Who's going to NTI 2009 in New Orleans: 5/16-5/21 ??

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Feb 14, 2009

Be sure to check out the allnurses.com exhibit at the critical care expo. You'll have the opportunity to enter draws for fun stuff, get your own highly-sought-after AN pens, calculator or whatever other wonderful little doodad Brian might be dreaming up and meet some of the mods. Bring a friend!!

noelia23RN · Mar 16, 2009

is there anyone going from ct or mass

NeosynephRN · Mar 18, 2009

I am going...so excited, the hospital is paying the tuition and all that....we have a hook up for a place to stay and the 4 of us are going to drive and split that cost so it should not be too bad...maybe I will meet some of you there!! Will definately be checking out the allnurses booth!

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 18, 2009

I am going...so excited, the hospital is paying the tuition and all that....we have a hook up for a place to stay and the 4 of us are going to drive and split that cost so it should not be too bad...

Ooooh, I wish!! I'm going... hospital has made it very clear that time off is all they will give me. My manager called me into the office to make sure I understood that there would be no financial support whatsoever and that I was NOT to consider myself as representing the hospital in any way. I was a bit offended by her approach. I'm sharing a hotel room so that cost should only be about $100 US (more like $125 Cdn) a night. Checked out airfare yesterday and it could be as much as $1200 return, although if we're willing to fly at 0500 and go through 4 airports over 15 hours, it might be only about $700 (+fees!). So I expect to be out-of-pocket by at least $2500, not including souvenirs. I may be able to access $750 in funding from my union if I attend another meeting before the conference. Guess I'm going to the April 14th meeting...

CraigB-RN, MSN, RN · Mar 23, 2009

I'm happy as a clam, I just got the email from NTI saying they had my registration. YEAH!!!!!

the hospital paid for it all including the pre conference sessions. But I'm one of the few dual cert RN's here so they are trying to keep us happy.

Brian, ASN, RN · Mar 23, 2009

I'm so glad to see so many AN'ers coming! I'm looking forward to meeting you all!

CraigB-RN, MSN, RN · Mar 23, 2009

When is everyone getting there? I'm getting in on the 15th.

suecbrn · Mar 26, 2009

Well, this year we've been told registration is on them, but everything else is on us. That being said, I probably can't go. Naturally, this is the one year I would have loved to go, being New Orleans and everything.

What's interesting is that as the Educator I was told when hired I would be expected to go ( and I would be sent on the hospital's dollar) because of what we bring back to the organization. Especially since me and the CNS teach the critical care course at least 3x a year.

I queried the NNSDO listserv to find out if others were experiencing this too. Most of them said their organizations wouldn't be sending anyone. The economy has everything in an uproar. It's a real bummer, considering this was one of the only "bennies" of the job. I'm salaried, so I don't get overtime, and I have not had the opportunity to get bonus pay (although minimal at best). So this was the way I made up the difference in my head, but now that's kaput. Ugh.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 26, 2009

suecbrn, the same thing happened to my friend who is in management. She was promised financial support for attending and had already registered when she was told there would be no money OR PTO for her to attend. She said that if she'd known they were going to renege, she would have planned her life a little differently so that she could pay her own way, but it's not possible now.

I've always paid my own way. The one time I approached my employer for some funding I had to jump through flaming hoops to get it approved, and then kiss their feet to get the cash. It's not worth it to me so I just save up and pay for it myself.

suecbrn · Mar 26, 2009

I know what you mean.. I had always done the same thing myself. The offer when made was unexpected at the time, so it was disappointing that they changed horses in mid stream. But, what else is new? :)

RoyalNurse · Mar 26, 2009

I just found out this morning my hospital pays for everything, including food! I'm going the 12th through the 16th!!

:yeah:

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 26, 2009

Hmm, the conference is the 18th to the 21st. Maybe you should check your dates.