The Aspire Convention aims to close gaps in nursing professional development (NPD) practice and promote professional development. New for the 2026 Aspire Convention is the “NPD Essentials” educational track, which is focused on improving the NPD specialty skillset. This track will feature key takeaways and actionable strategies applicable to all NPD practitioners.

Do you have expertise in foundational and trending topics impacting the NPD specialty? Submit an abstract for this brand-new educational track!

NPD Practice Model Outputs

From Nursing Professional Development: Scope & Standards of Practice (4th ed., pp. 23), by M. G. Harper & P. Maloney (Eds.), 2022, Association for Nursing Professional Development. Copyright 2022 by the Association for Nursing Professional Development. Reprinted with permission.

The NPD Essentials abstract is submitted within the context of the outputs of the Nursing Professional Development Practice Model: learning, change, professional role competence, and growth of the NPD practitioner, specifically. The goal is to provide educational sessions that will develop NPD knowledge, skills, attitudes, and judgment to close NPD practice gaps and elevate the NPD specialty.

What Are We Looking For?

The NPD Essentials include both foundational NPD knowledge and trending topics in NPD practice that influence NPD work. Here are just a few examples:

• Learner engagement strategies
• Aligning outcomes to the practice gap, learning needs, and/or evaluation strategies
• Artificial intelligence
• Health policy
• Return on investment
• Ethical considerations in NPD practice

NPD Essentials sessions are intended to provide education and tools to close a specific NPD practice gap. This is different from the NPD Responsibilities track, which is intended to highlight the inputs, throughputs, and outputs of a particular NPD initiative, project, or program.

We are seeking to provide NPD Essentials offerings spanning the novice to expert continuum.

Tips for Submitting an NPD Essentials Abstract

• Start with the identification of an NPD practice gap! Consider the data you have gathered through both internal and external environmental scanning in recent years regarding the needs of NPD practitioners. Be sure the practice gap aligns with the NPD roles and professional standards.
• Consider how you will provide content in a way that is applicable across diverse learning and practice environments.
• Consider actionable strategies and tangible resources:
  • Learners should leave NPD essentials sessions with clear steps and strategies to implement what they’ve learned.
  • Tangible resources might include a worksheet, downloadable toolkit, or list of references.
• A full description of the NPD Essentials track, and the considerations for these abstracts can be found in the 2026 Abstract Submission Guide.

You can also review Melissa Dibble, MSN, RN, NPD-BC’s 2024 article, “5 Tips for Submitting a Compelling ANPD Aspire Convention Abstract,” on NPD in Motion for more tips on abstract submission, whether you are considering the NPD Essentials or an NPD Responsibilities track!

Additional information about abstracts can be found on the ANPD website. If you’re having trouble viewing this page, click on the ANPD logo and log in to the site.