As primary and acute care practitioners, staying up-to-date and exploring research topics is key for providing optimal care and advancing the profession. After conducting original studies, one of the best ways to exhibit and share your findings with colleagues is by designing a poster presentation. Whether your goal is professional and academic development, a general interest or expertise in a given topic, or fulfilling a hospital-based requirement, creating and presenting a poster enables you to share and discuss your findings while networking with other healthcare professionals.

Currently, poster presentations are being accepted for the 2012 National Conference for Nurse Practitioners taking place at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. from May 16-19. The conference is an educational meeting and exposition for advanced practice nurses in both primary and acute care. Poster submissions should contain subject matter of interest to nurse practitioners in both the primary and acute care setting. Topics can include, but are not limited to, clinical research, case studies, treatment modalities, classification systems, lab research, treatment protocols, education, and team building.

Submissions

To submit a poster, you must first establish an account on our Poster Submission Site at http://www.NCNPconference.com and click on "Submit A Poster Abstract"! Follow the user-friendly instructions to create a new account and begin the submission process. The deadline for submission is March 30, 2012.

Once you've created an account, you may access it by entering the login ID and password on the right-hand side of the screen.

Please note that this submission system is completely paperless. All communications concerning your proposal will be sent via e-mail. Before creating your account on our Poster Submission Site, we strongly urge that you send a test message to your e-mail account through this system. This will ensure that you don't miss any important messages. Simply click on the "Test My E-mail Address" link that appears on the Poster Submission System Login page.

Proposals must include the following:

* Abstract title

* Two to three behavioral objectives (that is, what will the attendee learn after viewing your poster? Use words such as "describe," "identify," "define," and "list")

* Abstract (250 word limit); when presenting a product, you must use the generic name

* Recent references/supporting research

* Biographical information

Note: By submitting your abstract, you authorize Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins to use your abstract in print and electronic media.

If your poster is accepted for display at the conference, you will be notified by April 14, 2012.

Watch for more detailed conference and registration information in upcoming issues throughout 2012, and be sure to join us in Florida for an exciting and informative program. See you there!