AACN conference addresses educational, professional development goals for progressive care nurses

AACN Progressive Care Pathways, presented by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), is the only conference to address the distinct educational and professional development goals for the growing number of nurses who care for high acuity patients who are not in the ICU but require highly skilled nursing care.

The conference - Sept. 28-Oct. 1, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville - offers evidence-based content designed to address a wide range of progressive care patients' needs and provide direct clinical application of the evidence.

Attendees can view a complete program schedule and register online by Sept. 8 to take advantage of early-bird savings.

A learning experience specially designed by progressive care nurses, the conference includes sessions covering innovative evidence-based strategies, in addition to opportunities to engage with progressive care experts.

Attendees can earn up to 22 continuing nursing education (CNE) contact hours through live sessions and online resources, as well as attend a networking event.

Whether handling rapid response calls, recent transfers from intensive care units (ICUs) or postsurgical patients with more complicated conditions, nurses in progressive care settings work in extremely challenging and ever-changing environments.

"Progressive care is the unifying term for the increased level of care and nursing vigilance needed by patients who are not in the ICU but have complex healthcare needs," said AACN Senior Director Connie Barden, RN, MSN, CCRN-E, CCNS. "As understanding and recognition of progressive care within hospitals and high acuity facilities continues to expand, so does the need for clinical and educational resources specific to progressive care nursing."

The conference is among the myriad resources AACN offers progressive care nurses. In recent years, the association published a clinical guide of essentials for progressive care nursing and the core curriculum for this emerging practice and launched PCCN certification - AACN Certification Corporation's fastest-growing credential.

AACN introduced the term progressive care more than a decade ago to describe the care needs of acutely ill patients who are moderately stable with a high risk of instability.

Other common terms for progressive care settings include stepdown, intermediate, telemetry, transitional, high acuity, direct observation or medical-surgical progressive care units. Progressive care nurses also may practice in long-term acute care hospitals where patients — especially those who are ventilator-dependent — may receive care.

SOURCE American Association of Critical-Care Nurses