The creation and membership in professional organizations is a common practice in various fields as they contribute to the development of the skills of participants and the system of their work in general. However, nursing associations are especially important and necessary because people’s life depends on constant communication and obtaining the most relevant information by healthcare professionals. Organizations in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, respectively, are also critical for the medical community, since the lives of several people simultaneously often depend on the actions of doctors and nurses in this area. For this reason, this paper will review the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses to identify key benefits and opportunities for membership in this organization.
The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is an organization that brings together nurses to improve the quality of services and care for women and newborns. AWHONN’s primary mission is to support and empower nurses caring for women and their families through promotion research, advocacy, education (“About AWHONN,” 2020). In other words, the association seeks to provide opportunities and encourage any initiatives related to the professional development of medical staff. For this reason, their vision is expressed in the slogan: “Making a difference in the lives of women and newborns” (“About AWHONN,” 2020). This vision is reflected in more detail by the organization’s goals, which are conveyed in creating a communications network that promotes diversity, visibility, professional knowledge, and a quality infrastructure (“About AWHONN,” 2020). Thus, the significance of the association is expressed in the fact that it offers various opportunities for the development of nurses to improve the quality of their working conditions and medical services in the field.
At the same time, AWHONN offers various benefits to its members for professional and personal development. First, members have access to the newest training materials and courses to enhance their professional skills. Access to reliable and up-to-date medical sources is critical to maintaining a professional level; therefore, this opportunity is vital for nurses. In addition, the structure of the association encourages the communication of its members between different departments, hospitals, and professionals, which allows nurses to share experiences. Another advantage is the advocacy and access to the database with vacancies, scholarships, and grants. Therefore, members of the association can find opportunities for both scientific and material support.
The most crucial feature of AWHONN is that it creates networking opportunities for its members, thereby encouraging professional knowledge sharing. Khanum et al. (2016) note that communication between health professionals ensures the safety and facilitates better patients outcomes. For gynecological nurses, ongoing interaction is most important as a comprehensive approach to research and development of new care techniques is crucial for the health of women and newborns. At the same time, networking allows employees from different hospitals or cities to jointly develop new solutions and promote them.
In general, the interaction of nurses in this area is critical as various organizations, through volunteering and educational programs, reduce the mortality and injuries of women and children during and after childbirth. For example, Taylor (2015) notes that the collaboration of different international organizations reduced the number of women who died during pregnancy or childbirth from a total of 546,000 deaths in 1990 to 287,000 deaths in 2010. AWHONN also offers volunteering opportunities to improve leadership and acquire or share new professional skills (“Volunteer,” 2020). The organization also conducts online and offline events where its members can exchange ideas, find like-minded people or research funding. For example, on the site, one can see a list of annual conferences, which are, however, partially cancelled or postponed due to a pandemic (“Upcoming events,” 2020). Nevertheless, AWHONN offers numerous networking opportunities for nurses, which support their professional growth.
AWHONN has several ways to inform members about changes in the field, as well as within the organization. Firstly, any visitor to the site can go to section News, Advocacy & Publication to find out about the latest events, accidents, changes, and plans of the organization. In addition, members of the association receive an e-mail newsletter so that they cannot miss the latest news. Another essential part of AWHONN’s activities is the publication of the scientific periodical Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing. Members have a free subscription to the journal. Consequently, members of the association can read about the latest research, nursing approaches, and discoveries and improve their level of knowledge. Thus, AWHONN members are fully provided with information about both the internal activities of the association and events in the field of obstetrics and gynecology in general.
Moreover, AWHONN offers many opportunities for educating nurses. Firstly, one can find many courses on various topics on the association’s website, such as Anaphylactoid Syndrome of Pregnancy or Breastfeeding Implications for Opioid Use, which are free or cheaper for members (“Online store,” 2020). Annual medical conferences and access to a scientific journal are also useful sources for education. In addition, AWHONN offers training programs covering topics necessary for practice and continuing education, such as the Neonatal Orientation and Education Program (2020). Grants and scholarships for research or training can also be found on the nursing organization’s website (“Awards, grants & scholarships,” 2020). Consequently, AWHONN provides many opportunities for education and professional development for nurses in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.
In conclusion, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses is an important and necessary organization for the work of nurses in the field, since it provides opportunities for their professional development. The structure of the association and events allows nurses to exchange ideas and network, while courses, a scientific journal and other practices help in education and professional development. Ongoing improvement of theoretical and practical skills is critical for professionals who care about women and the first days of life of newborns. Their actions and choices provide a healthy future for new members of the society and the families. Therefore, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses and similar organizations are essential elements for the quality work of nurses.
References
About AWHONN. (2020).
Khanum, S., Souza, M., Naz, N., Sasso, G., Brüggemann, O., & Heideman, I. (2016). The Use of Networking in Nursing Practice —An Integrative Review. Societies, 6(3), 22.
Neonatal Orientation and Education Program (NOEP). (2020).
Online store. (2020).
Taylor, D. J. (2015). The role of health professional organizations in improving maternal and newborn health: The FIGO LOGIC experience. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 131, 71-74.
Upcoming events (2020).
Volunteer. (2020).