Which statement best describes the ANA?

Which statement best describes the ANA?

• A. Licensing authority for nurses in each state
• B. An international health policy body
• C. An accrediting body for nursing education
• D. The national professional membership organization that fosters high professional standards for the nursing profession and advances the economic and general welfare of nurses

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is understanding what the American Nurses Association does as a national professional membership group. The ANA functions as the national organization for nurses, bringing members together to promote high standards of nursing practice, ethics, and professional growth, while also advocating for policies that support nurses’ economic and general welfare. It works to influence practice standards, provide resources and continuing education, and give nurses a collective voice in policy decisions.

It isn’t a licensing authority—that authority rests with state boards of nursing that grant licensure after meeting state requirements. It isn’t an international health policy body—that would involve organizations operating on a global scale. And it isn’t an accrediting body for nursing education—the programs are accredited by specialized agencies like CCNE or ACEN, not by the ANA. So the description that matches the ANA is that it’s the national professional membership organization focused on fostering high standards and advancing the welfare of nurses.