AACN President Karen McQuillan, RN, MS, CNS-BC, CCRN, CNRN, FAAN, is a clinical nurse specialist at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore. She says the theme describes how nurses face their fears to do what is necessary to provide the best possible care for their patients and their families.
“We can take advantage of sharing our experiences and being role models to strengthen delivery of Courageous Care by others,” she said. “We can seize the opportunity to develop other nurses and assist them in navigating their professional journey. When we do this, we help cultivate courage by inspiring them to face their fears and take on new challenges.
AACN expects attendance to reach 8,000 nurses and include many at the forefront of research, academia, staff development and management.
The premier annual event for critical care nursing, NTI continues through May 19. The conference offers hundreds of sessions to improve clinical practice, patient outcomes and the hospital’s bottom line with a comprehensive program that incorporates the best evidence-based education.
Most of the 280-plus sessions will take place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, with the nearby Sheraton New Orleans Hotel also hosting official events.
NTI, the world’s largest conference for nurses who care for high acuity and critically ill patients, includes the Critical Care Exposition, the largest and most comprehensive trade show expressly for acute and critical care nurses, and one of the 50 fastest-growing trade shows in America in both event attendance and exhibitors, as ranked by Trade Show Executive.
There will be more than 400 exhibits spread over 300,000 square feet that encompass the latest healthcare equipment, devices, supplies and career opportunities.
Conference sessions represent the best clinical education reflecting today’s diverse critical care environments. Topics include:• Eliminating healthcare-associated infections and medical errors• Improving patient outcomes and financial savings with nurse-led innovations• Understanding the benefits and risks of healthcare technology• Integrating new research findings into evidence-based patient care
One of the key sessions at the conference will be the NTI Summit, which addresses nurse staffing and its impact on the work environment. “Staffing Through the Lens of HWE: Many Shades of Gray” will explore the relationship between barriers to practice, current staffing methodologies and healthy work environment standards. A diverse group of expert panelists will also share potential strategies to manage the challenges of staffing and barriers to practice. The interactive half-day event will be held Wednesday, May 18, from 12:30 to 4:45 p.m.
Among the learning opportunities, NTI offers more than 55 sessions specifically for clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses. These Advanced Practice Institute preconferences and concurrent sessions address leadership role development, public policy, healthcare reform, clinical systems and pharmacology.
Participants can earn up to 34 hours of continuing education during NTI. As an added value, attendees registered for the full conference will receive free online access to certification review courses, webinars and recorded sessions from previous NTIs during the conference. After NTI, more than 170 recorded sessions from NTI 2016 will be available online through July 31 to extend the on-site learning offered during the conference.
The complete conference program with all educational sessions and special events offered in New Orleans is available online.
About the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition: Established in 1974, AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI) represents the world’s largest educational conference and trade show for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families. Bedside nurses, nurse educators, nurse managers, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners attend NTI.
About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, California, 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 a half million acute and critical care nurses and includes more than 225 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; www.facebook.com/aacnface; www.twitter.com/aacnme
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