Medical-Surgical Nursing Convention Draws High Numbers In DC

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 08 Oct 2009 - 10:00 PDT

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The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) bucked the national trend of sagging conference attendance by drawing over 900 medical-surgical nurses and health care professionals to Washington, DC, recently for its annual convention.

The wobbly economy didn't cool the enthusiasm of attendees at the convention, which was held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, according to conference officials. They also reported excellent attendance in the exhibit hall and at education sessions, with participants praising the speakers as well as the association's efforts to "Go Green" via online access to course handouts, presentations and evaluations through AMSN's Online Library.

"We were very sensitive to people's budgets, so we kept the registration price at the 2008 rate, which surely helped," said AMSN President Kathleen A. Singleton, MSN, RN, CNS, CMSRN. "Nurses are resourceful people; many told me they found travel deals and made getting there a priority because they value education, both for themselves and for their patients' sake."

A broad slate of professionals attended the meeting including staff nurses, clinical nurse specialists, educators, managers, administrators, students, researchers and nurse practitioners from hospital, community and long-term care facilities. Attendees also earned continuing nursing education (CNE) credits, networked with colleagues and attended special events.

On Thursday, September 10, keynote speaker Margo McCaffery, MS, RN-BC, FAAN, explored the latest theories about pain management in her presentation, "Misconceptions that Hamper Pain Assessment." Concurrent sessions featured such topics as diabetes, drug-resistant organisms, the role of genetics in obesity and care for trauma patients.

The convention ended the following Sunday with an interactive Town Hall meeting and a closing address on nurse empowerment by Denise Verosky, MSN, MS, RN, CNS, CMSRN. Verosky discussed how medical-surgical nurses can influence outcomes measured by oversight organizations like the Joint Commission.

Awards

AMSN awards individuals each year who are outstanding examples of the association's mission to promote excellence in adult health. This year's winners are:

- Anthony J. Jannetti Award (AMSN's highest honor, presented for extraordinary contributions to nursing and AMSN): Margo McCaffery, MS, RN, BC, FAAN, Consultant in the Nursing Care of Patients with Pain, Los Angeles, CA, and a founding member of the International Association for the Study of Pain.

- President's Award (recognizes continuous, long-term volunteer involvement in AMSN): Janet Burton, MSN, RN, CMSRN, clinical nurse specialist, Columbus Regional Hospital, Columbus, IN.

- Clinical Leadership Award (for outstanding professional achievement and leadership in the medical-surgical clinical setting): Elizabeth Rebecca Anderson, RN, CMSRN, assistant director, Community Memorial Health Center, South Hill, VA.

- Clinical Practice Award (for outstanding professional achievement and contributions as a medical-surgical bedside staff nurse): David Q. Matthews, RN, CMSRN, care facilitator, Community Memorial Health Center, South Hill, VA.

2010 Convention

AMSN's 19th Annual Convention will be held October 20-25, 2010, at the Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, NV. For more information about AMSN and its conventions, visit http://www.amsn.org, or 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.

Source
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN)