The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the only full-service professional organization representing the nation's 2.9 million registered nurses (RNs) through its 54 constituent member associations. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights 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.

For more than 100 years, ANA has been the voice of nursing. This voice is heard through policy development, lobbying, publications/newsletters, involvement and partnerships with other organizations, and our presence on the Internet. ANA’s work addresses the needs of nurses in their professional settings as well as patient care. Policy development and lobbying efforts of ANA ensure the rightful place of nurses in all healthcare settings.

ANA gets the message to our membership and other nurses through our Web site NursingWorld.org and our two publications The American Nurse and the official journal American Nurse Today. These publications, along with our conferences, provide an important opportunity for dialogue amongst nurses on the important issues of the day. Strategic partnerships and collaboration with other organizations strengthens the voice of nursing and expands the influence of professional nursing in all settings as the role of nurses develops to meet ever changing needs of patients and consumers.