, national and international network for Christian nursing professionals and students. This site provides information on local NCF groups and contacts, conferences, and NCF resources, including ordering information for the Journal of Christian Nursing and other parish nursing publications.

Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA)
CHA is the national leadership organization representing the Catholic health ministry. CHA's more than 2,000 members form the nation's largest group of not-for-profit Catholic health care systems, sponsors, facilities, health plans, and related organizations. This site provides directories to Catholic health care organizations, news resources, information on long-term care, and Internet links.

United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries (UMA)
UMA is a national association of United Methodist related ministries and individual professionals concerned about quality health care in a church related setting. The site provides links to information on the programs and services offered by UMA, including the ResourCenter, which offers audio, video, and printed educational resources for staff and governance boards.

The Mennonite Nurses Association (MNA)
This organization is dedicated to the promotion of nursing and the provision of support for Christian nurses within the Anabaptist tradition. This site provides information on the Association's objectives, membership, MNA publications, projects, and annual meetings.

Council for Health and Human Service Ministries, United Church of Christ
This association is made up of health and human service organizations and programs recognized as an expression of the ministry and mission of the United Church of Christ. This site provides access to the group's newsletter, ecumenical links, a searchable database of member ministries, publications listings, and information on leadership development programs.