What are some of the advantages of joining a professional nursing organization? Remaining current in your field or specialty, networking with other nurses and organizations, and continued learning.

Professional nursing associations provide an opportunity for professional nurses to develop a bigger picture of nursing and health care overall. Here are some you might consider:

Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, http://www.medsurgnurse.org

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, http://www.aacn.org

American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, http://www.aann.org

American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, http://www.aaohn.org

American College of Nurse-Midwives, http://www.acnm.org

American Holistic Nurses Association, http://www.ahna.org

American Nurses Association, http://www.nursingworld.org

American Psychiatric Nurses Association, http://www.apna.org

Emergency Nurses Association, http://www.ena.org

Maryland Nurses Association, http://www.marylandrn.org/

National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses, http://www.orthonurse.org

National Nursing Staff Development Organization, https://www.nnsdo.org/

Oncology Nursing Society, http://www.ons.org

Sigma Theta Tau International, http://www.nursingsociety.org