Where Have All the Members Gone?

1. Where Have All the Members Gone? Rhonda S. Olson, MS, RN, CRRN Mary Joe White, PhD, RN

2. 2002-2003 Goals: • Increase Chapter membership 25% (25 members) • Increase meeting participation to 35-40 members and guests

3. Abstract A 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.

4. Data Analysis supported by a grant from SETX ARN Chapter

5. Literature Review • Herzberg’s Motivational Theory • Generation X Employees • Magnet Hospitals • Few Studies

6. Rational for Study

7. Methods of Study • Survey of other nursing organizations • Email survey of ARN chapters • Questionnaires • 4 nursing specialty organizations • Staff nurses • Members of SETX ARN

8. Methods of Study • Convenience sample • Descriptive statistics • Cross tabulation

9. Results ARN Chapters N=14

10. Membership Trends 7 - Stable 6 - Decrease 1 - Increase

11. Meeting Participation 9 - Stable 4 - Decrease 1 - Increase

12. Results of Specialty Organizations N=9

13. Membership Trends 3 - Stable 4 - Decrease 2 - Increase

14. Results of Questionnaires

15. Membership Profile • Older age group • Greater than 15 yrs experience • More likely certified

20. Figure 5 Reasons Why Staff Nurses Are Not Active Members family responsibilities no benefit to membership politics in organization lack of info on meetings

21. Figure 6 Reasons for Participating in a Professional Organization Job Requirement Mentoring Opportunity Socialization Gain CEUs Networking

22. Strategies to Increase Membership and Revitalize Chapters • Get the word out • Mentoring programs • Chapter website • Marketing • Energize membership • Thinking outside the box

23. Get the Word out • Personal Phone calls • Website

24. Mentoring • Desired by Generation X

25. Website • Technoliterate • Communication • Marketing www.arnsoutheasttx.org

26. Marketing • Target flyers • F/U phone calls • Posters • Target magnet hospitals

27. Energizing Membership • Membership committee • Contest for new recruits • Meeting structure

28. Thinking Outside the Box • Satellite • Videotape • Virtual Meetings

29. Conclusion • Study provided data to stimulate discussion on strategies to increase membership and energize the chapter

30. 2003-2004 Goals: • Maintain stable membership • Maintain meeting participation at 40 members and guests