CALL TO CONVENTION
Aspire to transform is the theme of ANPD's 28th Annual National Convention, which will be at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans, Louisiana, a city that has been transformed in the 12 years since Hurricane Katrina. It is a growing city with a model healthcare system. What hasn't changed is the New Orleans vibe centered in the French Quarter, with Bourbon Street at its heart. The "Big Easy" is home to jazz, great cuisine, and a myriad of cultural traditions. Join your nursing professional development (NPD) colleagues in New Orleans. The preconvention workshops begin on July 17 and will be followed by the ANPD Annual Convention on July 18-21. This premier event provides the NPD practitioner relevant, outstanding educational activities presented by nationally known speakers as well as numerous networking opportunities.
This year, the categories for educational tracks and posters represent the throughput (responsibilities) of the NPD Practice Model: Onboarding/Orientation, Competency Management, Education, Role Development, Collaborative Partnerships, and Research/Evidence-Based Practice/Quality Improvement (Harper & Maloney, 2016). Every NPD practitioner will find relevant, engaging educational offerings. The concurrent sessions include offerings for novices to experts. Vendors will fill the exhibit hall with the latest products and services for the NPD practitioner.
WELCOME TO NEW ORLEANS (NOLA)!
New Orleans is a walking city that invites exploration. Put on your walking shoes, or if walking isn't for you, New Orleans is home to the world's oldest operating streetcar line, with the newest line across from the entrance to the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Whatever your transportation choice, the French Quarter, the Warehouse and Arts District, and the Garden District are all a must-see. You will also want to plan to experience New Orleans' world-famous cuisine. There is New Orleans beginner's guide (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDP9oFp_NCM) for those who have never been to New Orleans or even for those that would like a quick refresher. If you are on a budget, here are 15 things to do for $5 or less in New Orleans (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGb4sRdy4A4).(TM) These videos offer a small taste of what you will experience in the Big Easy.
PRECONVENTION
Prior to the start of the convention, the preconvention workshops will kick off and provide significant learning opportunities. This year, we are offering 12 workshops, presented by invited experts in the NPD specialty. These workshops require a separate registration and fee. They are well worth this extra expenditure. Workshops that are new this year are The Top 10 Creative Teaching Strategies for 2017: Be Wise to What's Up and Coming; Productivity and Outcomes: Linking Nursing Professional Development to the Business of the Organization Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice (EBP); Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice; Return on Investment for Professional Development Activities: EBP Approach; and Experiential Learning in Orientation. Popular workshops being offered again this year are Nursing Professional Development Certification Preparation Course; Program and Project Management Skills for Organizational Innovation; Understanding and Meeting Accreditation Criteria; The Ultimate Workshop on Competency; Writing for Publication: From Idea to Finished Product; Getting Started in NPD: The Staff Education Process; and Developing Games for Learning. These workshops vary in length from 4 hours to 2 days. Please check the ANPD convention brochure for specific details. Whether you are new to NPD practice or an expert manager/director of NPD practitioners, there is a workshop for you.
INVITED SPEAKERS
Opening Session
Ms. Michele Deck, MEd, BSN, LCCE, FACCE, known for her creative and innovative teaching strategies, opens the convention with a guided tour of transformation, Aspire to Transform: Recognize the Benefits of Renewal. Both New Orleans and NPD have transformed over the last several years, and this Louisiana-native and expert NPD practitioner brings a unique perspective. Skills, knowledge, and practice changes have transformed who we are, the jobs we do, and the changes yet to come. Michele will share both the barriers to and the benefits of personal and professional transformation. "Aspire to ROCK" as you join Michele in this dynamic presentation.
Wednesday General Session
Dr. Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, CPNP, FNAP, FAAN, presents the keynote, "Igniting and Sustaining Evidence-Based Practice to Meet the Quadruple Aim in Health Care." Dr. Melnyk is known both nationally and globally as an expert on evidence-based practice, and she will share her expertise as she focuses on how evidence-based practice is critical to achieving the quadruple aim in health care. She will discuss the critical components of an evidence-based culture and the tactics to achieve and sustain best practices and outcomes to transform patient care.
Thursday Morning General Session
Dr. Lorelai Lingard, PhD, presents on the concept of collective competence in Truths and Myths About Teams: Transforming Our Thinking About Competence. The medical community has embraced the notion of "expert teams" as critical to its clinical and educational mandates. Our conventional emphasis on individual competence is not suited to developing and assessing teamwork. Dr. Lingard will share stories of healthcare teamwork to illustrate collective competence or the lack thereof.
Thursday Afternoon General Session
This session, Partnering to Determine the Scope of Simulation in U.S. Acute Care Hospitals, is presented by a team of NPD, simulation, and research experts that include Marie Gilbert, DNP, RN, CHSE; Kate J. Morse, PhD, MSN, RN; Krista Kipper, MSN, RN, CHSE; Linda Markey, PhD, MSN, RN; and Lygia Lee Arcaro, PhD, RN-BC. ANPD partnered with the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning to describe the use of simulation in acute care hospitals. These experts will share the findings of this study and the implications of the findings for NPD practice.
Closing Session
Ms. Donna Cardillo, RN, CSP, a nationally renowned speaker, also known as "the Inspiration Nurse," will end the convention with The Power of Transformation. Ms. Cardillo will describe the inevitability of change in our careers and our lives, leaving us with strategies to embrace this change, thus creating a vibrant future for ourselves, our specialty, and our profession. The Inspiration Nurse will inspire us to transform.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
This year, there are 10 concurrent sessions with six educational tracks for a total of 60 one-hour offerings. The convention content planning committee reviewed hundreds of well-written, relevant abstracts and selected the best. Sessions are available for all levels of expertise, from novice to expert.
POSTERS
The convention content planning committee has done a great job choosing more than 90 well-designed, relevant posters for you to view and discuss. Last year's Rapid Fire Poster Session was such a hit that we are offering one again. The session features four posters with the topic of interprofessional education. Each presenter will provide an overview of their poster for 7 minutes, address questions, transition to the next speaker. Be sure to visit all the posters. Each convention participant will have the opportunity to pick a favorite poster and vote for The Participants' Choice Award. This will be no easy task, given the quality of the posters.
EXHIBIT HALL
The exhibit hall is a great place to meet colleagues, chat with a variety of vendors, and learn about the excellent products to make your job as an NPD practitioner easier. There are lots of takeaways, information, and swag. Be sure to drop by the ANPD's booth for book signings of Leadership in Nursing Professional Development: An Organizational and System Focus, the 5th edition of the Core Curriculum for NPD, and the Legal Aspects of NPD Practice.
SERVICE PROJECT
An ANPD tradition is the service project. This year's project is The Rebuild Center at St. Joseph. The Rebuild Center is a true example of transformation. It rose from an asphalt parking lot and a bundle of sticks to a warm, inviting building that provides a day center for homeless people, providing meals, showers, laundry, phone calls, health and mental health care, immigration assistance, and other services. The center is a collaborative effort among organizations serving those in need. While at convention, stop by the table, learn about the center, and consider donating. Your contribution can make a difference and transform lives.
NETWORKING
This year's networking event, NPD Rendezvous: Table Top Networking, will have a change in format, from speed networking to table topics. The content planning committee identified 10 topics of interest to the NPD practitioner, and each table will feature one of these topics. Each table will be given a set of questions to guide the discussion. Networking participants will stay at one table for the full time. Bring your business cards, meet new NPD colleagues, and enjoy the wine and cheese.
FIRST TIME AT CONVENTION?
If this is your first time at the convention, there is a webinar designed with you in mind. The convention planning webinar will be released in June and announced in Trendlines, the ANPD Newsletter and by e-mail. The webinar gives you tips on how to get the most from your ANPD Convention experience. All newcomers and returnees should put "Star Search" on their convention agenda. Star Search offers ANPD members who have not presented at a national convention an opportunity to present in a competition. Four individuals present for 10 minutes on an NPD topic. The convention content planning committee judges these presentations, and the participant receiving the highest score will be invited to present a concurrent session at the 2018 ANPD Annual Convention.
LODGING
Lodging is available at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans at a group rate of $215 a night for both double and single occupancy. These rates for the ANPD block of rooms are available until June 19th. It is always wise to make your reservations early, because once the entire block of rooms is reserved, the group rate may no longer be available. There are lots of transportation options near the hotel including walking, street cars, and public transportation. The Hyatt is located next door to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Smoothie King Center, and Champions Square and offers easy access to New Orleans' attractions. Jump on the Loyola Avenue Streetcar or walk to the historic French Quarter, Arts District, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, and the scenic Mississippi Riverfront.
Join us in New Orleans. This promises to be a transformative experience for all. You will meet new people, learn the latest NPD practices, and have fun. Remember to use the ANPD convention hashtag #ANPDAspire2017. The ANPD Board of Directors is looking forward to meeting and greeting you.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Full 2017 ANPD Convention program available on the ANPD Convention Web page http://www.anpd.org/?page=convention.
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