ACNP conferences for credit

[doctorwhofan]

Hi guys,

Where do you find information about upcoming conferences and such that include the required pharmacology hours?

I don't renew certification for a few more years but I don't want to wait until the last minute either. When I renewed a couple years ago I had gotten most of my hours from local speakers and from online learning. That's nice, but if I've got the education money I wouldn't mind spending a little on a business/sight seeing trip.

I can find information about primary care but nothing specific to acute care.

Thanks!!

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

For the most part, only nurse practitioner-based conferences break the credits down to specify how much Pharmacology credits are included in each session. Specifying pharmacology credits is a requirement of our national certification boards and not the physician-based specialty boards.

What I've done in the past (and just did actually) is attend the AANP National Conference. ACNP's have a history of feeling marginalized by AANP in terms of course offerings during conference. However, things are getting better more recently with ACNP representation in the submission process for course topics.

In the 2002 national conference, they only had 3 sessions devoted to acute care whereas this year, there were 60. Acute care sessions are labelled as such in the program brochure. Next year's conference location has not been announced yet.

Another option is to attend actual Pharmacology CME's. There are many and most are offered by private groups such as Fitzgerald: https://www.fhea.com/store/DetailProducts.aspx?id=148, and Barkley (online only): Certified NPs

ANCC also offers some and you can find them in their website: PHARMACOLOGY CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR APRNs

Occasionally, I've seen some offered by university-based CME offerings such as this one by UC Davis and it's going to be in Napa (think winery tours!): http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/cme/course_pages/PHARM/pharm_images/pharm_pagelink.html.

I like attending Hospitalist CME's. They are well-organized and are very relevant if you work in the in-patient setting. My favorite is this one: UCSF CME: Management of the Hospitalized Patient - Course Details. Unfortunately, pharmacology credits are not specified.

As a Critical Care NP, the SCCM Annual Congress is also worth attending for the quality of the session offerings: http://www.sccm.org/Education-Center/Annual-Congress/Pages/default.aspx.

[doctorwhofan]

Thanks so much! That's very helpful.