Challenges Recruiting and Retaining New Members of a Professional Nursing Organization

The American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN) began as a nursing-focused pain organization in 1990 and has experienced fluctuations in membership over time. According to the literature, membership to many professional organizations, including ASPMN, are waning. New member recruitment and retention is crucial for maintaining viability and financial strength of an organization.

This study explores ASPMN new member attitudes, perceptions, and experiences. The intention was to learn what inspired or influenced nurse participants to join ASPMN, what they expect gain from membership, and how the organization can help fulfill their professional pain management goals.

This IRB-exempted qualitative descriptive study offered participants opportunities to reflect upon and share their member experiences either individually or in small focus groups. Nurses were identified via ASPMN new member lists or referred from ASPMN Chapter leaders. Conversations were recorded and transcribed using virtual technology, validated, then analyzed for recurring themes.

One key finding was that 0 of 11 participants were fully apprised of member benefits. Key themes were most had motivating factors which prompted their joining ASPMN, and many were seeking organization resources (networking, certification, and new knowledge). Challenging focus group recruitment was likely related to internal and external forces, including post-pandemic fatigue with virtual platforms, time constraints, and a general over-abundance of e-communications.

Many professional organizations continue to struggle to recruit and retain members. While there were no material incentives, the focus group or individual interviews promoted collegiality, reinforced knowledge about ASPMN member benefits, and provided a platform to dialog about how the organization can grow while addressing member needs. Findings from this study may benefit ASPMN and other organizations by providing insight into what attracts and maintains new members, creating a platform to learn about members, and ideally, identifying new ways of engagement and initiatives.