Illinois Nurses Association (INA) has served as the organization for nursing in Illinois from its founding in 1901, to the present. INA continually strives to preserve the identity, integrity, and core values of the profession of nursing. INA is the only full service professional organization representing Illinois' 167,000+ registered nurses. INA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, protects the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace through collective bargaining, and projects a positive and realistic view of nursing to the community. In addition, INA advocates for health care issues affecting nurses and the public through lobbying the Illinois Legislature and regulatory agencies.