Newswise — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) brings together thousands of nurses this week in Denver, at its annual National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI) with the theme, “Step Forward.”

AACN President Vicki Good, RN, MSN, CENP, CPSS, is administrative director of patient safety for CoxHealth in Springfield, Missouri. She says the theme goes beyond a simple tagline.

“This year’s theme, Step Forward has motivated, inspired and engaged our community of exceptional nurses,” she explains. “Stepping forward starts with just one step at a decisive moment. We lead when we step forward.”

AACN expects attendance to top 6,000 nurses and include many at the forefront of research, academia, staff development and management.

NTI continues through May 22. Most of the 300-plus sessions take place in downtown Denver at the Colorado Convention Center, with the nearby Hyatt Regency Denver also hosting official events.

NTI, the world’s largest conference for nurses who care for high acuity and critically ill patients, includes the Critical Care Exposition, the largest and most comprehensive trade show specifically for acute and critical care nurses. Spread over 200,000 square feet are 350 exhibits that encompass cutting-edge healthcare equipment, devices, supplies and career opportunities.

Conference sessions represent the best clinical education, reflecting today’s diverse critical care environments. Topics include the following:• Understanding the benefits and risks of healthcare technology, including tele-ICUs, simulation training and monitoring alarms• Eliminating healthcare-associated infections and medical errors• Improving patient outcomes and financial savings with nurse-led innovations• Integrating new research findings into evidence-based patient care

This year’s NTI Summit takes on the topic that moral distress is part of clinical practice. “Moral Distress Isn’t Going Away: Confronting Reality” will use facilitated conversations and deep audience interaction with experts to explore the inevitability of moral distress, its impact on three common clinical challenges — bullying, workarounds and disasters — and personal solutions for addressing it. Fully integrated into NTI, the interactive half-day event will be held Wednesday, May 21, from 12:45 p.m.-4:45 p.m.

AACN posted the 2014 NTI conference brochure with all sessions that will be presented in Denver to www.aacn.org/nti.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses and claims more than 235 chapters worldwide. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme

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