I'm presenting at a national conference!!! Help!

Nurses General Nursing

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In addition to my work as a staff RN, I do research into all things night shift related. My MSN capstone is being published later this year in a peer-reviewed journal. (I cannot believe I just typed that sentence :) )

Anyway, I have submitted several abstracts to national conferences - and I actually got accepted to the Nursing Management Congress, 2013 in Chicago next month! It's a poster presentation, and, while i realize I will not be speaking to the group, I will be able to put myself and my research 'out there' to a much wider audience.

Any of you who are experienced in this sort of thing- I beg your advice. Anything you can share will help me. Wardrobe, protocol, networking tips - anything!

I am a night shift nurse. Scrubs are my 'professional attire', and blue jeans on my day off. How dressed up should I be, and how much is too much?

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I only wanted to say CONGRATS!!! :up::up::up::up:

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Specializes in Wilderness Medicine, ICU, Adult Ed..

Prepare yourself by finishing the following sentence: "If my colleagues get only one thing out of my poster, I want to be sure that that one thing is _______________________________________________."

This is your Main Mesage. Keep it central in your mind and the periferals will come into clearer focus.

And, enjoy your day in the sun. You have achieved something admirable. Be sure to cellebrate it!

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Sounds like you have gotten lots of good advice so far.. So all I am going to say is CONGRATS and GOOD LUCK!!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I'm home from the conference. I was the ONLY staff nurse there. 900 bigwigs and me!

However, many, many conference attendees viewed my poster and I was able to speak 1:1 with dozens of them. Gave out a ton of business cards, and had several inquiries as to whether I would come to other hospitals and speak about my research!

AND I got to stay at the Chicago Hilton (look for some pics on google images- it's elegant beyond comprehension) including a business dinner in the Grand Ballroom. They were filming a movie in the hotel while I was there, and my room had a view of Lake Michigan.

All in all, an awesome week! Thanks to all of you- I felt totally prepared!

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Congrats!!! I'm glad it went do well for you. Hopefully this opens a lot of doors for you.

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You might not be a staff nurse for long ....;)

:flwrhrts:

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
You might not be a staff nurse for long ....;)

:flwrhrts:

You know- I sincerely love bedside PICU nursing. I love my job. I love our docs and all of my co-workers and my manager. Really!

But- I want so badly to get my research out there to benefit all the other night shift nurses in the world. I had a few people ask me if I travel!!! How cool would that be?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Congrats!!! :up:

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

UPDATE: The same conference contacted me a couple months ago asking for a speaking/ workshop abstract. Sent it.

They emailed me today - I'm going to VEGAS, getting paid to talk about my research, airfare, hotel (the Mirage!) the whole nine yards.

I've never been to Vegas before!! Super-excited.

I'm also doing a poster and a podium at the Pathway to Excellence Conference in San Antonio in May (think: 'Magnet Lite'), and have proposals in to several other conferences. Better be getting my PowerPoint on!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

:anpom:Good for you!!!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Whoo Hoo!!! :up:

You are my inspiration-when I nurse-grow up I hope to be able to experience this -with a different interest that I have..:inlove: :cheeky:

Can't wait for more updates!!!

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This is fantastic. Who knows what is next for you.

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