Nursing Conferences Spark New Ideas, Help Attendees Form Lifelong Professional Connections

Looking for the chance to step outside your day-to-day work life, learn about cutting-edge technologies and meet other dedicated caregivers from across the country? Professional conferences can provide more than a break from a nurse’s normal clinical routine – they can also facilitate critical career advancement through meaningful learning and networking opportunities.

“Conference attendance can be a pivotal component of any nursing career by inspiring new ideas and strategies that can be used to shape patient care,” says Cindy Willis, DNP, MBA, RN, Senior Director of Nursing Education at Cleveland Clinic. “These experiences can also help validate the caregiver experience and serve as a potent reminder that we’re all in this together.”

Multitude of benefits

By assembling professionals from a wide variety of healthcare backgrounds, nursing conferences can also become a springboard for new connections, she adds.

“Networking with other attendees and even vendors can lead to new job opportunities and collaborations that can help nurses expand the scope of their practice and find greater meaning in what they do,” she says. “Getting a chance to listen to other caregivers speak about the meaning behind their work, their processes and practice, and their career journey can even reconnect us with our professional purpose.”

Cleveland Clinic encourages its nurses to participate in conferences at the local, regional and national level – all of which can open doors and spark new ideas, Willis notes.

“We have one demand: We expect our nurses to bring back the information they gathered at the conference and share it with their department,” she says. “After all, we practice in an evolving healthcare environment where lifelong learning is essential to everything we do.”

Among the many benefits nursing conferences provide, Willis says, are:

• Insights into cutting-edge research, evidence-based practices and innovative technologies
• The opportunity to learn about the latest trends, techniques and breakthroughs in nursing
• The ability to earn continuing education hours
• The chance to connect with other caregivers who share your interests
• The opportunity to engage in activities that promote professional development and career growth

Willis emphasizes that Cleveland Clinic supports nursing conference involvement in a variety of ways. Incentives like one-on-one mentoring, scholarships and other funding sources and access to PowerPoint and poster design resources can prepare attendees to make the most of the experience, she says.

One of the most meaningful experiences nursing conferences can provide is the opportunity for nurses to present their own research, says Willis, who describes a research presentation that had an especially potent effect on her – and her organization as a whole. The poster described another health system’s practice of placing QR codes on the sides of their clinical equipment. Any caregiver who used a phone to scan the QR code would be directed to a brief video explaining how to use the machine.

“I couldn’t wait to bring the idea back to Cleveland Clinic,” says Willis, who was intrigued by how a simple change could make such a profound difference in how caregivers understood and used hospital equipment. “Since then, it’s become common practice for our nurses to place instructional QR codes on equipment throughout the enterprise. It’s really been a game changer.”

Decisions, decisions

When considering which conference(s) to attend, Willis recommends nurses “find one that mirrors their interests and professional goals.” She also suggests carefully reviewing each event’s objectives and itinerary while considering practical concerns like cost and travel requirements. Notably, Cleveland Clinic hosts several on-site conferences every year, which can be ideal for nurses who prefer to stay in town.

“Look for events that offer workshops, presentations and networking events tailored to your area of expertise,” she suggests. “Ideally, the conference you choose should align with what matters most to you – whether it’s a cause like healthcare advocacy or a particular nursing specialty. By selecting an event that focuses on your field, you can maximize your learning opportunities and make meaningful connections with others who share your interests.”

Willis says it may also be enlightening to talk with others who have attended a particular conference in the past. “The best advice often comes from those with lived experience,” she notes.

“No matter which conference you choose, you’ll undoubtedly learn something valuable that can be shared with the rest of your team – whether it’s an interesting connection or novel innovation,” she says. “Perhaps most importantly, this newfound knowledge can be used to strengthen the patient care your institution provides, and that’s really what it’s all about.”