The benefits of joining a professional association

What could I possibly get out of joining a professional association?! Not so long ago, that is what I remember thinking. As nurses, whatever our role, we all have huge demands on our time (and headspace). We are expected to work long hours without good breaks, all while striving to maintain our professional standards, skills and knowledge to do our work effectively. We need to revalidate every 3 years and seek out the participatory study hours necessary to maintain this requirement. If you take a new job or develop a new service, there are additional learning needs to consider and if you are setting up as the first, for example, renal stone or andrology nurse in your Trust, finding your way can be quite a lonely business.

If only there was some way you could find study, training and competency-based courses relevant to your work? How great would it be to visit other established services and learn from nurses doing exactly the work that you want to deliver; where you could borrow their care plans and easily model your service on theirs? To have the support of colleagues all over the country who are only too glad to give you a hand, help you avoid their mistakes and encourage you to succeed?