How to Prepare for the 2022 AANP National Conference
By Alex Fernandez
Follow this guide to ready yourself for the return of this in-person conference on June 21.
The American Association Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is preparing to host the 2022 AANP National Conference in Orlando, Florida, June 21-26. Since the last in-person national conference in 2019, nurse practitioners (NPs) have been on the front lines of health care in their communities, serving as vital contributors to their places of practice.
Now, NPs and NP students of all specialties are planning for a week filled with continuing education (CE), exclusive keynote speakers, legislative and policy updates, hands-on workshops, lively exhibitors and much more. Whether you’re attending the in-person conference for the very first time or returning for the first time since 2019, AANP would like to share some tips for optimizing your national conference experience.
1. Customize Your Conference
Plan your week in Orlando and secure your seat in the most popular presentations at the 2022 AANP National Conference — before you even check-in to the event! If you haven’t already done so, make sure to select your sessions today so you can access all your desired CE sessions and workshops in Orlando. If you’re a student, be sure to add the student social now, which is limited to the first 100 registrants. You’ll also want to attend the opening and closing general sessions, featuring keynote speakers Erik Wahl and Martin Luther King III, respectively. With your sessions selected ahead of time, you will receive a customized schedule when you check in to the conference.
2. Download the AANP Mobile App
Enjoy the convenience of completing evaluations for all your sessions (required to earn CE credit), organizing your schedule, accessing maps to help navigate the convention center and staying up to date on important announcements — all from your phone! Download the AANP Mobile App by visiting mobile.aanp.org from your mobile device or by searching for AANP in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Once you have the app, install the 2022 AANP National Conference event to access all these features and more.
3. Dress for Success in the Sunshine State
While you can rest assured that temperatures in the convention center will be cool enough to look your business casual best, the Florida heat outside can come as a shock for some. Be sure to pack some lighter clothing for your adventures across Orlando and wear comfortable shoes to help you get through exciting days on your feet, standing and walking throughout the national conference. In addition to appropriate attire, sunscreen and hand sanitizer are the perfect accessories for a safe and healthy Orlando experience.
4. Pack for Comfort and Ease
Even your most comfortable attire can become irritating after some time trekking through the convention center grounds and exploring Orlando’s many offerings. Bring some bandages with you to help prevent any discomfort and pain from cuts, scrapes and blisters. For those who are mixing and matching outfits, bring a portable stain remover to keep your outfits looking fresh and new throughout the week.
5. Plan to Expand Your Network
After several years apart from your fellow AANP members, the 2022 AANP National Conference is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with influential health care professionals, experienced patient advocates, actively recruiting employers and your AANP leadership. Bring your business cards to the conference to grow your professional network and share your insights with thousands of NPs from across the country.
6. Share Your Story With AANP
The 2022 AANP National Conference offers several ways for you to contribute to The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®, both in-person and online. Use the hashtag #AANP22 as you share tweets, posts and photos on social media to give your fellow NPs a glimpse of your conference experience and to engage in the conference conversation. Tag @AANP_News on Twitter to engage with AANP, and you might be retweeted!
If you’d like to share your unique perspective at conference, then sign up for a video interview with AANP staff! Whether you’d like to discuss your experiences amid the COVID-19 pandemic, overcoming barriers to practice, the positive impact of NP-delivered care or other NP-related topics, AANP wants to hear — and share — your story.
7. Prioritize Your Wellness With NPower
National conference is the perfect place to replenish your emotional reserves by reconnecting with your NP community — seeing old friends and making new ones. In fact, social well-being is one component of the new NPower: An AANP Wellness Program for NPs. While attending the conference in Orlando, be sure to participate in the NPower Search for Self-Care Scavenger Hunt (found on page 14 of the conference guide) to gather wellness tips and have a chance to win an Apple watch.
8. Continue Your Conference at Home
Once you’ve returned home from a successful and fulfilling trip to national conference, there’s more to experience online! Avoid the post-conference blues by logging on to the 2022 AANP National Conference – On-demand platform to partake in select sessions from the in-person event, network with your colleagues and continue earning CE credit! Access to this platform is free for all in-person attendees, so take advantage of this exclusive benefit to keep on learning until July 27.
Support a Local Organization That Provides Free Health Care for Floridians
Shepherd’s Hope is this year’s charitable initiative and provides free medical care to working persons and their families who do not have health insurance through their workplace, cannot afford health insurance and are not eligible for government-assisted health programs. Shepherd’s Hope doesn’t receive any federal funding and relies heavily on grants, community partners and donors to operate.
During the 2022 AANP National Conference, AANP will host collection bins for Shepherd’s Hope. In addition to monetary donations, Shepherd’s Hope accepts first-aid kits or similar items (band aids, gauze, alcohol prep pads, etc.), hand sanitizer, face masks, gloves and gift cards (Amazon, Staples, Visa). Every bit counts. View the wish list below, then bring your items to Orlando and conference staff will make sure they reach Shepherd’s Hope. Thank you in advance for contributing to the health of the Central Florida community this summer.