The National Conference for Nurse Practitioners (NCNP) 2016 is being held at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort from May 11th through May 14th. I spoke with the conference chairperson, Margaret Fitzgerald, 
DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C, FAANP, CSP, FAAN, DCC on what makes this year’s conference so exciting, what attendees can expect, and what special highlights are planned. 

Be sure to take advantage of early registration through March 31st! Enter discount ID “SPECIAL” for $50 off the main conference. For other nursing conferences and events, check out our Nursing Events Calendar. 



Q: How did you first get involved in the National Conference for Nurse Practitioners (NCNP)?
A: Originally, I was one of the often invited faculty at NCNP. I greatly enjoyed speaking at this high quality meeting that presented a variety of truly cutting edge presentations to nurse practitioners. Because of my work speaking at the meeting and the favorable feedback I would receive, I was invited to be part of the planning committee. After serving on that committee for a few years, I was invited to take the helm as the chair of the committee, which has been a real honor and privilege to do. 

Q: What is so special about NCNP?
A: The highlights of NCNP are information building, skill building, and clinical decision making sessions for nurse practitioners. 

Attendees will find an update of some of the most important topics in primary care, including the latest information on Hypertension, Menopause Management, Diabetes, and the like. 

NCNP has a wide variety of skill-building presentations from which to choose. Most sessions will have four to six choices of topics, like conducting an orthopedic exam, splinting, casting, reading an electrocardiogram, or improving your prescribing skills. 

Another great thing about this conference is that we also have session offerings for clinicians that are more specialized in their practice. We do a good deal of urgent, emergency and acute  care sessions as well, including electrolyte management, pain management, intracerebral hemorrhage, mechanical ventilation, managing respiratory failure, and more.
 
What it gets down to is this… at the meeting we help meet the needs of a wide variety of nurse practitioners. They can cut across different areas of concentration and explore a variety of different topics all in one location.

As a bonus, one of the true value-added parts of this meeting is that their breakfast and lunch are included in your tuition. This allows the nurse practitioner to have time to socialize and network with people from all over the country.
 
Q: How will this year’s conference surpass past years?
A: The location is simply superb. This year, NCNP is being held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This is a beautiful facility with lots to do on premises, plus of course all that Orlando and Disney have to offer right outside the door. The way the meeting area is set up is really conducive to socializing with one another. The topic content is also top notch. The planning committee has really worked to put together an exciting program to help move the nurse practitioner along in the profession.
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Q: For the keynote address, I see you are interviewing Loretta C. Ford, RN, PNP, EdD, FAAN, FAANP. What can attendees expect?
A: More than 50 years ago, Loretta Ford helped create the concept of the nurse practitioner profession. She is 95-years-old, and we are incredibly fortunate to have someone who started the profession around today to educate all the 210,000 plus nurse practitioners out there. She has become a dear friend and mentor to me over the years, and my interview with her at NCNP will be a little different than talks she has done in the past. I’m going to interview her to get up close and personal. I want to know what she was thinking when she first conceived the profession; I want to know who her mentors were at the time. She was born the same year women in this country received the constitutional right to vote. I want to know how that time period influenced her decisions. 

Q: NCNP is a great way to earn CE and pharmacology credit. Why is earning pharmacology credit important for attendees?
A: Pharmacology credit is very important. As nurse practitioners, we want the latest information about a variety of medications, including new ones to market and repurposes of older medications. As prescribers, continuing education in pharmacology is a necessity; virtually all NPs have a pharmacology requirement to maintain their licenses.  

Q: You will be speaking on emerging infectious disease threats, including dengue fever, the avian flu, chikungunya, and enterovirus D65. Can you tell me some highlights about this talk?
A: I greatly enjoy doing this presentation. Historically, infectious diseases have mostly been spread outside of the United States. But, the growing rate of international travel is changing this. We need to be able to recognize these diseases and treat patients accordingly. I have a number of patients who travel to and from the Caribbean, and I need to be aware of these issues. For this talk, I will also be including the latest information around Zika virus as we learn more about this frightening disease.
 
Q: NCNP will also host a number of exhibit hours, where nurses can learn more about new products, trends in the industry, and information sources such as Lippincott NursingCenter.com. Why should your attendees take a stroll through the exhibit hall?
A: Strolling through the exhibit hall is a great way to learn new information around a variety of nursing products, from educational websites to new pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements. Your eyes will be open to resources of which you were previously unaware. 

Q: Finally, what is your favorite part about attending a conference? 
A: My favorite part is knowledge building; we have so much to learn in this profession. I also enjoy meeting nurse practitioners from all over the country and all over the world.