Let’s Learn Together

Welcome to the AAACN community! If you’re new to the AAACN Conference, you’re in for a dynamic, interactive, and supportive experience. If you’re a returning attendee, we’re glad to have you back! Expect breakthrough approaches, expert speakers, and solutions for the challenges you’re facing today.

Fits Your Schedule
• We know you have other responsibilities. Sessions are offered on 3 separate days during a 2-week span.
• If you can’t attend the live sessions, you’ll be able to listen later, at your convenience, and earn the contact hours for up to 6 months.

Supports Your Goals
• You’ll get the clinical, management, leadership, CCTM, and telehealth information you need in a changed world.
• Our speakers deliver evidence-based content that guides your practice and helps you advance professionally.
• You’ll expand your network and meet understanding and supportive nurse colleagues.

Prepares and Rejuvenates You
• Attend general and breakout sessions on COVID-19 and other urgent topics.
• Earn contact hours.
• Connect with exhibitors live or via the Exhibitor Directory.
• Access the always-popular poster presentations and selected recordings.
• Network with friends via live text chats and in our chat lobbies (last year’s breakaway hit!)

Featured Speakers

Ron Culberson

Vicki Hess, MS, RN, CTP, CVPC

Keynote, Thursday, April 8, 2021

Becoming a Champion of Change: Your Checklist for Success

Vicki Hess teaches healthcare leaders and staff how to improve and sustain employee engagement, reduce stress and burnout, and retain valued employees. A highly-regarded speaker, author, consultant, and virtual coach, Vicki shares her expertise in employee engagement with healthcare organizations across the country. She has more than 30 years of hands-on business and healthcare experience that she draws upon to provide inspirational and evidence-based strategies for workplace engagement.

Debra Cox

Keith Carlson, BSN, RN, NC-BC

General Session, Thursday, April 8, 2021

Catching Our Collective Breath

Nurse Keith has over two decades of experience in nursing and health care as a clinician, administrator, and entrepreneur. As an accomplished speaker, writer, blogger, podcaster, consultant, and holistic career coach for nurses, Keith has his finger on the pulse of 21st century nursing and keenly understands the challenges faced by nursing professionals and healthcare organizations.

Ron Culberson

Joan Stanley, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP

General Session, Tuesday, April 13, 2021

AACN Essentials: Re-Envisioning Nursing Education for Practic

Joan Stanley has spent more than 25 years helping shape nursing education at American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). She currently serves as Chief Academic Officer. Her advice to nursing students and new nurses is to keep an open mind about education because the possibilities are limitless!

Ron Culberson

Rachel Start, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

General Session, Tuesday, April 13, 2021

AACN Essentials: Re-Envisioning Nursing Education for Practice

Rachel Start is the director of ambulatory care nursing, nursing practice and Magnet performance at Rush Oak Park Hospital, where she was hired to create and spearhead an innovative program leveraging the role of the CNL to advance patient care. She has represented AAACN as an advocate for advancing nursing practice in ambulatory care at the ANCC Magnet Commission and the National Alliance for Quality Care.

Ernest Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN

Town Hall, Tuesday, April 13, 2021

No Turning Back Now: What’s Next for Ambulatory Care Nursing

Dr. Ernest Grant is the first man to be elected to the office of president of the American Nurses Association. He also serves as adjunct faculty for the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing, where he works with undergraduate and graduate nursing students in the classroom and clinical settings. With more than 30 years of nursing experience, he is an internationally recognized burn-care and fire-safety expert and is frequently sought out for his expertise as a clinician and educator.

Ron Culberson

Nita Mosby Tyler, PhD

General Session, Thursday, April 15, 2021

Reenvisioning Health Equity for the Practitioner

Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler is the chief catalyst and founder of The Equity Project, LLC, an organization designed to support organizations and communities in building diversity, equity and inclusion strategies. In her work, Dr. Mosby-Tyler specializes in the development and delivery of leadership, equity, diversity, cultural responsiveness, and inclusiveness training programs and strategies. Dr. Mosby Tyler has a vast, 32-year background in human resources, diversity and inclusion, training, and operations management.

Ron Culberson

Tim Cunningham, DrPH, RN, FAAN

Closing Keynote, Thursday, April 15, 2021

To Pivot, Pivot and Then Pivot Some More:
How We’re Growing, Shifting, Suffering, and Surfing through the Pandemic

An actor, clown, emergency nurse, assistant professor, and VP in a large health system, Tim has worked in 23 countries outside of the US. His global experiences have exposed him to both extreme suffering and extreme resilience. Tim has witnessed profound loss and impossible hope. His presentations and workshops pull from an array of variegated experiences that hone in on the core human tenets of resilience and creativity. From keynotes to commencement remarks, from workshops to lectures and coaching, Tim’s work is interactive and unique. It sticks. It inspires.

Ron Culberson

Ron Culberson, MSW, CSP

Keynote Speaker, Tuesday, August 18

If Not Now, When? Being Mindful During Uncertain Times

Ron Culberson is a speaker, author, and humorist whose mission is to change the workplace culture by boosting productivity and staff happiness. His clients include NASA, Johns Hopkins University, and the U.S. Senate. Drawing on his experience as a hospice social worker and leader, Mr. Culberson will discuss how to reduce stress, create better relationships, and embrace the power of humor to enhance the quality of life in your personal and professional life.