Throughout NTI week, special events offer great opportunities for you to network with other attendees. We host these events to celebrate your commitment to patient care and your professional journey.
10-11:15 a.m.
SDCC — Halls FG
AACN President Rebekah Marsh will share insights and best practices she has learned during her presidential year, building on the AACN theme “On Purpose.” Marsh began her career as a staff nurse in the neuroscience ICU and has been a preceptor, charge nurse and assistant nurse manager, and currently serves as clinical nurse educator for acute care/telemetry at Harborview Medical Center, UW Medicine, Seattle.
Discover the Power of Presence
Light Watkins helps people unlock the overlooked key to lasting success: PRESENCE. With compelling storytelling, humor and practical techniques, Watkins reveals why people feel stuck—and how mastering the art of presence effortlessly transforms uncertainty into opportunity, fueling peak performance and lasting impact. Watkins is the author of five bestselling books on happiness, mindfulness, minimalism and transformation.
1:30-2:30 p.m.
SDCC — Ballroom 20D
Leanne M. Boehm is the 2026 Distinguished Research Lecturer. An assistant professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, Boehm aims to eliminate delirium, oversedation and immobilization in intensive care, and maximize the quality of survivorship for patients and family members following critical illness. She has worked extensively on reducing the prevalence of ICU delirium and post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) through implementation of the ABCDEF bundle, ICU recovery clinics and ICU peer support programs.
7-8:30 a.m.
SDCC — Various Halls
Wake up early for coffee and a hot breakfast. Sunrise Sessions, supported by our corporate sponsors, offer an array of diverse topics that include 75% clinical and 25% product-specific information. Limited seating. Reservations are required through the NTI 2026 San Diego conference website.
9-10:15 a.m.
SDCC — Halls FG
Join us for a morning of inspiration and gratitude as we come together to celebrate the collective impact of extraordinary nurses. This special recognition event honors the dedication, leadership and excellence that shape healthy work environments, advance professional practice and elevate patient care across the profession. Rather than a traditional award presentation, this event is designed as a shared celebration of achievement, bringing together nurses, units, chapters and certified professionals who have already earned distinction through their commitment and hard work. This is a moment to be seen, supported, and celebrated together!
11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
SDCC — Ballroom 20D
Join AACN leaders to discuss the challenges nurses are facing, and learn about the work we are doing with our community to support nurses and the profession. You’ll have an opportunity to interact with our presenters and ask them questions.
7-8:30 a.m.
SDCC — Various Halls
Wake up early for coffee and a hot breakfast. Sunrise Sessions, supported by our corporate sponsors, offer an array of diverse topics that include 75% clinical and 25% product-specific information. Limited seating. Reservations are required through the NTI 2026 San Diego conference website.
9-10:15 a.m.
SDCC — Halls FG
AACN President-elect Tonka Williams will inspire us while she shares AACN’s new theme and artwork for the year ahead. Williams is senior nursing director for practice and innovation at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., where she leads strategic efforts to advance patient care through clinical excellence, innovation and interprofessional collaboration.
Named by Fortune magazine as one of the Top 50 World’s Greatest Leaders, Mick Ebeling has sparked a movement of pragmatic, inspirational innovation. Since the launch of the Eyewriter and Not Impossible Foundation, Ebeling has passionately studied the concept of “Impossible.” In his keynote, Ebeling dives deeper into “Impossible,” the underlying psychological effects it has on teams, and how to overcome “Impossible” so true innovation can take place.
6:30-9:30 p.m.
Join your fellow NTI attendees for an unforgettable Nurses’ Night Off at SeaWorld San Diego — a reimagined destination centered on conservation, education and care for the natural world. Experience a private orca encounter presentation, explore breathtaking exhibits, ride the roller coasters during exclusive evening park access, and connect with colleagues amid vibrant marine life and the spirit of the San Diego coast. Concession stands will be open for food and drink purchases throughout the night.
NTI registration includes one Nurses’ Night Off ticket. Additional guest tickets may be purchased for $100 each. Children ages 2 and younger are free. Shuttle service will be provided throughout the evening.