Newswise — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) brings together thousands of nurses this week in Orlando, Florida, at its annual National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI, #NTI2019) with the theme “Our Voice, Our Strength.”

AACN President Lisa Riggs, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CCRN-K, is system director regulatory readiness at Saint Luke's Health System, Kansas City, Missouri. She says the theme serves as a reminder of the power of a community to drive lasting change.

“With a collective voice and a collaborative spirit, nurses can work together to change the healthcare system and improve patient outcomes,” she said. “Reinventing our future cannot be left to others. It must come from within the community of exceptional nurses who are dedicated to the care we deliver and the lives of our patients.”

AACN expects attendance to reach more than 7,500 nurses, including nurses at the bedside and many at the forefront of research, academia, staff development and management.  

The premier annual event for critical care nursing, the conference offers hundreds of sessions to improve clinical practice, patient outcomes and hospitals’ bottom line with a comprehensive program that incorporates the best evidence-based education. NTI continues through May 23.

Most of NTI’s more than 300 sessions will take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, with additional NTI events at the nearby Hyatt Regency Orlando.

The Advanced Practice Institute, integrated within NTI, has more than 65 sessions with content including preconferences, clinical sessions, leadership role development, pharmacology and mastery sessions, specifically developed for advanced practice nurses.

NTI also includes the Critical Care Exposition, the largest and most comprehensive trade show expressly for acute and critical care nurses. Hundreds of exhibits, spread over 300,000 square feet, will encompass the latest healthcare equipment, devices, supplies and career opportunities.

Participants can earn up to 37.5 hours of continuing education (CE) during NTI. CE hours — calculated on a 60-minute contact hour — are determined by the number of sessions a participant attends.

As an added value, attendees will receive online access to recorded NTI sessions as well as online access to certification review courses and past NTI conferences. More than 180 NTI sessions will be available online for self-study with CE contact hours through Oct. 31, 2019.

Review the complete conference program for Orlando with all educational sessions and special events offered.

About the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition: Established in 1974, AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI) represents the world’s largest educational conference and trade show for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families. Bedside nurses, nurse educators, nurse managers, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners attend NTI.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 with 400 members, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization. In 2019, AACN celebrates 50 years of acute and critical care nursing excellence, serving more than 120,000 members and over 200 chapters in the United States. The organization remains committed to its vision of creating a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. During its 50th anniversary year, AACN continues to salute and celebrate all that nurses have accomplished over the last half century, while honoring their past, present and future impact on the evolution of high-acuity and critical care nursing.

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 101 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-4109; 949-362-2000; www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme