Nurses all over the world are interested in similar issues and embrace a common goal: to provide nursing care that will improve the health status and quality of life of individuals, families, communities, aggregates, and countries. With the greater (and increasingly mandatory) emphasis on providing care based on scientific evidence and the latest findings, nurses come together often to share knowledge, original research, clinical expertise, practice pearls, successes and failures, and personal and collective goals for the future. This month, I have the privilege of attending two such meetings -The National Conference for Nurse Practitioners (NCNP) and Acute Care Clinicians in Nashville, Tennessee and the 2007 International Council of Nurses (ICN) conference in Yokohama, Japan. Although these two meetings are geographically miles apart, conceptually, they are very close.
Our Common Bond
I was overwhelmed at the first NCNP conference I attended with more than 1,200 attendees, primarily nurse practitioners (NPs), from across the United States. I was even more overwhelmed at my first ICN meeting of over 4,000 nurses from more than 100 countries. What struck me about these two experiences was a common thread I heard from nurses practicing in different settings, be it in the rural or urban United States, or a developed or developing country. These nurses said, "I want to learn how I can provide better care for my patients." What is it that makes us connect? Is there a special gene not yet discovered that programs nurses? If so, it allows us to transcend language, culture, and politics in our work to make a difference and benefit humanity.
Real Issues
The NCNP is the official conference of The Nurse Practitioner journal. The purpose of this year's meeting is "to offer interactive tutorials, presentations, and practical workshops that promote clinical excellence and improve the quality of care that healthcare practitioners provide." Presenters will share their expertise on a multitude of topics, including primary and acute care, representing advanced practice roles, specialties, and subspecialties. Whether you are a new graduate or a seasoned NP, the meeting offers new information for practitioners and opportunities to earn continuing education hours. Besides, it couldn't hurt to enjoy a bit of Nashville to rejuvenate the brain cells and minimize the effects of information overload.
The theme of the 2007 ICN meeting is Nurses at the Forefront: Dealing with the Unexpected. Speakers will present real (local, regional, and international) issues that challenge nursing practice at all levels, not only for discussion but also to emphasize nurses' knowledge, expertise, and resourcefulness in overcoming these challenges. Formalization of the education and preparation of advanced practice nurses (APNs) varies by countries, and is affected by public opinion, politics, legislative authority, and culture. Yet nurses strive to achieve advanced roles and seek effective strategies to this end. The ICN definition of the APN role, which is available on their Web site (http://www.icn.ch/), acknowledges these differences and encourages countries to adopt an NP/APN model attuned to their individual needs and conditions.
Maximizing informal activities at organized conferences is important. Nursing meetings provide an excellent venue for networking to establish mutually beneficial relationships. After meeting sessions end and everyone goes back home, the contacts made through networking may help sustain the momentum generated at the conference and facilitate efforts to minimize challenges to practice, promote clinical excellence, and improve the quality of care. I hope to see you all at NCNP and/or ICN.
Jamesetta Newland, PhD, APRN, BC, FNP, FAANP, FNAP
Editor-in-Chief