The Montana Nurses Association (MNA) is a statewide, voluntary membership organization of registered nurses (RNs) concerned with improving nursing practice, nursing education and working conditions. Its headquarters office is located in Helena where activities are managed by a paid executive and other support staff. The Association is one of fifty-four constituent associations that comprise the American Nurses Association (ANA).

In the autumn of 1912 word circulated among nurses practicing in Montana that a member of the medical profession was working on a plan to induce the 1913 Legislature, which would convene in January, to enact a law requiring certain minimum standards of education and proficiency to be met by trained nurses. Clara Brunelle, president of the Missoula County Nurses Association, invited nurses from other counties to meet and discuss the impact of the proposed legislation. The nine nurses in attendance were not opposed to setting standards for practice, but were opposed to a recommendation in the legislation that the examining board be composed exclusively of doctors of medicine. As a result of the Missoula meeting, Montana's first nursing practice act was drafted and became law in 1913. The law created a Board of Nurse Examiners composed of "trained" nurses and set minimum standards for education and practice.

At the Missoula meeting the small group of nurses also chartered a statewide association, adopted a constitution and bylaws, and elected a slate of officers for the coming year. The pattern of annual sessions began with the first official meeting in Butte in 1913. A House of Delegates composed of elected delegates from county organizations determined the direction and programs for the ensuing year and program sessions were devoted to nursing care issues. Through the years the name of the organization was altered to reflect changes taking place in the licensure status of professional nursing in the state. Incorporated in 1912 as the Montana State Association of Graduate Nurses, the first "official" convention held in Butte in 1913 changed the name to the Montana State Association of Graduate and Registered Nurses to recognize the 672 nurses who received certificates of registration from the newly created Board of Nurse Examiners. In 1924 the convention in Billings changed the name to the Montana State Association of Registered Nurses, a name that was declared illegal two years later by delegates because not all practicing nurses were licensed. The name Montana State Association of Graduate Nurses was reinstituted. Around 1930, ANA recommended a standard name for state organizations: State Nurses Association. This side-stepped any questions as to whether all registered nurses were also graduate nurses and had the sound of embodying all nurses. The change was made in 1936 and the name became Montana State Nurses Association (MSNA). The word "state" was removed in 1959 to avoid any implication of governmental participation.

Prior to 1930 the association functioned between conventions only as the officers were able, through correspondence and such personal contacts as their time and location permitted. In 1930, when Edith L. Brown was appointed as a full-time "field secretary" by the Board of Nurse Examiners, MNA assumed the cost of her travel expenses and paid $100 for a clerk to coordinate the organization's activities. Because of the increasing interest of nurses in the association and the programs being advocated by ANA, Miss Brown recommended the employment of a full-time executive secretary for the association as early as 1931. On September 15, 1942, Margaret Carolus Alsop, RN, became the first full-time salaried executive secretary. She established the headquarters office in Helena and also became secretary for the State Nursing Council for War Services which recruited RNs for military service during World War II. Other RN successors to fill the executive position included Anne Zimmerman, Muriel Lewis, Agnes Pauline, and Mary D. Munger. Traditionally, the executive secretary, or executive director as the position was later called, was expected to promote, coordinate, and implement the programs adopted by the membership; edit the official bulletin; and serve as lobbyist for state legislation. In 1953 the executive was officially delegated to represent nurses in collective bargaining. This arrangement continued until 1974 when a second executive position was created to manage MNA's economic and general welfare program.

Following 1930 more nurses entered fields of practice other than private duty requiring a new structure for MNA. Public health nurses formed the first occupational section in 1932, and eventually MNA had six such sections with the chairman of each section serving as a member of MNA's Board of Directors. These separate groups talked about working conditions and types of duties and expressed ideas for developing programs to help them in their jobs. During the 1950s and 1960s the sections adopted minimum employment standards for their respective groups and participated in a nation-wide effort, spearheaded by ANA, to establish functions, standards, and qualifications for each area of practice. MNA's sections went out of existence in the 1960s when ANA adopted a new structure based on Commissions, Divisions of Practice, and Councils and required changes in the structure of MNA. Complying with federal labor laws to enable MNA's bargaining efforts has also required changes in structure regarding elections, dues, and supervisory domination.

MNA has worked continuously to improve nursing education through joint meetings with the Montana League for Nursing; participation in the Montana Commission on Nursing and Nursing Education; lobbying for changes in Montana's Nursing Practice Act, and an intensive campaign to change the educational requirements for entry into professional nursing practice. When MNA celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1962, special recognition was given to Anna T. Beckwith and Anna Pearl Sherrick for their contributions to the organization and, in particular, for their efforts to improve nursing education. MNA has also been involved in continuing education for nurses, beginning with program sessions conducted during the group's annual meetings. As the organization developed and occupational sections became a part of the structure, more attention was given to workshops and seminars related to specific areas of practice. In 1967 when ANA issued its first definitive statement on continuing education, MNA began working on protocols for a Continuing Education Approval Recognition Program (CEARP). In 1981 CEARP received initial accreditation from ANA and a part-time staff person was added to MNA's staff. MNA approves continuing education offerings for RNs, maintains the records of nurses who participate in such programs, and also conducts and sponsors continuing education programs.

From the beginning nurses paid dues to a designated district association and thereby became members of MNA and ANA. During the 1960s dues were paid directly to ANA under a computerized system and the nurse had membership in all three organizations. In 1982 ANA bylaws were changed to eliminate individual membership. Affiliation with ANA comes through membership in the state association. Nurses are members of a district association and also MNA which, in turn, is recognized as a constituent of ANA. District nurses associations, replaced the county organizations as membership in the state association increased. In 1987 there were eighteen district associations in Montana.