Learning for registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice nurses (APRNs) doesn’t stop after earning an accredited nursing degree.
To properly maintain licensing and certification, nurses must complete continuing education hours. Conferences are an excellent way to satisfy your professional development requirements while networking with other nurses and traveling around the country.
Whether you’re focused on oncology, mental health, neonatal, critical care, administration, forensics, gerontology, or another specialty, there are plenty of conference events happening annually to suit your interests.
The following are five great conferences for nurses that you should consider attending in 2016.
1. American Nurses Association Annual Conference: Lake Buena Vista, FL
March 9-11, 2016
In March, the American Nurses Association will offer its 2016 ANA Annual Conference at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista for a maximum of 14 CNE hours. With the theme “Quality, Safety and Staffing,” the conference will introduce nurses to new evidence-based research to improve patient outcomes. Around 1,200 nurses will attend to follow the Research, Innovation & Technology, Practice, or Work Environment tracks. During refreshment breaks, attendees can stroll through 100 booths in the Exhibit Hall.
2. AONE 2016 Inspiring Leaders Conference: Fort Worth, TX
March 30-April 2, 2016
The American Organization of Nurse Executives will present the AONE 2016 Inspiring Leaders Conference at the Fort Worth Convention Center in late March for over 2,000 nurse leaders. During the four-day event, attendees will share insightful leadership ideas in roundtable discussions, educational sessions, and poster presentations. Keynote speakers will include Brene Brown, Anton J. Gunn, Richard Pollack, and Vijay Gupta. On April 3, the conference will conclude with the CENP and CNML exams for any nurses seeking certification.
3. 7th Annual Pediatric Nursing Conference: Pittsburgh, PA
May 6, 2016
At the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, the 7th Annual Pediatric Nursing Conference will take place in May for RNs and APRNs specializing in pediatric nursing care. With the theme “Through the Eyes of a Child and Their Family,” the conference will share clinical projects and research studies improving pediatric patient experiences. The keynote speaker will be Tiffany Christenson, a patient advocate at Duke Hospital. Attending the one-day event can provide 6.5 contact hours for ANCC credentialing.
4. American Holistic Nurses Association Conference: Bonita Springs, FL
June 2-5, 2016
In sunny Bonita Springs, the American Holistic Nurses Association will be hosting its 26th Annual ANHA Conference in June following the theme, “Interconnectedness: The Soul of Holistic Nursing.” This event is ideal for RNs and APRNs seeking to enhance their holistic care for healing patients’ mind, body, and spirit. A special keynote address will be given by Cassandra Vieten, CEO of the Institute of Noetic Sciences. Attendees can earn up to 38.5 hours of continuing nursing education (CNE).
5. APNA 30th Annual Conference: Hartford, CT
October 19-22, 2016
Offering 100+ educational sessions, the APNA 30th Annual Conference will be held by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association in October at the Connecticut Convention Center. More than 1,500 psychiatric-mental health RNs and APRNs will attend to learn the latest inpatient and outpatient treatment strategies. Anyone registering before September 7 can receive an early bird discount. If you can’t attend, the APNA eLearning Center also delivers up-to-date conference sessions online in podcast form.
Nurses who attend conferences are trained on the field’s latest research and advancements to enhance their delivery of competent patient care. You’ll engage with nurse leaders in workshops to relearn classic techniques and get inspired with new, innovative tactics. Invest in your professional development by registering for one or more of these conferences for nurses in 2016.
