Medical-Surgical Nurses Will Explore The Future Of The Specialty At Annual Convention

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Also Included In: Conferences
Article Date: 20 Jun 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Medical-surgical nurses will discover new patient care techniques, evidence-based practices and innovative technologies at the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) 17th Annual Convention in Nashville, TN, October 1-6, 2008, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

The conference is designed for staff nurses, clinical nurse specialists, educators, managers, administrators, students, researchers and nurse practitioners from hospital, community and long-term care facilities.

Participants will have an opportunity to attend workshops and education sessions on such topics as patient safety, stroke, wound care, pharmacology, pain management, informatics, professional development, bariatric surgery, immunization and chronic kidney disease.

Attendees will be able to earn Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits, network with colleagues, visit with vendors in the exhibit hall and view poster presentations. In addition, AMSN will offer all attendees free access to a Convention Online Library. Attendees will be able to retrieve sessions they weren't able to attend in person and earn additional CNE credits. A complete registration brochure is available on AMSN's Web site, http://www.medsurgnurse.org.

Program

Two pre-convention workshops will be offered on Wednesday, October 1, and Thursday, October 2. The two-day Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Review Course and Overview will prepare candidates for the Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) certification exam. In the Clinical Leadership Workshop, "Nurturing Our Young and Ourselves," attendees will explore how to use teamwork and delegation to manage challenges and stress in today's nursing environment.

Later on Thursday, keynote speaker Mike Magee, MD, will share his vision of home-centered health care in his address, "Health Care Systems of the Future." Magee will describe and show a virtual home care system through which patients will be able to receive care, education, monitoring and prevention strategies.

On Friday, October 3, Billie Ann Wilson, PhD, RN, will explore advances in diabetes in the general session, "Managing Type 2 Diabetes: The Latest and Greatest."

Concurrent sessions will run from Friday, October 3, through Sunday, October 5. Topics include:

- Improving safety and communication in patient hand offs
- Adapting and thriving in a multigenerational workplace
- Implementing electronic health record systems
- Managing patients in abdominal crisis
- Reducing nurse injury through safe patient handling
- Legal and ethical issues for nurses
- Supporting professional development through graduate nurse internship programs

Special Events

On Saturday, October 4, the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) will host the "Boot-Scootin' Tennessee Hoedown" to celebrate its 5th anniversary. Attendees will have photos taken with country star look-alikes, learn to line dance and enjoy a lip-smackin' buffet. Tickets are $15 to benefit the AMSN Foundation.

Town Hall

On Sunday, October 5, the convention will close with the Town Hall meeting, which provides an opportunity for attendees to discuss issues affecting nursing. Kathleen Lattavo, MSN, RN, CMSRN, will lead this year's Town Hall discussion, "The Future of Nursing: Limited Only by Our Imagination!" Participants will explore the future of technology and its impact on nursing.

Certification Exam

The Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) will offer a post-convention Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) certification exam on Monday, October 6, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. A separate application and registration fee are required for the exam. To download an application, visit http://www.medsurgnurse.org/certification. The application deadline is August 8, 2008.

Continuing Education

Attendees can earn up to 15.75 contact hours of continuing nursing education during the convention, plus an additional 13.75 contact hours for the two-day Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Review Course and Overview, and 5.0 contact hours each for the Clinical Leadership Pre-Convention Workshop. Viewing the posters in the exhibit hall will also provide at least 1.0 contact hour.

This convention is co-provided by AMSN and Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc.

Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc. is an accredited provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA).

Anthony J. Jannetti, Inc. is an approved provider of continuing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing, CEP No. 5387.

Registration Information

To receive a brochure, contact the AMSN National Office, East Holly Avenue, Box 56, Pitman, NJ 08071; phone: 866-877-AMSN (2676); fax: 856-218-0557; e-mail: amsn@ajj.com. To view the brochure or register on-line, visit AMSN's Web site at http://www.medsurgnurse.org.

The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) is the only specialty nursing organization dedicated to medical-surgical nursing practice. Its mission is to promote excellence in adult health.

Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses