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Knowledge-Based Associations
by ANNA President JoAnne Gilmore
The
operational philosophy of a knowledge-based association does not
involve acquiring and distributing data. It involves building and
sustaining an association where individuals and groups at all levels
actually use information routinely in decision-making. The attributes
of a knowledge-based association are shaped by three key
characteristics:
- A sense of direction
enabled by clarity and consensus on what will constitute success. The
direction is reflected in the service provided by a vision that is
supported by a mission or program focused on member needs. Hence, our
mission statement ‘ANNA will advance nephrology nursing practice and
positively influence outcomes for patients with kidney or other disease
processes requiring replacement therapies through advocacy,
scholarship, and excellence.’ In the process of sustaining our
association, we will be voting on revising our current mission
statement. The revision that is proposed and will be voted on by our
members is ‘ANNA will advance nephrology nursing practice and
positively influence outcomes for patients with kidney disease through
advocacy, scholarship, and excellence’. The revised mission statement
change would reflect the broader spectrum of chronic kidney disease
patients for whom we provide care.
- Systems, structures, and processes
that promote functioning in ways that support effectiveness and
efficiency. Examples of this include our committees, our Web site, and
the links available on our Web site.
- Culture and climate
based on beliefs, assumptions, and values that encourage behavior
compatible with the work required to achieve desired outcomes.
ANNA Strategic Plan
I
believe these expectations are valid in our association. This is why
every 2 years the ANNA Board of Directors reviews our strategic plan in
detail. The strategic plan of our association includes the following
goals:
- Advocacy
Goal – ANNA will be the leading advocate for nephrology nurses and
patients, and will advocate for quality care for individuals, families,
and communities impacted by real or potential kidney disease.
- Recruitment and Retention Goal – Ensure the future of the specialty of nephrology nursing.
- Membership Goal – ANNA will be the association of choice for nephrology nurses.
- Scholarship Goal – Nephrology nursing practice will be evidence-based.
- Leadership Goal – ANNA members will be leaders in the nephrology health care community.
- Business Goal – ANNA will have long-term financial success.
So How Are We Doing?
ANNA
is doing very well. As the Board and our committees move forward this
year, we remain ever mindful of the wants, needs, and preferences of
our members. We remain mindful of volunteer capacity, our external
marketplace dynamics and realities, and the fairness and/or
appropriateness of choices/decisions made. The decisions being made and
why these decisions are made continue to be communicated to members
through our Web site and the Update. ANNA remains a leader in advocacy.
We value and appreciate our volunteer members – we remain passionate
about what we do!
JoAnne Gilmore, BSN, RN, CNN
ANNA President
References
Tecker,
G.H., Eide, K.M., & Frankel, J.S. (1997). Building a
knowledge-based culture: Using twenty-first century work and
decision-making systems in associations. Washington, DC: American
Society of Association Executives.
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