AACN - Conferences

Conference Highlights

The popular Executive Development Series (EDS) is designed for new and aspiring deans as well as for faculty members who want to improve their leadership skills for a variety of positions within the nursing academic unit. This year’s theme emphasizes leadership communication with faculty and various community stakeholders. Topics include examining the shared governance model; improving communication between the sexes; countering the disturbing phenomenon of incivility; developing and communicating a business plan using the input from and responding to various constituencies; and seeking resources based on important strategic relationships. The interactive nature of the conference offers opportunities for academic leaders to think about challenges in new ways and seek solutions with colleagues. The EDS and Baccalaureate Education Conference are held consecutively to enable educators to participate in both events.

The Baccalaureate Education Conference offers undergraduate faculty a forum to explore issues of particular interest and share ideas and successful strategies with colleagues. This 10th anniversary program considers changes in baccalaureate education to keep pace with rapid change in the patient care setting. Topics include using technology and simulation; implementing the revised Baccalaureate Essentials document; preparing students for innovations in patient care; and redesigning clinical teaching-learning to better prepare baccalaureate nursing graduates for the complexities of practice. Concurrent, abstract, and poster presentations allow participants to choose topics of interest in a smaller forum. Teams of faculty are encouraged to attend together. Everyone is invited to register for the special Instructional Leadership Network Program session.

Executive Development Series
December 3-4, 2008

Wednesday, December 3

7:30-8:30 a.m.
Registration and Light Continental Breakfast

8:30-10:00 a.m.
Welcome
Opening Program Session
Shared Governance: The Ultimate Exercise in Communication
Nursing faculty typically have input to curricular and instructional decisions, but how involved are faculty from your school in personnel decisions, budget preparation, and policy setting? Learn more about shared governance, a model in which faculty and administrators work together. Consider characteristics, benefits, and obstacles, and discuss the realities of implementation including lessons learned.
Speaker: Kathleen Ann Long, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean, College of Nursing and Associate Provost, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

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

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Program Session
Same Language, Different Voices: Effective Communication Across and Within Gender Cultures
Nurse educators are aware that conversations can be interpreted differently between men andwomen. Gender is often an invisible cultural context that can impact communication in the workplace. Strong leaders understand how to utilize different communication strategies in different situations. Learn how you can use specific communication strategies typical of each gender culture to lead more effectively.
Speaker: Heidi Taylor, PhD, RN, Dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX

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

1:30-3:00 p.m.
Program Session
Cultivating a Climate of Civility
The vast majority of students and colleagues present no problems, but the occasional difficult person can have a dramatic and adverse impact on the health and function of the nursing academic workplace. Learn more about the phenomenon and incidence of incivility as an escalating academic issue from a nurse educator who has made this an area of specialization. Consider strategies that you as an academic leader can use to prevent, minimize, and respond to the problem.
Speaker: Susan Luparell, PhD, CNS-BC, CNE, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Montana State University, Great Falls, MT

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

3:30-5:00 p.m.
Program Session
Communication and Leadership: What Works?
Join colleagues in guided discussion using thoughts from previous sessions. What are nuances from your school? What works well and might be an exemplar for another school? What could be better? Gain insights from this collegial discussion and identify how you might introduce change at your school.
Facilitated by members of the Executive Development Series Subcommittee

Thursday, December 4

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

8:30-10:00 a.m.
Program Session
Developing and Communicating a Business Plan
As the academic environment gets increasingly complex and competitive for resources, a business plan for the nursing academic unit is an absolute necessity. It enables nursing academic leaders to communicate priorities to various stakeholders, including the School/College Provost, Chancellor, or President, and to work more effectively toward identified goals. Gain insights into this essential tool including examples, formats, elements to include, and use of the plan to justify resources. Refine ideas to develop or improve your own school's business plan.
Speaker: Michael Evans, PhD, RN, FACHE, Dean and Professor, Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College, St. Louis, MO

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

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Closing Program Session
Relation$hip$ and Re$ource$
Successfully securing financial, human, and other resources often comes down to the quality of relationships, which in turn depend on thoughtful and positive communication. Gain practical advice on seeking resources derived from the business plan, capitalizing upon relationships built within the university and in the community. Consider how you can build a mosaic of support from multiple sources to ensure sustainability of programs.
Speaker: Julie Cowan Novak, DNSc, RN, CPNP, FAANP, Director of Doctor of Nursing Practice Program and Director, Purdue School of Nursing Clinics, School of Nursing, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

General Information

Instructional Leadership Network
Thursday, December 4, 2008
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

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

8:30-10:15 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Lori Candela, Associate Professor and Chair,Psychosocial Nursing, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV and Chair, Instructional Leadership Network (ILN) Steering Committee

Program Session
Providing Creative Strategies for Faculty to Address Student NCLEX Needs
Consider ways to help faculty help students better prepare for the NCLEX-RN Exam. Explore metacognitive strategies to enhance students’ thinking related to test taking performance. Learn item-writing techniques to improve the quality of test questions and gain insight into developing thought-provoking test reviews.
Speaker: Susan G. Poorman, PhD, APRN, BC, ANEF, Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Founder and President of STAT Nursing Consultants, Inc., a nurse-owned and operated consultation firm located in Pittsburgh, PA.

10:15 - 10:30 a.m.
Break

10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Table Topic Discussions
(Topics will be shared via the ILN listserv)

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Business Meeting
Open business meeting for ILN members and guests
ILN Steering Committee: Lori Candela, Chair, University of Nevada Las Vegas; Catherine Coverston, Chair Elect, Brigham Young University; Carol Patton, Secretary, Chatham University; Marcia Posey, Communications Chair, Florida Southern College; Carol Polifroni, Conference Planning Chair, University of Connecticut; and Patricia Suplee, Past Chair, Drexel University.

Friday, December 5
6:00 p.m.
Network/Social Dinner (Information will be shared via the ILN listserv)

General Information

Baccalaureate Education Conference
December 4-6, 2008
Call for Abstracts

Thursday, December 4

10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Registration

1:00-2:15 p.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Opening Program Session
Emerging Trends in Teaching With and Teaching About Technology
What are the trends in the use of technology in nursing education and practice? Consider how nursing educators can capitalize on these trends to improve baccalaureate education, a priority in both AACN's revised Baccalaureate Essentials and the Institute of Medicine's core competencies for healthcare professionals. Also, learn more about The TIGER Project (Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform), a national initiative to advance the use of technology and informatics to prepare the nursing workforce to improve patient care. Examine how faculty are using a variety of new technologies to facilitate the teaching learning process and prepare nurses for technology-rich environments.
Speaker: Diane J. Skiba, PhD, FAAN, FACMI, Professor and Project Director,
I-Collaboratory: Partnerships in Learning, School of Nursing, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO and Initial Co-Director, The TIGER Project

2:15-2:45 p.m.
Break

2:45-4:00 p.m.
Program Session
Teaching with Technology: Lessons Learned from TIP-NEP
Learn more about the HRSA grant-funded TIP-NEP project (Technology Integration Program for Nursing Education and Practice) and the leading edge technologies used by schools of nursing across the country such as vodcasting, PDAs, interactive on-line scenarios, electronic health records, patient simulators, distance based learning, and clinical software. Consider benefits and challenges; issues such as selection, cost, and infrastructure; and specific TIP-NEP resources available to faculty to improve their educational practice in this emerging area.
Speaker: Barbara Turner, DNSc, RN, FAAN, Project Director, TIP-NEP, School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, NC

4:00-4:30 p.m.
Break

4:30-6:00 p.m.
Program Session
Best Practices in Implementing the Revised Baccalaureate Essentials
The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice is a pivotal document for baccalaureate nurse educators, and it has been revised recently to reflect curricular and instructional priorities for current and future practice. Join educators who are using the revised Essentials in innovative ways, and gain ideas for implementation at your school.
Speaker: Patricia Martin, PhD, RN, Dean, College of Nursing and Health, Wright State University, Dayton, OH and Chair, AACN Task Force on Revision of the Baccalaureate Essentials, joined by members of the Task Force

6:00-7:30 p.m.
Reception, Poster Presentations, and Exhibits

Friday, December 5

7:15-8:30 a.m.
Light Continental Breakfast

7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Exhibits Open

7:30-8:20 a.m.
Informal Interest Forums
Bring your breakfast to one of these informal discussions on aspects of baccalaureate education:

Orienting and Including Adjunct Faculty
Using Standardized Tests
Considering Faculty Workload and Compensation Issues
Dealing with Problem Students and Incivility
Encouraging Faculty Development

8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
The revised Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice contains new or expanded references to various curriculum and instructional priorities. Each concurrent session topic falls within the new guidelines. These sessions are held 8:30am-10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., separated by a 30-minute break. Topics repeat and you may select two.

Teaching Care of Older Adults
The John A. Hartford Foundation has funded the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University and the American Journal of Nursing to produce a series of 30 videos and companion journal articles on basic assessment skills and best practices for care of older adults. This session shares not only instructional resources from this impressive collection, including a sample DVD and article, but also practical guidance to help faculty incorporate the resources into the curriculum.
Speaker: Katherine Kany, BS, RN, Project Director, How to Try This, American Nurses Association, Washington, DC

Teaching Cultural Competency
Supported by a grant from the California Endowment, competencies now exist that encompass key elements considered essential for baccalaureate nursing graduates to provide culturally competent care in partnership with the interprofessional team. A toolkit has been developed for baccalaureate educators to incorporate this content into the curriculum. Learn more about the competencies and receive a free toolkit with suggestions for use.
Speaker: Lauren Clark, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor, College of Nursing, University of Utah and member of AACN Advisory Group for Cultural Competencies in Baccalaureate Nursing Education

Teaching Spiritual Care in Nursing
Explore research in spirituality and health care, as well as important common curriculum elements that foster interdisciplinary collaboration in spiritual care of patients. Learn more about spiritual care components of medical and nursing programs, and identify how you can incorporate this important area into your curriculum.
Speakers: Christina M. Puchalski, MD, FACP, Executive Director, The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC; Peggy S. Matteson, PhD, RN, FCN, Chair, Department of Nursing, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI (Invited); and M. Kay Sandor, PhD, RN, LPC, AHN-BC, Associate Professor, School of Nursing, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX

Teaching Genetics and Genomics
Health care is benefiting from unprecedented progress through the ongoing work clarifying the genetic/genomic basis of health, illness, disease risk, and treatment response. This session provides pragmatic guidance for implementing essential competencies and curricular guidelines for genetics and genomics, including competency outcome indicators; model nursing curricula that integrate genetics and genomics into existing curricula; and an introduction to the Genetics/Genomics Tool Kit for Faculty.
Speakers: Jean F. Jenkins, PhD, RN, FAAN, Senior Clinical Advisor, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and Kathleen A. Calzone, MSN, RN, APNG, FAAN, Senior Nurse Specialist (Research), National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, Genetics Branch, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Teaching With Simulation
Simulation as a teaching method has exploded in popularity in recent years. Many faculty are eager to learn more about how to utilize this strategy, which offers a safe environment for novices to practice new technical and decision-making skills. Join a nurse educator well known for her pioneering work in this specialized field to discuss issues embedded in the use of simulation, and obtain practical guidance about selecting and using simulation technology as an excellent clinical teaching-learning method.
Speaker: Pamela R. Jeffries, DNS, RN, FAAN, ANEF, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Program, School of Nursing, Indianapolis, IN

Teaching for Evidence-Based Practice
Evidence-based practice (EBP) provides a framework for innovation and change in nursing care, and is a major determinant of patient outcomes. EBP also moves the profession of nursing further along the continuum between “we always did it this way” to “evaluating the evidence points this way.” Join an expert from a magnet-designated patient care environment who offers guidance on teaching students how to apply evidence to clinical decision-making at the point of care to improve patient outcomes and strengthen the profession.
Speaker: Daniel O’Neal, III, MA, GCNS-BC, CNL, Evidence-Based Practice Specialist, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Tampa FL and Member-Elect, Board of Commissioners, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

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

1:30-4:45 p.m.
Abstract Presentations

Saturday, December 6

7:30-8:30 a.m.
Light Continental Breakfast

8:30-10:00 a.m.
Program Session
Preparing Students for Innovations in Patient Care
Although nurse educators stay attuned to the clinical area, teaching students to function in a constantly changing and increasingly complex health care system is a challenge. Hear the views and priorities of a respected nurse executive from the practice setting regarding critical skills that nursing students must master as they prepare for professional nursing practice.
Speaker: Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, FAAN, Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA and Editor-in-Chief of American Nurse Today

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

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Closing Program Session
Redesigning Clinical Teaching Methods for Changing Practice
Striking changes in the health care system and increasingly sophisticated expectations of professional nurses mean that clinical teaching must be responsive and nimble. Join an expert in clinical teaching to contemplate the state of research on clinical teaching strategies, and identify various clinical teaching methods that may improve the effectiveness of our teaching, the extent of our students’ learning, and ultimately the quality of patient care.
Speaker: Marilyn Oermann, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, Professor & Adult/Geriatric Health Chair, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and co-author of Clinical Teaching Strategies in Nursing and Evaluation and Testing in Nursing Education

General Information

Join AACN in San Antonio, TX for the opportunity to participate in a variety of enriching sessions and events. The Executive Development Series is once again offered in conjunction with the Baccalaureate Education Conference to allow faculty to take advantage of this excellent leadership opportunity. Attendees will receive a significant savings in registration fees for attending both events.

Registration
The registration fee for each conference is $389 for members/ $489 for non-members. For AACN member schools, there is a $30 discount for each additional registrant from the same school. The deadline for early registration is November 7. The registration fee after November 7 is $459 for members/$559 for non-members. Graduate students who are preparing for faculty roles are encouraged to attend and may register for the Baccalaureate Education Conference at the reduced rate of $339. Please note that those registrants attending both the Executive Development Series and the Baccalaureate Education conference will receive a savings of $80* on the total cost of registration. Registration for the Instructional Leadership Network (ILN) is $45 for Network Members and $65 for Non-Network Members (includes breakfast). Email messages confirming registration will be sent to all participants.

*If registering for both the Baccalaureate Education and Executive Development conferences, please register for the Baccalaureate Education Conference first, in order to ensure you receive the proper discount.

Hotel Information
A block of rooms has been reserved at San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, 101 Bowie Street, San Antonio, Texas, 78205: (210) 223-1000 or 1-800-648-4462. The special conference room rate is $189 single/double/triple/quad. To make reservations by phone, please call the hotel directly and request the group rate for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing or AACN. To make reservations on-line, visit: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/satrc?groupCode=nurnura&app=resvlink&fromDate=11/30/08&toDate=12/10/08
The cutoff date for reservations at the group rate is Sunday, November 2, 2008.

Overflow Room Block
An overflow block of rooms has been established at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio, 600 East Market Street, San Antonio, Texas. The room rate is $190 single/double. Please contact the hotel by calling 210-224-1234 or 800-233-1234 and requesting the group rate for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Alternate Hotels
The following hotels are within one mile of the San Antonio Rivercenter and offer some availability over the conference dates. The rates are quotes only, and are not guaranteed. All of these hotels are within one mile of the San Antonio Rivercenter.

Hyatt Regency – San Antonio $220/night
123 Losoya St
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 222-1234

Marriott Hotel Resorts and Suites $269/night
555 S Alamo St
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 229-1000

Sheraton Guenter Hotel San Antonio $159/night
205 East Houston Street
San Antonio, TX
(210) 227-3241

Hotel Contessa & Spa $265/night, special for $189/night
306 W. Market St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 229-9222

Hyatt Place San Antonio Riverwalk $179/night
601 S. Saint Mary’s St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 227-6854

Hotel Valencia $239/night
150 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX
(210) 227-9700

Transportation
San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is located approximately eight miles from the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter. A cab ride costs approximately $20.00 from the airport to the hotel. Please visit the San Antonio International Airport website at http://www.sanantonio.gov/aviation for additional information.

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. CE 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. If you have questions, or require any special access in order to take part in this meeting, please contact Erica Turner at (202) 463-6930 x261 or by email at eturner@aacn.nche.edu. The San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter 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