The NNSDO Convention is off to a great start at the Sheraton Hotel and Marina in San Diego, CA. Preconference workshops commenced on Wednesday, July 7 and Thursday, July 8 and included topics on leadership, technology, research, and preparation for the nursing professional development certification exam. The keynote address was delivered by Beverly Malone, PhD,RN,FAAN, Chief Exective Officer of the National League for Nursing. Dr. Malone addressed the audience with an energetic and dynamic presentation which challenged our assumptions about the ongoing issues within nursing that undermine workplace safety. She provided a framework for transformational leadership to improve interactions among coworkers and create a more harmonious work environment.

During the conference, NNSDO celebrated the publication of the Scope and Standards of Nursing Professional Development with a parade of costumed nurses depicting the roles of the nursing professional development specialist, which was a truly memorable moment.

A strong theme that resonated was addressing the need for more rigorous research to support the practice of nursing professional development specialists, especially during the session, What's the Evidence for Your Practice presented by Julia Aucoin, Vicki Lundmark, Mary Krugman, and Joan Warren. This panel demonstrated how much of the professional education literature is based on tradition, myths, or huge leaps and generalizations. This is not an indictment of nursing professional development specialists alone, there is deficiency in all the health professional continuing education literature. This provides a vast opportunity for research.

The participants also have opportunities to learn more about their colleagues evidence-based research and implementation projects at the poster presentations. Attendees are meeting with exhibitors, and they are attending NNSDO business meetings while at the Convention. There is quite a bit of networking and sharing of ideas and best practices for new ideas to take back to their organizations.