Why Was ANA Founded?

The American Nurses Association (ANA) was originally created before there were laws requiring the licensing of nurses to provide consistent standards in education and nursing practices. The organization was also responsible for establishing the code of ethics and laid the foundations for the nursing profession as we know it today (Matthews, 2012). As the field of nursing quickly evolved, the ANA “developed…the means for registered nurses to be credentialed in areas of specialization” and played an active role in the advancement of the nursing profession (“ANA History”, 2017). The overall vision of the ANA is expressed through their mission statement, “nurses advancing our profession to improve health for all” (“About ANA”, 2017).