NTI 2023: The Secret Sauce for Your Nursing Career

Attending conferences, such as AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI), has been the "secret sauce" for my career, as someone who is passionate about continuous learning and improving patient care. Conferences are invaluable opportunities for professional growth, providing hands-on learning, inspirational keynotes, networking with like-minded nurses, and discovering the latest evidence-based practices. As a progressive care nurse, I have found that the experience at NTI is pertinent to a vast array of nurses, despite not being a critical care nurse myself. I have benefited from sessions that directly apply to my practice and value hearing colleagues' perspectives on how we can work together symbiotically to provide the best possible patient care. Join me as I explore why attending professional conferences is crucial for nurses at any experience level and how it can enrich our nursing practice.

What is NTI?

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ premier conference for acute, progressive and critical care nurses. NTI helps nurses hone their clinical and professional skills and be inspired while connecting with their nursing community.

Inspirational keynotes set the tone for three unforgettable days brimming with novel experiences. At NTI, you'll relish the opportunity to step away from your usual work routine and immerse yourself in learning and networking with esteemed critical care experts and peers from all over the nation.

Based on my personal experience as an attendee, you can expect to encounter:

Hands-on learning - NTI covers every facet of your nursing practice, providing you with the latest insights on nearly 50 topics and many opportunities to refine your clinical and professional skills through hands-on learning.

Inspiration - Be rejuvenated and reignite your passion for nursing at SuperSessions and other celebratory events that inspire you to share your love for nursing with others when you return home.

Togetherness - Building meaningful connections is at the heart of every in-person NTI. From sessions to celebrations and the Expo, you’ll have ample opportunities to network, make friends and exchange ideas with fellow nursing professionals, fostering a sense of togetherness that is truly special.

Why are professional conferences, including NTI, important for you to attend? Because you can:

• Network with colleges, employers and people
• Gain clinical skills and knowledge from the experts
• Discover cool devices and products in the Expo hall
• Rejuvenate yourself and your practice
• Be inspired and connect with your nursing community

Sessions that I’m looking forward to at NTI 2023:

• Causes and Treatments of Tachycardias
• Guess It or Assess It: Personalizing Fluid Management Strategies for Critically Ill Patients
• Dexmedetomidine (Precedex) in the Progressive Care Unit
• Buprenorphine in the Inpatient Setting: What the Direct Care Nurse Should Know
• How Sweet It Is: Managing Hyperglycemic Emergencies
• Rhabdomyolysis

Learn more about why I’m excited about these sessions on the episode “NTI 2023: The Secret Sauce for Your Nursing Career” of my podcast “Up My Nursing Game.”

How does NTI help you learn about the latest evidence-based practice?

• NTI provides a one-stop-shop to learn from nursing experts from around the world.
• The conference creates a place to explore and stay up-to-date with cutting-edge therapeutics and technology.
• It facilitates networking and collaboration, providing opportunities to learn and exchange ideas with peers.

What can you do with everything you’ve learned?

As a nurse, the knowledge gained at a conference can have a direct impact on patient care. It can inform evidence-based practice, guide clinical decision-making and enhance critical thinking skills. Nurses can apply the knowledge to improve patient outcomes, implement best practices and elevate the standard of care provided to patients and families. Sharing the knowledge with colleagues through presentations, in-service training or informal discussions can also foster a culture of continuous learning for the team back home.

Examples of how I have take information back to my organization:

• Presenting at staff or council meetings
• Bringing educational materials or samples back to my teams
• Writing up summaries to disseminate via electronic communications
• Sharing the information at my local chapter meetings

The knowledge I have gained at NTI has had a profound effect on my patient care, empowering me to implement new information and technology in my organization. As nurses, we have the power to enhance our practice and improve patient outcomes through continuous learning. Professional conferences provide us with invaluable opportunities to stay updated with the latest evidence-based practices and connect with peers, reigniting our passion for nursing. I wholeheartedly encourage my fellow nursing professionals to prioritize attending conferences and reap the uplifting benefits they offer to enhance our nursing practice.

Together, let's get inspired, embrace the joy of learning and make a lasting impact in the world of nursing. What are some reasons that you would want to attend NTI?