Music City was host to this year's National Conference for Nurse Practitioners (NCNP) held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN, May 1-4. Over 1,500 nurse practitioners (NPs) from all over the country attended this year's conference, sponsored by The Nurse Practitioner journal, to learn about the latest guidelines, evidence-based treatments, and how implementation of the Affordable Care Act would impact practice.
Conference Chairperson Margaret A. Fitzgerald, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C, FAANP, CSP, FAAN, DCC, kicked off the event with a warm welcome to all attendees and the presentation of this year's NP of the Year Award to Darryl Adams, APN-BC from Altamont, Tenn (pictured here). Adams was recognized for developing the Mountain Tops and Bottoms program in her local area, which provides basic women's healthcare, such as routine mammograms and Pap smears, free of charge to women in need.
Dr. Fitzgerald then delivered the keynote address entitled, "Drug Update: What's Hot, What's Not." With her dynamic speaking style and audience engagement, Dr. Fitzgerald explained the latest information on drug therapies and new uses/cautions for established medications.
Dr. Fitzgerald presented several other topics throughout the conference, including the role of inflammation in various conditions; new infectious disease guidelines; and avoiding employment disasters.
Throughout the conference, participants attended breakout sessions, interactive workshops, and skill-building courses led by expert speakers covering topics such as: OTC medications and herbal products, type 2 diabetes, basic suturing, advances in dermatology, and many more.
Expert speaker Tom Bartol, NP, CDE, tackled type 2 diabetes and described how to motivate patients to change their behaviors and make lifestyle modifications to facilitate diabetes management.
Louise McDevitt, MS, ACNP-BC, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP, taught a basic suturing workshop in which attendees learned how to perform a simple, interrupted suture and vertical mattress suture.
Victor Czerkasij, MA, MS, FNP-BC, covered the latest advances in dermatology. His session discussed a broad range of topics, including psychological categorization of some dermatoses, issues of vitamin D deficiency and sunscreen use, the unknown dangers of tattoos, off-label use of biologics, and updates on acne, psoriasis, and atopy.
Participants also had the opportunity to gain CE and pharmacology credits, and continued their learning experience at the on-site, e-conference center. The next NCNP will be held April 23-26 at the Hilton Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.