FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Information: Janet D'Alesandro
(856) 256-2422; janetd@ajj.com
Mentoring Tomorrow's Leaders will be Focus of American Nephrology Nurses' Association Symposium
ANNA 40th National Symposium
April 26-29, 2009
Hilton San Diego Bayfront and San Diego Convention Center
www.annanurse.org
PITMAN, NJ The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) will hold its 40th National Symposium April 26-29, 2009, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront and San Diego Convention Center.
With kidney disease increasing at an alarming rate in the U.S., the symposium will address the most urgent topics and promising innovations in care with a broad slate of education sessions. The nations top experts will cover such areas as hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and other treatment modalities; pharmacology, infections, disparities in the countrys health care system, and much more.
ANNAs leaders are also looking toward the future and have chosen the conference theme: Mentoring Generations Today for Tomorrows Leaders.
Sessions are custom-designed to meet nephrology nurses and health care providers learning needs at every practice level. Participants will also have the opportunity to earn continuing nursing education credits, network with colleagues, visit the exhibit hall and attend special events.
The full conference program and registration details are available on ANNAs Web site, www.annanurse.org.
Program
There are five preconference workshops on Sunday, April 26, with topics ranging from health promotion and primary care to the special needs of patients with acute injures. There is also a certification review course that can be used as a refresher or to help prepare for certification as a Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN) or Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN).
After the preconferences, ANNA President Sue Cary, MN, APRN, NP, CNN, will officially launch the symposium during the evenings Opening Ceremonies. Michele Deck, an internationally renowned author and educator, will present the first general session, Building Bridges Between Generations, and will explore the values and motivations of each generation.
On Monday, April 27, Captain Gerald Coffee, U.S. Navy (Ret.), will deliver the Janel Parker Memorial Keynote Address. Captain Coffee, who was a Vietnam POW for 7 years, will discuss leadership and teamwork, as well as sharing his own inspirational message of survival, hope and faith.
Concurrent sessions run from Monday, April 27, to Wednesday, April 29. Topics include:
- Legal issues regarding medical errors in nephrology practice
- Living donor renal transplants: treatment options, regulatory and ethical issues
- Renal diet and nutritional requirements for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients
- Mentoring patients about life-sustaining treatment
- Celebrating diversity in health care: cultural values and beliefs
- Gastric bypass in CKD and transplant patients
Special Events
Attendees will enjoy networking and refreshments during several sponsored dinners, luncheons, and mixers. ANNA will also host a dance party on Sunday, April 26, featuring the San Diego dance band, the Fabulous Ultratones.
At the Nephrology Nurse Day Recognition Luncheon on Tuesday, April 28, the 2009-10 ANNA Board of Directors will assume their elected positions, special awards will be presented, and President Cary will pass ANNAs Vision Crystal to incoming President Donna Bednarski, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, CNN, CNP.
Continuing Education Information
Up to 19.25 contact hours may be earned for the symposium (including corporate-sponsored meal symposia and networking sessions), with additional credits available for the preconference and postconference workshops. Advanced practice nurses may earn up to 375 minutes of pharmacology credit.
ANNA is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA).
NNCC Certification Exam Offered
The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) will be offering the Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN) Examination, the Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN) Examination, the Certified Nephrology Nurse-Nurse Practitioner (CNN-NP) Examination, and the Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) Examination on Saturday, April 25, from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Separate registration fees and forms are required for each exam. For more information and applications, call the NNCC National Office toll free at 888-884-6622 or 856-256-2321. Applications may be downloaded online from NNCCs Web site, www.nncc-exam.org.
Symposium Brochures Available
To receive a registration brochure for the ANNA 40th National Symposium, visit the associations Web site, www.annanurse.org or contact the ANNA National Office, East Holly Avenue Box 56, Pitman, NJ 08071-0056; phone 888-600-ANNA (2662) or 856-256-2320; fax 856-589-7463; or e-mail anna@ajj.com.
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ANNA is a professional nursing association with over 12,000 members. Its mission is to advance nephrology nursing practice and positively influence outcomes for individuals with kidney disease through advocacy, scholarship, and excellence.