Where Have All the Members Gone?
Rhonda S. Olson, MS, RN, CRRN
Mary Joe White, PhD, RN
2002-2003 Goals:
Increase Chapter membership 25% (25 members)
Increase meeting participation to 35-40 members and guests
AbstractA discouraging trend in many specialty nursing organizations is the stagnate or decline in membership. The research committee of the Southeast Texas Chapter of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses decided to collect data and study this trend to determine what changes are necessary to increase membership. A multifaceted data collection approach was designed using convenience samples. First, a review of relevant literature was completed. Second, an email survey was sent to other ARN chapters. Third, a telephone survey was completed on other specialty organizations in geographic region. Fourth, questionnaires were given to the members of the local ARN chapter and four other specialty organizations, and lastly, questionnaires were given to staff nurses in the geographic area. Descriptive statistics and cross tabulations were used to determine why nurses do and do not join their organizations (N= 81). Most frequent reasons for joining an organization were to increase knowledge, professional benefit, networking, and continuing education units. Reasons for choosing not to participate were family responsibilities, lack of information, and too time-consuming. Changes to address the decline in membership are discussed.
Data Analysis supported by a grant from SETX ARN
Chapter
Literature Review
Herzberg’s Motivational Theory Generation X Employees Magnet Hospitals Few Studies
Rational for Study
Methods of Study
Survey of other nursing organizations Email survey of ARN chapters Questionnaires
4 nursing specialty organizations Staff nurses Members of SETX ARN
Methods of Study
Convenience sample Descriptive statistics Cross tabulation
Results
ARN Chapters
N=14
Membership Trends
7 - Stable
6 - Decrease
1 - Increase
Meeting Participation
9 - Stable
4 - Decrease
1 - Increase
Results of Specialty Organizations
N=9
Membership Trends
3 - Stable
4 - Decrease
2 - Increase
Results of Questionnaires
Membership Profile
Older age group Greater than 15 yrs
experience More likely certified
Figure 5
Reasons Why Staff Nurses Are Not Active Members
family responsibilities
no benefit to membership
politics in organization
lack of info on meetings
Figure 6
Reasons for Participating in a Professional Organization
Socialization
Gain CEUs
Job Requirement
Mentoring Opportunity
Networking
Strategies to Increase Membership and Revitalize
Chapters
Get the word out Mentoring programs Chapter website Marketing Energize membership Thinking outside the box
Get the Word out
Personal Phone calls
Website
Mentoring
Desired by Generation X
Website
Technoliterate Communication Marketing
www.arnsoutheasttx.org
Marketing
Target flyers F/U phone calls Posters Target magnet
hospitals
Energizing Membership Membership
committee Contest for new
recruits Meeting structure
Thinking Outside the Box
Satellite Videotape Virtual Meetings
Conclusion
Study provided data to stimulate discussion on strategies to increase membership and energize the chapter
2003-2004 Goals:
Maintain stable membership Maintain meeting participation at 40
members and guests
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