“ACNP seeks to ensure a solid policy andregulatory foundation for nurse practitionerpractice which promotes affordable, highquality healthcare for all.”

2006 - 2007

Board of Directors and Staff Contacts

PresidentKenneth P. Miller, PhD, RN, CFNP, FAAN

President Elect/Vice PresidentSusan Apold, PhD, RN, ANP

TreasurerAlison Mitchell, RN, MSN, ACNP-C

SecretaryTeresa Richardson, MSN, APRN, BC

Immediate Past-President Judy Hendricks, MS, ANP

Individual Member RepresentativesPatricia A. Hughes, MS, RN, FNP, WHNP, BC

Barbara A. Todd, MSN, CRNP, APRN-BC

National Affiliate RepresentativesJulie A. Stanik-Hutt, PhD, ACNP, CCNS

Charlotte Kelley, MSN, CNP, ARNP

State Affiliate RepresentativesMichelle Ashby, MSN, CRNPElaine Ferrary, MS, RNC, FNP

ACNP StaffCarolyn Hutcherson, CEO

Allison Beard, Communications DirectorKim Williams, Administrative Mgr/Meetings

Jamie Cole, Administrative Assistant

American College of NursePractitioners1111-19th Street, NW Suite 404Washington, DC 20036Tel: 202-659-2190Fax: 202-659-2191Email: ACNP@ACNPweb.orgWebsite: www.ACNPweb.org

March 2006146 The Journal for Nurse Practitioners - JNP

I was recently asked by a friend what were the benefits of

belonging to a national organization like ACNP. Without hesita-

tion I began to rattle off a list of tangible benefits that included

such things as free software, a journal subscription, decreased fees

for national certification examinations, etc. After I had articulated what

I considered to be a plethora of benefits, it dawned on me that I had

neglected to fully answer the question that had been asked. What are

the benefits of belonging to ACNP?

In my eagerness to respond, I had overlooked the overt complexity

of the question, missing an opportunity to educate a colleague on the

benefits of belonging to ACNP. From my perspective there are three

advantages to membership: strength in numbers, diversity of opinion,

and workload dispersion.

The strength in numbers benefit exists because the more people

you have seeking the same goal, the more likely you are to achieve it.

Legislators, in making policy decisions, are particularly sensitive to the

numbers of letters, emails, and phone calls they get from their con-

stituents on a particular issue. Thus, being a member of a group with

a common goal is advantageous.

Another powerful benefit of belonging to ACNP is the diversity of

opinions that members provide. Just as in statistics whereby the

mean is the best indicator of the true value, so, too, are the divergent

opinions of the members the best indicator of the direction the mem-

bership wishes the organization to take. Diversity implies differing per-

spectives, leading to clearer objectives and goals for the organization

because the alternatives more than likely have been considered.

Finally, workload dispersion through group participation allows each

individual to contribute something to the group without having to suf-

fer the burden of total responsibility for the group. As busy providers,

we all want to contribute something to organizations such as ACNP

yet not sacrifice all our free time.

Membership in a national organization is more than just the bells

and whistles that come with the membership fee. It is a commitment

to work with other providers to not only advance the profession but

also to achieve the objectives and goals of that particular organization.

1555-4155/06/$—see front matter.© 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2006.01.014

From the President

Ken Miller, PhD, RN, CFNP, FAANACNP President 2006

Ask Not What YourOrganization Can Dofor You, But...

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