I have always felt that one of the strengths of the International Conference on Forensic Science and Practice is its participants, and this year's conference held in Denver, Colorado, from September 29 to October 2, 2016, reaffirmed my convictions. I have been a regular attendee for more years than I would like to admit; yes, I am publicly confessing that I am getting older-but I digress. The point I wish to make is that, in all the years that I have attended the International Association of Forensic Nurses' (IAFN) annual conference, this is by far the largest, with almost a thousand participants, presenters, exhibitors, and staff members in attendance, with the actual registration over 900 strong. One thing is certain, forensic nurses are a force to be reckoned with-we are uniquely positioned with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet the diverse needs of individual clients, their families, and communities. Our work takes place across the life-span, transcends borders, and by its very nature, demands intersectoral and interprofessional collaboration.

Conference Highlights

The mission of the conference, as noted in the syllabus, was "to provide leadership in forensic nursing by developing, promoting, and disseminating information internationally about forensic nursing practice." I know firsthand that conference planning and program development for a conference of this magnitude are not easily achieved. I applaud the conference planning committee who, under the leadership of conference chairperson Denise Covington, worked diligently throughout the year to provide attendees with opportunities, through their attendance and participation, to contribute to the professional discourse among forensic nursing clinicians, researchers, educators, administrators, and policy makers.

Dr. Sharon Cooper, who gave the opening keynote address entitled "Look Beneath the Surface: Human Trafficking is Modern Day Slavery," challenged us to think about the many faces of human trafficking, to work collaboratively across disciplines, to avoid working in silos, and to be sure to engage in "fact checking" before testifying in court. During the address "Children in a Digital Age," Lt. Joe Laramie (Ret.) reminded us that scare tactics are ineffective when working with youth who do not see themselves as vulnerable. The importance of interprofessional collaboration between disciplines and sectors was emphasized in dealing with the dangers of technology. Dr. Darcy Copeland's address "Violence, Compassion Fatigue, and Compassion Satisfaction in the Emergency Department" provided a general overview of workplace violence in healthcare settings vis-a-vis compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. In the final keynote address "Now You See It, Now You Don't: Identifying Human Trafficking Survivors in the Health Care System," Dr. Ann Janette Alejano-Steele provided a comprehensive overview of human trafficking according to the United Nations Convention and the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. She challenged us to look at how we frame our view of those who are trafficked. Do we see an illegal immigrant or a victim of human trafficking? She further emphasized that survivors do not always present as "victims" and that we have to be able to look beyond, to break the stereotyped image of the grateful "victim." To round out the program, the conference featured all day institutes, workshops, concurrent sessions, poster sessions, and a movie screening. To say the conference was full and rich would almost be an understatement.

Writing for Publication

I would like to extend an open invitation to all the keynote speakers, workshop presenters, institute presenters, concurrent session speakers, and poster presenters to consider taking your work to the next level. One way to truly extend your international reach is to publish your work in a reputable peer-reviewed publication. As the official journal of the IAFN, I would encourage you to choose the Journal of Forensic Nursing to showcase your work. Whether the results of a research study, a discussion of a unique clinical case, a review of the literature, a theoretical or conceptual paper, or a clinical issue (to name a few), I want to see your papers. If you aren't sure if your paper is a good fit for the Journal of Forensic Nursing, drop me a query letter, and let's have a discussion. The journal's objective is to publish scholarly manuscripts and to expand empirical evidence important to the practice of forensic nursing worldwide. By publishing in the Journal of Forensic Nursing, not only will all members of the IAFN have access to our work, your manuscript also has the potential of reaching thousands of nurses and like-minded forensic professionals globally. However, it would be irresponsible of me to lead you to believe that all papers submitted will be accepted for publication. Please note that all manuscripts that are received undergo a double-blind peer review, with approximately 50% eventually published, which means the other 50% are rejected.

Writing, for most of us, is tough. I would be the first to admit it. The beauty of basing your potential publication on a presentation is that you have had the opportunity to "test drive" your ideas-the organization of your ideas-and get feedback from your audience that you can then use to revise your paper for submission (Levett-Jones & Stone, 2012). If the audience has questions or concerns, so too will the peer reviewers who review your work. Although it is beyond the scope of this editorial to walk you through all the steps of turning your presentation into a publication, resources are available (see Driscoll & Aquilina, 2011; Happell, 2012; Levett-Jones & Stone, 2012; Peternelj-Taylor, 2010). Next year's International Conference on Forensic Science and Practice will be held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, October 11-14, 2017. Be sure to submit your abstract for consideration by the 2017 conference planning committee.

Tips for Constructing a Conference Abstract

In many respects, constructing a conference abstract can be almost as difficult as writing a manuscript for publication. A conference abstract is a brief, informative overview of what you plan to present. To begin, carefully review and adhere to the conference abstract submission guidelines. Ask yourself the following questions: Does what you want to present fit with the overall conference theme? Who are you presenting to? What will they want to know? Why is your work important? Why are you the one to present this work? Your goal is to quickly hook the reviewer with a catchy yet descriptive title, or in Sherman's (2011) words, the title "creates an immediate impression." As such, you want to ensure that you make a good first impression. Is the purpose clear? Is it presented clearly and concisely? Have you edited your abstract carefully for spelling, grammar, and clarity of expression? And of course, be sure that your abstract and your presentation are situated within contemporary research and scholarly work and that the implications for forensic nursing are clearly presented (Frazer, 2012; Happell, 2008; Sherman, 2011).

Closing Thoughts

During my time in Denver, I attended sessions that I typically would not attend. I found this experience quite enlightening, and although I may not have agreed with all the perspectives being shared, the perspectives challenged me to think further about my own values and beliefs. I also had many opportunities to dialogue with like-minded colleagues, reconnect with old friends, and make new friends. I look forward to doing it all again when we meet in Toronto in 2017.

References