BACKGROUND: Nursing associations and organizations are deemed to be effective tools in promoting the profession. Professional nursing associations are an essential part of the nursing culture. Examining the challenges and opportunities confronting the associations would pave the way for the identification of their limitations and also would lead to more interactions among the members and the associations. METHODS: Following an extensive review of the literature and also examining the professional nursing associations in Iran, the common challenges facing the nursing associations are identified and their shared challenges with other associations in other countries have been explored. Lack of members and insufficient support from the associations, financial problems, non-professional activities of associations and lack of interactions among associations are among the important challenges that the nursing associations confront within Iran. The possibility for establishing specialized nursing associations for increasing teamwork activities can be pointed out as one of the available opportunities. CONCLUSION: Professional associations follow important priorities with regard to their objectives, which distinguishes each from the other. The clear introduction of objectives and pinpointing the convergences that might bring about clashes between them will lead to building confidence among nurses, and hopefully, increasing membership. Members' dynamic participation, and support and interactions between associations are among the measures for increasing the professional power. Researchers hope that this article could provide both nurses and professional associations with insights to support each other for the purpose of promoting professional development. Considering the insufficient research in the field, more studies are also suggested.
BACKGROUND: Nursing associations and organizations are deemed to be effective tools in promoting the profession. Professional nursing associations are an essential part of the nursing culture. Examining the challenges and opportunities confronting the associations would pave the way for the identification of their limitations and also would lead to more interactions among the members and the associations. METHODS: Following an extensive review of the literature and also examining the professional nursing associations in Iran, the common challenges facing the nursing associations are identified and their shared challenges with other associations in other countries have been explored. Lack of members and insufficient support from the associations, financial problems, non-professional activities of associations and lack of interactions among associations are among the important challenges that the nursing associations confront within Iran. The possibility for establishing specialized nursing associations for increasing teamwork activities can be pointed out as one of the available opportunities. CONCLUSION: Professional associations follow important priorities with regard to their objectives, which distinguishes each from the other. The clear introduction of objectives and pinpointing the convergences that might bring about clashes between them will lead to building confidence among nurses, and hopefully, increasing membership. Members' dynamic participation, and support and interactions between associations are among the measures for increasing the professional power. Researchers hope that this article could provide both nurses and professional associations with insights to support each other for the purpose of promoting professional development. Considering the insufficient research in the field, more studies are also suggested.