Research Article

Factors impacting membership and non-membership in nursing associations: A qualitative study

  1. Maryam Esmaeili BSN, MSN, PhD Candidate1,3,
  2. Nahid Dehghan-Nayeri BSN, MSN, PhD2,*,
  3. Reza Negarandeh BSN, MSN, PhD2

Article first published online: 14 DEC 2012

DOI: 10.1111/nhs.12012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Esmaeili, M., Dehghan-Nayeri, N. and Negarandeh, R. (2012), Factors impacting membership and non-membership in nursing associations: A qualitative study. Nursing & Health Sciences. doi: 10.1111/nhs.12012

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

  2. 2

    Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,, Iran

  3. 3

    Department of Medical Surgical, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

*Correspondence address: Nahid Dehghan-Nayeri, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Nosrat St., Tohid Square, Tehran 1454854941, Iran. Email: nahid.nayeri@gmail.com

Publication History

  1. Article first published online: 14 DEC 2012
  2. Manuscript Accepted: 5 OCT 2012
  3. Manuscript Revised: 2 OCT 2012
  4. Manuscript Received: 3 JAN 2012

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Keywords:

  • content analysis;
  • Iran;
  • nursing;
  • nursing associations;
  • professional membership

Abstract

In this study, the factors impacting membership and non-membership of nurses in nursing associations were identified and described. Participation in semistructured interviews was undertaken by 14 nurses working in a teaching hospital in an urban area of Iran. A qualitative design using a content analysis approach was used to analyze the data, from which three categories emerged: organizations' support of nurses' rights, professional obligations, and organizational power. Each of these categories contained several subcategories. Nurses' expectations of professional organizations might be one of the factors impacting associations being able to increase their membership, while retaining their existing members. Supporting nurses, tackling their professional problems, attempting to increase the power of legislative authorities, and clear explanations of their objectives are among the measures adopted by organizations in aiming to increase membership numbers and enhance organizational power.

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