Authors

  1. Section Editor(s): Guanci, Gen MEd, RN-BC, CCRN

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CALL TO CONVENTION

The 2013 convention is a year of firsts. This will be the first time ANPD (formerly NNSDO) will offer its convention under its new name and on a new Wednesday through Saturday schedule. The ANPD convention will open on Wednesday, July 17, and close on Saturday, July 20.

 

Aspire to [horizontal ellipsis]leadership is the theme for this year's convention, which is fitting given ANPD's aspiration to be the leading professional association for nursing professional development (NPD) specialists worldwide. The convention content planning committee is excited to bring you educational offerings from NPD specialists representing all regions of the United States along with international presenters. We hope that you will be inspired by your experiences at the convention to claim your place as leaders in your organizations and communities.

 

The goals for this convention are to

 

* promote patient safety, staff satisfaction, and quality care in all aspects of NPD;

 

* network with peers to function effectively as leader, educator, facilitator, consultant, change agent, and researcher; and

 

* balance teaching, learning, and clinical practice in an environment of fiscal responsibility.

 

 

THE CITY

Dallas is a large and modern city incorporated in 1856. In its early years, it became prominent as a center for the oil and cotton industries and its position along railroad lines.

 

Today, Dallas is described as a city where optimism meets opportunity. Its pioneering spirit and the philanthropic contributions of its residents continue to enrich the community and quality of life. Dallas has a large concentration of Fortune 500 companies, and its economy is based on a diverse range of businesses including banking, telecommunications, computer technology, energy, healthcare and medical research, transportation, and logistics.

 

Visitors can enjoy great shopping, fine dining, and the largest urban arts district in the nation along with year-round sporting events. Visitors can ride DART, a light rail system, or the historic, free McKinney Avenue Trolley from the Dallas Arts District to explore the Uptown area with its restaurants, pubs, boutique hotels, and shops.

 

Dallas is just a 4-hour flight from most North American cities. DFW International Airport is the world's fourth busiest airport, and Dallas Love Field Airport is located just 10 minutes from downtown.

 

INVITED SPEAKERS

This year's invited speakers are Peter Doolittle, PhD; Pam Jefferies, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN; Terry Stickels; and Kent Rader.

 

OPENING SESSION: PETER DOOLITTLE, PhD

Dr. Doolittle' holds a doctorate in educational psychology. He is an associate professor of education and Director of the Virginia Tech Center for Instructional Development and Educational Research. Also, he is the executive editor of the International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and the International Journal of ePortfolio, and the associate editor of the International Journal of Research on Cyber Behavior, Psychology, and Learning. His presentation is Teaching and Learning in a Changing World."

 

KEYNOTE SESSION: PAM JEFFERIES, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

Dr. Jeffries is Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. She is nationally known for her research and work in developing simulations and online teaching and learning. In her presentation, "Leading the Change in Healthcare Practice through Clinical Simulations," she will discuss the role of clinical simulation in preparing today's nursing graduates, orientees, and practicing nurses for the challenges of contemporary nursing practice.

 

GENERAL SESSION: TERRY STICKELS

Puzzle creator Terry Stickels is dedicated to the pursuit of improving mental flexibility and creative problem-solving skills while having fun. In his presentation, "Mindstretch-For Fun and Profit," he argues that we all have the power to improve critical thinking skills and will provide us with the opportunity to experience this.

 

CLOSING SESSION: KENT RADER

Comedian Kent Rader previously worked as a hospital CFO and CEO. His presentation, Let It Go, Just Let It Go," is expected to be both entertaining and informative as he explores the origins of stressful feelings in health care and how humor is proven to combat these feelings. He will offer practical ways to include more humor in your life and experience how laughter reduces stress.

 

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

In light of the 2010 Scope and Standards of Practice in Nursing Professional Development, the track descriptions have been updated. The concurrent sessions have been assigned into the following tracks.

 

Nursing Professional Development

This relates to ensuring safe and effective patient care and ongoing professional development of nurses (including self). The track incorporates the NPD standards of practice: assessment, identification of issues and trends, outcomes identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

 

Career Development and Mentoring

Sessions in this track relate to supporting lifelong learning through precepting, coaching, role modeling, advising, and/or mentoring nurses as they execute a professional development plan to facilitate professional goal attainment.

 

Evidence-Based Practice and Nursing Research

This track relates to the development of innovations in NPD. Sessions in this track cover coordination of research processes, dissemination of new knowledge, and translation of best evidence into nursing practice.

 

Leadership

This track relates to influencing and leading change/excellence initiatives; advocating for NPD; and supporting a healthy, meaningful work environment.

 

Technology/Informatics/Simulation

This track relates to use of technologies to advance professional development and nursing practice.

 

Professional Development Partnerships

Sessions in this track relate to collaboration with academia and/or community agencies to advance curricula to meet the needs of the nursing profession and healthcare organizations.

 

Presenters for the convention's 72 sixty-minute concurrent sessions were selected from submitted proposals with the content planning committee's most highly rated topics selected. The content planning committee worked to ensure that the program has something for everyone by considering sessions for varying levels of experience, relevance of topics to current challenges in NPD/patient education, and feasibility of application to a variety of settings.

 

PRECONVENTION WORKSHOPS

The ANPD convention program also has 12 four-hour preconvention workshops on a variety of topics. These longer sessions allow for more in-depth exploration of the topic and will include activities designed to help participants consider practical applications. Workshops are scheduled for Tuesday (July 16, 2013) and Wednesday (July 17, 2013) and, like the concurrent sessions, are offered in a variety of tracks.

 

POSTERS

In addition to the podium presentations, more than 45 posters will be presented at the convention. Poster presenters will staff their posters during established times to allow for one-to-one communication between poster presenters and participants.

 

NPD CERTIFICATION PREPARATION COURSE

ANPD has scheduled its popular and effective 2-day certification preparation course to prepare participants for the American Nurses Credentialing Center generalist certification examination in NPD. The course includes an extensive review of the NPD curriculum and a practice examination. This is a good foundational course for those new to NPD in addition to those wishing to take the certification examination.

 

EXHIBITS

Representatives from a variety of companies will be on hand at the ANPD convention to answer questions and to show their products. You will learn about the latest products and services for NPD, and your practice will benefit from having a productive relationship with industry representatives who can keep you informed of the latest developments in technology, pharmaceuticals, software, publications, and other products and services for NPD professionals.

 

HOTEL INFORMATION

The 2013 convention will be held at the Dallas Sheraton Hotel. The Dallas Sheraton Hotel is holding rooms for NNSDO at the rate of $139.00 single/double/triple/quadruple until June 19, 2013, or the room block is filled.

 

The Sheraton Hotel is located in downtown Dallas and is within walking distance from the Dallas Convention Center, One Arts Plaza, AT&T Performing Arts Center, and the Cotton Bowl Stadium.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

ANPD 2013 convention registration information is available on the ANPD Web site at http://www.anpd.org, or you may contact the ANPD National Office at (800) 489-1995 or (312) 321-5135.

 

See you in Dallas!

 

Nicole Gooding, Convention Content Planning Committee Chair