Newswise — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) brings top issues facing critical care into focus with its spring conference, AACN Clinical Priorities.

The conference will be held April 15-17 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas. Registration is now open, and the early-bird discount ends Wednesday, March 12. To register for the conference or to learn more, visit www.aacn.org/clinicalpriorities.

AACN Clinical Priorities offers those who prefer a more intimate conference experience the excellence of AACN’s educational programs paired with nationally known facilitators.

Seasoned clinicians and those new to critical care will gain evidence-based and best practice information to help them think critically, plan effectively and practice safely in today’s ever-changing clinical environment.

AACN has revamped the conference format to offer attendees more options with a combination of clinical tracks and professional practice workshops. The redesigned educational platform allows participants to customize the learning program based on their top-priority professional development needs.

Workshop topics include alarm management, healthy work environments, ethics and preventing healthcare-associated infections. The program also includes in-depth, full-day clinical sessions on neuro/trauma/stroke, sepsis, cardiovascular and common clinical disorders in high acuity patients.

Nationally recognized experts will create a collaborative learning environment in small group workshops during which learners will engage with colleagues to identify and discuss practice challenges and take home lessons to share in their units.

Participants will have the opportunity to network with colleagues and nationally recognized experts during the preconference event and throughout the educational sessions.

The program is designed for nurses — especially staff nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse managers, transport nurses and educators — who care for high acuity and critically ill patients in any type of adult unit, including intensive care, progressive, stepdown or trauma.

Participants can earn up to 22 hours of continuing nursing education (CNE) during the conference. CNE — calculated on a 60-minute contact hour — is determined by the number of sessions a participant attends.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses and claims more than 235 chapters worldwide. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme