The American Nurses Association (ANA)

A discussion regarding the health care reform or even health care in general can be somewhat controversial. The definition of health is drastically different depending on whom you speak to. Many would define health as " a person's absence of disease, others would describe good health based on the status of mind, body & social well-being" (GCU Lecture, module 2, 2012). According to The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, health is defined as "The overall condition of an organism at a given time". An individual's overall health affects the nation, this is where stakeholders come into value. According to Keele, Buckner & Bushnell a stakeholder is either an individual or an organization that either invest time and money into another health care organization that helps implements health care strategic plans. This also causes stakeholders to be affected or be affecting the nation's health. As many are unaware, "stakeholders play a key role within the health care system" (Keele, Buckner & Bushnell, 1987). The American Nurses Association (ANA) also plays an important role within the health care reform enacted by President Barrack Obama. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) "the nursing profession advances 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". In 1911 the ANA became a renowned health organization. Starting off with 20 members the ANA still holds strong to its code of professional nursing. Including " it's is continuously working towards creating a positive insight on the nursing vocation and recognizing registered nurses, who deserves credibility for the work they do" (Glazer, 1999). The ANA plays its role as a stakeholder by implementing a policy that will continuously raise the prospect of registered

References: ANA. (2011). The american nurses association. Retrieved on January 11, 2013 from http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/AboutANA Ana: Ensuring nurses are at the table on health care reform. (n.d.). Retrieved on January 11, 2013 from http://www.rnaction.org/site/PageServer?pagename=CUP_04_09_LEAD_EnsuringNurse sareatthetableonHC&ct=1 Glazer, G. (1999). Legislative: The policy and politics of continued competence. Retrieved on January 11, 2013 from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories Grand Canyon University, Module 2 Lecture. Retrieved on January 11, 2013 from http://angel05.gcu.edu/section/default.asp?id=684316 health. (n.d.) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. (2003). Retrieved on January 11 2013 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/health Keele, R. L., Buckner, K., & Bushnell, S. (1987). Identifying health care stakeholders: a key to strategic implementation. Retrieved on January 11, 2013 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10301950