Nursing Conferences, Symposiums, and Workshops

Virtually all Professional Associations hold an annual conference. In addition to an annual conference, some organizations hold smaller conferences, seminars, or workshops quarterly or semi-annually. Local organizations often have business meetings on a monthly schedule.

A few Graduate Nursing Degrees hold events for nurse professionals. These school events are usually seminars or workshops.

Large annual conferences usually begin with a keynote presentation on the first day and a closing ceremony on the last. A large conference often holds many concurrent events between these opening and closing events. These may be presentations or panel discussions covering different topics at different times and locations. Make the best use of your time by advanced planning so you may attend events most beneficial to you.

Many conferences hold events that encourage attendees to mix socially. These events enable attendees to create and strengthen relationships with others. These relationships often lead to long-term professional and mentoring relationships and future employment opportunities.

Large annual conferences may schedule pre-conference events. These events are usually educational sessions where attendees may earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for Nursing Certifications. Holders of some certifications are required to earn CEU credits periodically to maintain their certification.

Quarterly or semi-annual conferences may take the form of a seminar or workshop.

Sometimes, there are better event formats than conferences for gathering nursing professionals. Seminars and workshops provide an alternative event format with only a few tens of participants. Indeed, people attending seminars and workshops tend to view themselves as participants as opposed to attendees.

Seminars are very discussion-oriented, with a brief presentation to set a topic. Seminar discussions develop new concepts, approaches, and ideas. Discussion moderators encourage a relaxed atmosphere for open dialog and discussions.

Workshops are more similar to seminars than conferences. However, workshops are more interactive, where participants take an active role. A workshop subject usually has a narrow focus. Workshop attendees depart with specific, tangible, and actionable information. Vendors, if invited, are often limited to those closely related to the discussion subjects.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between a conference, seminar, and workshop events. However, a close read of the event materials or conversations with prior event attendees will help determine what to expect.

Large national nursing conferences may have over ten thousand attendees. These conferences happen in large cities with convention facilities, such as Orlando (FL), Chicago (IL), San Francisco (CA), Anaheim (CA), Dallas (TX), and San Diego (CA). Attendees often take advantage of these locations to plan a vacation. Conference planners make arrangements with local hotels to set aside a block of rooms for attendees.

Smaller conferences, seminars, or workshops happen at smaller venues, such as hotels or resorts with smaller conference facilities. These venues are in small cities such as San Antonio (TX), New Orleans (LA), and Portland (OR). Other venues may be in relatively remote locations like Wisconsin Dells (WI), Keystone (CO), or Park City (UT). Smaller national or nearby local organizations use these types of venues. Remote venues are often a favored choice for seminars and workshops.

Some conferences may offer excursions to local attractions or activities. These vary by location and season and may include skiing, city tours, barbecues, golfing, boating, sightseeing, or winery tours.

Attendance for Nursing conferences, symposiums, and workshops is usually open to both the organization’s members and non-members. Registration typically begins several months in advance with exclusive early-bird discounts for members. Fees increase over time, the highest prices being on the day of the conference.

Many conferences are open to non-members, although they may be charged a higher entrance fee and may not be permitted to attend members-only meeting sessions.

Most nursing conferences, symposiums, and workshops include the participation of vendors that provide services, supplies, and equipment. Large national conferences may include over a hundred vendors located in an exhibit hall. Hotel ballrooms, adjoining hallways, or alcoves may hold vendor displays during smaller conference events.

Vendors are a great source of information due to their need to understand the practices of their clients. Vendors usually send their most knowledgeable sales and marketing people to these large conferences. Some vendors also send members of their research or technical teams. These people will be very knowledgeable and available to answer your questions. If the company is relatively small, you may have an opportunity to meet the CEO or founder.

You may be able to meet face-to-face with someone you’ve conversed with over the phone or traded emails. In any case, this is an opportunity to meet vendors known to you and others that are new.