MEMBER HANDBOOK
Mission
Empowering Texas Nurses to advance the profession Vision
Nurses transforming health Values
Respect • Integrity • Excellence • Diversity • Courage
CONTENTS Welcome! 1 Get Connected! Get Involved!
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Find News When and Where You Want it!
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Advance Your Career!
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Get Answers!
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Influence Policy!
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Participate in Our Governance!
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Take Advantage of Your Benefits!
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WELCOME! Welcome to membership in the Texas Nurses Association! By deciding to become a member of TNA, you have joined thousands of other registered nurses across Texas — and nationally through your combined membership in American Nurses Association (ANA) — who support a strong nursing practice environment through professional membership and involvement. As a member, you now speak directly to legislators, consumers, and the news media about the immeasurable contributions of registered nurses and the practice issues they deem important to the delivery of quality health care. You have also gained access to many member benefits that will expand your professional knowledge, help you further your career, save you money, and widen your circle of nurse experts!
Start taking advantage of your TNA benefits right away! Sign in at TexasNurses.org. 1
GET CONNECTED! GET INVOLVED! Once you are signed in online, you’ll see the Social Link system: » Click on your profile to ensure that all your information is current. » Click on “connections” to start your online network. You’re automatically added to a group with other members from your geographic area. You can find available connections and send any or all of them a connection request. You can join online expert advisor groups that support TNA’s Policy Council Committees to develop positions on nursing issues.
Download the SocialLink app for Apple or Android to see your feed anytime, anywhere.
Username: Your email address Password: Your last name plus your 5-digit zip code (ex: Doe77777) Social Link tip: click the TNA logo at the top to get back to the website!
Sign-up to host one of TNA’s monthly Nurse Talks Empowerment Series. 2
FIND NEWS when and where YOU WANT IT! TNA Check Up is a weekly e-newsletter to keep members up-to-date. Add tna@texasnurses.org to your address book so you won’t miss out. » Association events, publications and products » Advocacy action alerts » Opportunities to participate in other members’ research
Follow us!
» Local health care events » Micro-volunteer opportunities » Opportunities to serve on state coalitions, TNA committees, task forces, or in an elected position
Nursing Flash, delivered on Wednesdays, provides weekly curated nursing news from across Texas and the United States. Texas Nursing, the official quarterly publication of the Texas Nurses Association, features articles on a wide variety of issues affecting Texas nurses, from best practices to TNA activities to patient care. NurseWatch covers legislative issues of interest to members.
How do you want to get your copy of Texas Nursing?
LET US KNOW! 3
ADVANCE YOUR CAREER! The Texas Nursing Practice Act Online Guide is an easy-to-use companion to the Annotated Guide to the NPA written in plain English with no legal jargon. Get specific, concise information about statutes, rules and guidelines for nursing practice. Continuing nursing education, anytime, any place, via the on-demand TNA Learning Curve, now with a subscription option. TNA Career Center connects you with Texas employers. Post your resume, find the top nursing jobs in Texas, and submit your application to the career you’re interested in. Other resources: » Whistle Blower Law Information » Health Information Technology toolkit » Care Coordination PowerPoint 4
GET ANSWERS! TNA’s professional staff are here to help. Our Member Helpline request form is the best way to get feedback and input on not just practice questions but other issues nurses face in their lives. Our expertise is at your fingertips! » » » »
Education Employment Financial Legal
» Nursing Practice » Policy Engagement » Volunteer Opportunities
Find practice resources on the TNA website. » Suicide Prevention Resource Guide » Maternal Mortality materials
» Care for the Caregiver » Weekly practice tips
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INFLUENCE POLICY! Follow the TNA Legislative Action Center news throughout the 2019 Texas Legislative Session – watch for emails starting in the spring and make sure to add this email address to your address book: governmentalaffairs@texasnurses.org. » Download the TNA’s Grassroots Advocacy Kit and start talking with other nurses, nursing students and others about the importance of being involved in influencing nursing policy. » Familiarize yourself with TNA’s Policy Positions and share with local, county, and state leadership when appropriate. » Attend 2021’s Virtual Nurse Day at the Capitol Hear great speakers. Learn about the bills TNA is proposing, supporting, or challenging. Meet legislators and share the message.
Spread the word that TNA is the voice for nurses. We want you to deliver the best care in the best work environment possible.
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PARTICIPATE IN OUR GOVERNANCE! TNA is governed by a House of Delegates, which meets annually and consists of representatives from TNA’s 20+ districts across the state. » The House of Delegates elects members to serve for the office of the president, board of directors, and the nominations committee. » TNA membership elects a delegation to represent itself at the ANA membership assembly. » TNA has seven policy committees that develop policy priorities for the Policy Council. Over 600 expert advisors and DNP student fellows assist with researching the recommendations. The committees cover: » » » »
APRN Issues Workplace Advocacy Education Regulation
» End-of-Life » Maternal Morbidity and Mortality » Mental Health
Find your district and representative online. 7
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR BENEFITS! Your combined TNA and ANA membership offers several perks and other financial benefits which include: » NEW benefits powered by Premier including discounts on auto and home insurance, dental and vision, movie and event tickets » Free access to Chipper, a loan repayment app » Discount on all products at Mace.com » AAA Texas discounts, including identity theft monitoring » Access to the Office Depot Store Purchasing Card Program »Travel discounts up to 70 percent » Access to the A. Louise Dietrich Nursing Education Loan Fund and student loan refinancing options » Professional liability, auto and long-term care insurance
Find a complete listing of benefits online! Benefits added regularly. 8