Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have many options to meet their NP State CE Requirements but every year CME conferences remain a top choice. Conferences remain a popular choice annually because they allow NPs to escape their hectic day to day lives at a popular vacation destination while learning from industry experts and peers regarding current NP topics and best practices. Conferences provide an interpersonal and hands-on experience that many online Nurse Practitioner CME activities can not provide.
There is an increasing number of CME providers that host CME conferences for NPs to appease the growing number of NPs who are interested in attending a conference to earn their necessary credits. NPs should pay close attention to the number of credits offered, the location of the conference, speakers, topics covered, and many more factors when sifting through and deciding which conference to attend. To make finding the right conference easier, we have highlighted the top 3 conferences that Nurse Practitioners should attend in 2020.
2020 AANP National Conference
The 2020 AANP National Conference will take place in New Orleans, LA from June 23rd, 2020 – June 28th, 2020. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners hails this event as the “biggest Nurse Practitioner (NP) event of the year”.
NPs who attend this conference can earn up to 40 CE and Pharmacology hours by attending the various CE sessions that will take place from Tuesday – Sunday of that week. In total, NPs will have more than 450 sessions to choose from so they have plenty of opportunities to find the sessions that are most pertinent to their career. There will also be several hands-on workshops NPs can attend for an additional rate that gives a hands-on and more specific look than larger sessions do into several different NP topics.
In addition to gaining insight from high profile keynote speakers (Amy Showalter, Erik Wahl, and Katie Duke) and session leaders, this conference gives a great chance for NPs to learn from and connect with their peers. The conference creates an environment conducive to networking in many ways. For example, at the main exhibit hall, there will be an AANP Career Fair that allows NPs to meet directly with employers from around the country who are searching for NPs in various specialties. Another great networking opportunity is a charity golf event the conference will be holding Metairie Country Club. This event gives the opportunity to relax and also get to know some of your peers while supporting a good cause.
Another benefit in addition to the overall learning experience is the location. New Orleans, LA is widely regarded as a top vacation destination in the United States and offers conference attendees plenty of exciting options for when they are not at the conference. This includes ghost tours, swamp tours, exciting and busy food and drink scene, and many more.
This conference has different registration rates based on your membership status and when you register. Currently, prices range from $195 – $805 to attend the entire conference. There is also one-day registration available.
University Learning Systems CME Conferences
University of Learning Systems is known for holding some of the best CME conferences for NPs to attend every year. In 2020 they will hold 4 different conferences in various locations. The locations and dates are:
- Providing Better Patient Care 2020 (February 19-21, 2020 in Las Vegas, NV)
- Primary Care Overview 2020 (March 8-15, 2020 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
- Therapeutic Update 2020 (April 22-24, 2020 in Clearwater Beach, FL)
- Therapeutic Update 2020 (June 10-12, 2020 in Las Vegas, NV)
University of Learning System’s conferences typically lasts three days and each conference offers the opportunity to earn up to 15 NP pharmacology hours. The courses that take place at the conference are relatively small in size, offering the ability to learn in an intimate setting. The courses have a strong focus on pharmacology and drug therapy and are led by top clinical pharmacology educators from medical and pharmacy schools across the country.
The schedule of these conferences gives the participants the chance to fully enjoy their experience. You will notice that all four conferences are held in popular vacation destinations. The courses during the conference are all held in the morning so attendees can fully enjoy the location during the afternoon and evening. Also, it is important to note, that the Primary Care Overview 2020 conference is actually a cruise where NPs can enjoy the unique experience of earning CME credits on a ship.
The registration deadlines and rates for University of Learning Systems CME conferences vary.
NPACE NP Continuing Education Conference – Cape Cod, MA
Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education (NPACE) holds several conferences every year but one of the most anticipated conferences in 2020 will take place in Cape Cod, MA from June 8-12, 2020.
NPACE’s Cape Cod conference offers NPs to earn up to 27 contact hours in total including 14 pharmacology hours. The five days are split based on topics. The first 3 days of the conference will focus on Primary Care and the final 2 days will focus on Pharmacology. Regardless of the topic sessions will “emphasize the latest evidence and guideline-based clinical knowledge needed to prescribe and manage high priority primary care topics. Some specific topics that will be covered include:
- Renal Medications
- Orthopedics
- Women’s Health
- GI
- Documentation and Coding
- Radiology
- Vaping
- Dermatology
- Migraines
The conference will also give NPs to hear from prominent keynote speakers including Dr. Mimi Secor, a best selling author, educator, and health advocate, whose current mission is improving the lives of NPs. Other notable keynote speakers include Karen M. Myrick, an Associate Professor of Nursing at Quinnipiac University and NP at Orthopedic Associates, and Victoria Lazareth, a Professor at both UMass and Simmons College Graduate Schools of Nursing.
Attendees at this conference can stay at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel and enjoy the comfort and relaxation Cape Cod is synonymous with.
Rates for this conference vary depending on age and whether you are in the military. You can also save on registration by registering early (by May 4th).