Conference Highlights
The Master's Education Conference enables graduate faculty to explore topics and issues of mutual interest with the help of experts from the full spectrum of nursing education. Program, breakout, poster, and abstract sessions allow participants to meet a variety of professional needs and pursue personal areas of interest. Faculty and academic administrators alike are encouraged to join colleagues to address issues unique to master's education in nursing.

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Special Pre-Conference
Wednesday, February 21 - 11:30 a.m.-6:15 p.m.
Thursday, February 22 - 7:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC)
Train-the-Trainer Program for Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing Faculty

Nurses educated at the master's level for any type of generalist or specialist practice need current information about end-of-life/palliative care. The steadily increasing aging population and mandates for excellent care at the end of life by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services make it even more vital that nursing faculty be educated in this area so they may teach others. The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Project, a national educational program administered by City of Hope and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, is designed to enhance end-of-life/palliative care in nursing. Since 2001, 502 undergraduate nursing faculty (representing 460 [69%] baccalaureate nursing programs) and 300 graduate nursing faculty (representing 255 [58%] graduate schools of nursing) from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, have received ELNEC training. Take advantage of the opportunity to attend this national course at a reduced rate of $400 prior to January 8, 2007, after which the fee is $450. Registration fee includes all materials and two meals. For more information about the course, go to: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ELNEC/07Courses.htm
Faculty: Betty Ferrell, PhD, RN, FAAN, Principal Investigator of ELNEC, Research Scientist, City of Hope, Duarte, CA; Marianne LaPorte Matzo, PhD, APRN, GNP-BC, FAAN, Professor and the Frances E. and A. Earl Ziegler Chair in Palliative Care Nursing, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK; Denice Sheehan, PhD(c), RN, The Breen School of Nursing, Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, OH

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Master's Education Conference

Thursday, February 22

12:00-4:00 p.m.
Conference Registration

1:30-3:00 p.m.
Welcome, Introductions
Opening Program Session
The Long and Winding Road: Clarifying Master's Education
Considering the many avenues to the master's -- RN to MSN, direct entry, APN, CNS, CNL, educator, administrator -- where has master's education been and where is it going? What are current issues and concerns? What national priorities impact master's level education in nursing? Join the AACN President for an overview of this important level of educational preparation and the various issues and initiatives concerning it.
Speaker: Jeanette Lancaster, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean, School of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA and President, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Washington, DC

3:00-3:30 p.m.
Break

3:30-5:00 p.m.
Program Session
Implementing Evidence-Based Practice in Master's Nursing Education
Educators are well aware that evidence-based practice is an increasingly essential aspect of nursing practice and education, but the details are more nebulous. How do we teach this approach to graduate students? What should we teach? How should faculty prepare for this expectation? Consider pragmatic answers to these questions with an experienced master's level faculty member who has implemented and written about evidence-based practice.
Speaker: Joanne K. Singleton, PhD, APRN, FNAP, Professor and lead faculty, Family Nurse Practitioner Program, Lienhard School of Nursing, Pace University, New York, NY

5:00-6:30 p.m.
Reception with Poster Presentations

Friday, February 23

8:00-8:30 a.m.
Light Continental Breakfast

Concurrent Sessions
All sessions are offered at 8:30-10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. separated by a 30-minute break, allowing you to select two topics.

12:00-1:30 p.m.
Lunch and Informal Networking (on your own)

1:30-4:15 p.m.
Abstract Presentations

Saturday, February 24

8:00-8:30 a.m.
Light Continental Breakfast

8:30-10:00 a.m.
Program Session
Facilitating Critical Thinking and Decision Making
It is clear that nursing faculty consider critical thinking and clinical reasoning to be pivotal skills
for graduate nursing students to develop. What is less clear is how faculty should facilitate
formation of these important skills. Join two national leaders in this area to consider major
concepts as well as strategies that enable faculty to demand evidence of critical thinking in
course work and clinical practice. Emphasis is on training critical thinking skills and habits
of mind and on demonstrating evidence of learning outcomes in this area.
Speakers: Noreen C. Facione, PhD, RN, FAAN, Emerita, University of California San Francisco School of Nursing, San Francisco, CA and Peter Facione, PhD, University Provost and Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL

10:00-10:30 a.m.
Break

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Closing Program Session
Balance in the Faculty Role
What faculty member has not struggled with pressing concerns from the various roles they are expected to fulfill? Join an academic administrator who has given much thought to the concept of balance, and use this opportunity to think about personal ways to maximize your time and role performance.
Speaker: Paul L. Gaston, PhD, Provost, Kent State University, Kent, OH

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General Information

The Call for Abstracts for the Master's Education Conference can be found on AACN's website: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Conferences/index.htm. The deadline for receipt of abstracts is December 18, 2006.

Registration
The registration fee is $389 for members/ $489 for non-members. The deadline for early registration is February 1, 2007. The registration fee after February 1 is $459 for members/ $559 for non-members. For AACN member schools, there is a $30 discount for each additional registrant from the same school. Email messages confirming registration will be sent to all participants.

Register online at www.aacn.nche.edu/Registration/registration.asp

Hotel Information
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque, 330 Tijeras, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102. The room rate is $149 single/double. The cutoff date for room reservations is February 1, 2007. For reservations, please call the hotel directly at 505/842-1234. When calling, please ask for Group Room Reservations and request the group rate for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing or AACN. Reservations made after February 1 will be on a space and availability basis, so be sure to make your arrangements early.

If you are unable to make reservations at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque, you may want to contact the Doubletree Hotel (within walking distance from the Hyatt):

Doubletree Hotel
201 Marquette Avenue NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505/247-3344
www.doubletree.com

Transportation
Albuquerque International Sunport is located approximately 5 miles from the hotel. Airport shuttles and taxis are available for transportation to the hotel. Shuttles cost approximately $12.00 one way for the first person, $5.00 for the second person. A cab costs $15.00 one way from the airport. Additional information on ground transportation and airlines serving the Albuquerque airport, please visit www.cabq.gov/airport/

Continuing Education Credit
Continuing education contact hours will be provided by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to all conference participants at no additional cost. Certificates will be provided in your conference packet.

Refund and Cancellation Policy
Registrations that are cancelled up to one week before the meeting will be refunded minus a $50 administrative fee. Cancellations received with less than one week's notice will be refunded minus a $150 administrative fee. There will be no refunds for no-shows.

AACN reserves the right to cancel this conference and any group activity that does not meet minimal group requirements. Non-refundable airline tickets are the responsibility of the registrant.

Additional Information
For more information, contact AACN, One Dupont Circle, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036; 202/463-6930. If you require any special access in order to take part in this meeting, please contact Shana Cohen at AACN or by email at scohen@aacn.nche.edu. The Hyatt Regency Albuquerque is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Information about this and other AACN conferences is available at the AACN website: www.aacn.nche.edu/conferences