The 2023 ANPD Aspire Convention was filled with electric energy and all of the feels as more than 1,000 ANPD members and nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners came together to learn, share, and disseminate best practices. As the director of education for ANPD, I found participating in the annual convention a game-changer in my own professional development journey. Alongside exceptional colleagues, staff, the Content Planning Committee, the ANPD Board of Directors, and each and every attendee, I experienced a whirlwind of emotions throughout the week’s events.

From the sense of pride I felt for first-time presenters on a huge stage to our inspiring closing session, where the room sang in sync as the Game Changer speaker Pam Collins, MSN, CMSRN, NPD-BC, reminded us we can lean on each other and revive together. The vibe was authentic, strong, and vibrant, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to experience it with so many ANPD members. Let’s relive some of the highlights together — and if you missed out, I hope this play-by-play intrigues you enough to sign up next year!

Monday, March 13

7:30 AM — ANPD staff arrived, boxes were unpacked, and excitement was in the air.

8:00 AM — Although this day was technically pre-convention, the two-day Certification Preparation Course for the ANCC NPD-BC™ exam began. This course provides 16 contact hours and is designed to increase both exam readiness and knowledge of the nursing professional development domains of practice.

Tuesday, March 14

8:00 AM — Starting in the morning, eight Learning Labs took place, each delivering 3.5 contact hours. Some of the most sought-after labs were Donna Wright, MS, RN, NPD-BC’s The Ultimate Workshop of Competency Assessment; Michelle Deck, MEd, BSN, RN, LCCE, FAACCE’s The Top 10 Creative Teaching Strategies for 2023-2024: Be Wise to What’s Up and Coming; and Jenn Bodine, DNP, FNP-C, NPD-BC, CEN, and Cathleen Opperman, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, EBP-C, NEA-BC, CPN’s Business Acumen: Demonstrating the Value of the NPD Specialty.

9:00 AM — Meanwhile, the 2023-2024 Leadership Academy kicked off with a six-hour session. This year’s cohort has 20 participants and is the largest cohort to date. The Leadership Academy prepares NPD practitioners to assume formal leadership roles in a variety of settings. This mentored, year-long program starts at convention and ends with a presentation at the following year’s convention. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet the new cohort, along with the Leadership Academy facilitator Chris Wilson, MSN, RN, NPD-BC.

5:30 PM — We all made our way to the ballroom for the opening Game Changer session. ANPD President Sheila St. Cyr, MS, RN, NPD-BC, greeted attendees with some convention stats, which included applauding NPD practitioners who have attended all conventions held to date. She shared the agenda for the next few days and introduced the 2022-2023 Board of Directors along with the 2023 Aspire Convention Content Planning Committee members.

Then, Greg Durkin delivered an emotional tribute to friend and colleague Dennis Doherty, a beloved ANPD Board director who passed last month. A commitment to continuing his passion to advocate for the NPD specialty and doing it with a smile was pledged in loving memory.

A natural transition flowed to Finding the Funny in Change, presented by our opening Game Changer Jan McInnis. She shared strategies for incorporating humor into NPD practice in her own comedic style.

7:00 PM — Afterward, the Partner Pavilion had its grand opening — and it was certainly grand! There were beverages and hors d’oeuvres, and attendees interacted with the industry’s best partners. The best part was seeing NPD practitioners walking around with superhero capes, networking and commingling with one another and vendors.

Wednesday, March 15

7:00 AM — Namaste to the NPD practitioners who attended our first wellness activity!

7:45 AM — Changing out of workout wear, business attire from head to toe was the choice for convention attendees who filled the hallways, ready to take advantage of the free professional headshot opportunity provided in the Partner Pavilion.

8:00 AM — Meanwhile, an ANPD affiliate meeting and networking event was held for all affiliates and anyone interested in forming one.

9:15 AM; and 2:15 PM — After the morning’s activities and again in the afternoon, six simultaneous Pathway sessions occurred in three one-hour blocks. Popular sessions included Ditch the Skills Fair: Transforming Culture with Ongoing Digital Competencies; Human Skills: Strategies to Improve Nurses’ Practice; and Leveling Up! Redesigning a Nursing Professional Development Team Structure.

11:15 AM — Once attendees had their fill of Pathway sessions, they headed to the ANPD Awards Ceremony, which celebrated recipients who won scholarships and awards. Each year ANPD presents prestigious awards recognizing individuals who have been nominated and selected as demonstrating excellence in nursing professional development. Congratulations to all award recipients!  

Then, Marcus Engel’s Game Changer session Narrative Nursing: Therapeutic Storytelling for Greater Perspective and Self-Care hit home for many as NPD practitioners stepped to the mic to share their own personal courageous experiences. Marcus’ guide dog James behaved perfectly, even though this was his first conference and first time on stage!

1:00 PM — That afternoon, the Leadership Academy and Evidence-Based Practice Academy celebrated graduates of the completed cohorts, and the night ended with an electric poster reception. More than 50 posters were available to view, and the floor plan fostered excitement and interaction between presenters and attendees.

Thursday, March 16

7:00 AM — Many attendees showed up and shined as they danced to Zumba with Atlanta’s JJ Bodywerk. NPD practitioners loved the fast-paced workout and began their day with a burning sweat for mind and body wellness.

9:15 AM; and 2:00 PM — Sixteen Pathway sessions occurred throughout the day, along with eight Rapid Fire sessions, drawing in the largest crowd for microlearning in ANPD convention history. These 15-minute sessions were so popular that rooms had to be changed three minutes before the start, proving that NPD practitioners are ready to pivot at any time.

12:30 PM — That afternoon, the Star Search Competition was fierce, as four first-time presenters came with their A-game to compete for a chance to win a 2024 Convention invitation to present a one-hour Pathway session. The high caliber of talent for the first-time presenters was evident as they sped through their content in 10 minutes in front of over 600 peers. Congratulations to the winner, Peta-Kaye Johnson, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL, who presented, Driving Change with Simulation. She will be invited to next year's convention!

7:15 PM — The day ended with Singo Bingo, a networking event that drew in nearly 200 attendees. Not only did attendees play and sing the early evening away, impromptu dance-offs occurred, and plenty of ANPD swag was given away.

Friday, March 17

8:00 AM — Our final day proved as energetic as the others, as ANPD held its first-ever Hackathon with a maxed-out registration of 80 attendants. Hackathon participants worked against the clock in small teams to address four major issues impacting nursing professional development and healthcare today. Using creativity and provided resources, teams created concise oral pitches, sharing aspects of the issue being addressed and suggesting innovative NPD solutions. The finalist teams moved on to present to a panel of expert judges, who selected the top pitch. ANPD congratulates all Hackathon finalists and the winning team from Las Vegas, team Royal Flush, whose pitch addressed patient needs impacted by the social determinants of health (SDOH) with the use of an app to facilitate hypertension screenings and create resources for Spanish-speaking residents of the greater Las Vegas area.

8:15 AM — Simultaneously, a live podcast was recorded (listen now!), and a final Pathway session occurred, with six concurrent presenters. Winners of the convention competitions and presentations were celebrated, and ANPD leadership shared the plan for the 2024 Aspire Convention, coming to Chicago, IL. 

10:45 AM — Pam Collins closed the convention with her Game Changer session, Moving From Survival to Revival: Reclaiming Our Edge! She examined the NPD role as we re-enter the “norm,” and how this perception needs a new direction ­— a path of contagious excitement, energy, and effectiveness. The line to greet her at the end — so attendees could see her joy up close — was expectedly long, and she managed to leave us all feeling recharged.

Attending the annual convention is a unique experience for everyone. It was such an honor to meet so many NPD practitioners — from first-time attendees to those who have attended all ANPD conventions since 1994. Did you see those pins? I cried, laughed, and still have all the feels. Thank you so much to my NPD tribe for the wonderful vibes.