2005 NEW JERSEY NURSING CONVENTION

New Jersey Nurse, Nov/Dec 2004

The New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) and the New Jersey League for Nursing (NJLN) will celebrate their 8th anniversary of cosponsoring a Convention for nurses from the tri-state area, the 2005 NEW JERSEY NURSING CONVENTION. Our convention will be held on March 31-April 1, at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

This year's theme is "Celebrating Your Choices...Nurses Working Together" There are over 100,000 registered nurses in the State of New Jersey. I look at this number in amazement realizing that our nurses play an important role in society. What a powerful representation of women and men joined together as one, and we all work in the same field-providing healthcare-NURSES WORKING TOGETHER.

On Wednesday, March 30, 2005, the Forum for Nurses in Advanced Practice will be hosting their all-day educational activity entitled, "APN's Controlled Substance Pharmacology Update. Keep an eye on our website for registration information...this program is Back by Popular Demand...so register early.

The New Jersey League for Nursing will be hosting their all-day educational activity entitled, "The Ultimate Test: Developing Valid and Reliable Exams to Assess HigherOrder Thinking." Topics include critical thinking, guidelines for writing multiple choice items, computer adaptive testing, alternate item formats, transforming comprehension and application level items into analysis level items, statistical analysis and more! This program will feature Nationally Acclaimed Workshop Leaders...Patricia Mahoney, MSN, RN and Tracy Ortelli, MS, RN, CCRN. So mark your calendar for March 30, 2005 at the Tropicana Casino and Resort.

On Thursday, March 31, rise up early and join the exhibitors for our FREE continental breakfast. Who will win the grand prizes at this upcoming convention? This year, there were quite a few happy attendees who walked out with a color TV, digital camera, gift baskets and more. Join us in 2005 and see what you have a chance to win! If you know any one who is interested in exhibiting, please forward their names to Gail Hammond or Debra Harwell and we will make sure that they receive the exhibitor prospectus. This information can also be found on both websites at www.njsna.org or www.njln.org.

Are you ready for the TOPOFF? If not, attend our Bio-terrorism and Emerging Infectious Disease Preparedness program. Perhaps you want to know more about "Forensic Nursing" or start your own business and want to know the steps to take. If you are interested in presenting at the convention, submit a Convention Abstract Form which can be found on both websites. Please note that there will be a selection process conducted by the Convention Education Selection Committee.

Several changes have been made so please make note. NJSNA Candidates will have "Candidates Night" on Thursday, March 31, 2005. The Institute for Nursing will be hosting a "Fundraising Breakfast" on Friday morning, April 1, 2005, 7:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m. Our convention will close with the "Health Care Plenary Session." Join Linda Aikens, PhD, RN, Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Aikens will present her latest research entitled, "Educational Levels of Hospital Nurses and Surgical Patient Mortality" and there will be sufficient time allowance for questions and answers. This is our last session of the day and is one of the highlights of the "New Jersey Nursing Convention."

So look out for the 2005 Convention Brochure and Make Your Choice to join us at the 2005 New Jersey Nursing Convention.