Caitlin VanderMeel

Learn how the Colorado Springs Fire Department became the 11th fire department in the nation to carry, store, and transfuse whole blood in the pre-hospital setting. We will review hemorrhagic shock and damage control, resuscitation, and clinical outcomes from this real-life scenario to define what low titer, O-positive whole blood is, how it’s stored, transported, and transfused, potential side effects, and risk with EMS-delivered blood transfusions.

Learning Objectives:
• Describe what low titer, O-positive whole blood is
• Explain the benefits of early blood transfusion to hemorrhagic shock patients
• Understand how an EMS system can deliver blood transfusions to patients before arrival to the hospital and how it impacts ED patients

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome (TENS) are two names that describe the same skin-sloughing syndrome but define different levels of the disease process. This lecture will review etiology, disease classification, historical and presenting characteristics, management strategies, and complications. Lastly, we will review a case presentation exemplifying the TENS condition.

Learning Objectives:
• Define the spectrum of skin sloughing disorders that include Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome
• Identify etiology, history and physical exam characteristics, management strategies and complications of SJS/TENS
• Review a case study demonstrating one patient’s disease process

Pediatric poisonings are often challenging. Many times, you may not know what may have been ingested. Laboratory support may not be available or helpful. Therefore, you may have to cast a wide net of differential diagnoses, developing a reasonable clinical diagnostic approach to help identify a “toxidrome.” This presentation will discuss a few commonly encountered pediatric poisonings, risk-taking behaviors, early interventions, and prevention.

Learning Objectives:
• Examine risk-taking behaviors of adolescents & substances of abuse
• Identify common pediatric toxidromes and symptoms related to poisonings and abuse
• Develop a plan to prioritize early interventions and address prevention

This session will review basic toxicology principles and common poisonings through historical and contemporary case studies. We’ll explore the dangers of medicines prior to the Pure Food and Drug Act, as well as how unscrupulous marketers continue to purvey dangerous, unregulated patent medicines today.

Learning Objectives:
• Understand the dangers of medicines prior to regulation under the Pure Food and Drug Act and how unscrupulous marketers continue to purvey dangerous, unregulated patent medicines
• Review the basic principles of management for common poisonings
• Describe the significance and basic management principles of more unusual toxicologic ingestions

This session will discuss what makes anaphylaxis so dangerous and so difficult to detect in pediatric patients. Using a case study example, it will also explain why it is often missed and the potential outcome when missed or misdiagnosed.

Learning Objectives:
• Understand what anaphylaxis is
• Identify the differences between anaphylaxis versus an allergic reaction
• Explain why anaphylaxis is often missed in pediatric patients

Over the last several years, Jonathan has had the privilege to watch many youth soccer practices and games. Watching these young players develop their skills, and through their wins and losses, several teamwork and leadership lessons emerge that are easily adapted to the nursing profession and nurse leader development. This session will explore individual skill development, collaboration and delegation, and coaching as a leadership model, through the lens of the soccer player.

Learning Objectives:
• Identify the need for individual skill development for bedside clinicians and leaders alike, as a foundation for building leadership and team competencies
• Associate the importance of collaboration and delegation for nurse leaders (formal and informal) to balance work and play to each individual’s strengths
• Apply coaching as a leadership model to develop team members, improve cohesion, and support team performance

Knowledge of special populations and the impact that nursing can have in detecting and acting upon stroke symptoms is essential, but often lacking. Using a case study approach, this session will present unique patient scenarios with discussion around patient presentation, imaging, treatment options, and polling from the audience as to what they would do next. With so many changes in treatment options and timeframes, it is essential for nurses to know which patients may now qualify for treatment when they may not have in the past.

Learning Objectives:
• Identify stroke treatment options for special populations (pregnant, pediatric, etc.)
• Discuss extended timeframes for ischemic stroke care
• Recognize two strategies to improve emergency nursing stroke care

One of these MIs is not like the others… Can you tell which one? Knowing that over 1.1 million persons in the US annually will experience an MI, resulting in an arrival to your emergency department, your MI knowledge should be on point. Most RNs were taught to meet these patients with MONA—but ladies and gentlemen, MONA has now left the building.

Can you rapidly determine the region of infarct using a 12 LEAD? Do you know which pharmacologic interventions should be done for the inferior region? Can you promptly identify a new onset AV Block? If you answered ‘no’ to any of these questions, this presentation has been created for you! It’s time to experience the coolness of the flip side of the heart and spend some time learning the pearls and pitfalls of the inferior MI.

Learning Objectives:
• Recognize a right ventricle is involved in the inferior MI using a 12 Lead EKG tracing to drive pharmacologic intervention
• Understand that 40-50% of all MI’s occur in the inferior region
• Distinguish the type of AV block appearing on a 12 Lead EKG tracing

This interactive session will review the disease process associated with myocarditis, risk factors, as well as signs and symptoms associated with myocarditis in adult and pediatric patients presenting to the ED. Expected medical and nursing interventions with be discussed using case studies.

Learning Objectives:
• Understand the risk factors and disease process of myocarditis
• Identify signs and symptoms for adult and pediatric patients presenting with myocarditis
• List appropriate interventions and standard of care for patients with myocarditis

A cautionary tale highlighting the devastating effects of substance use disorder in emergency nursing. Through vulnerable and relatable discussion, learn how to cultivate self-awareness, foster peer understanding, and build a supportive community for nurses confronting this often taboo and under acknowledged epidemic.

Learning Objectives:
• Recognize that substance use disorder affects nearly 20% of practicing nurses, with the highest rates found in emergency, prehospital, and critical care settings
• Seek out mentors and peers who have successfully navigated the challenges of substance use, fostering relatability and support
• Learn practical, healthy coping techniques and develop self-awareness, both of which are crucial for maintaining overall well-being

This session will explore clinical communication between major trauma patients/family and clinicians via a case study that walks through a head-on collision from a wrong way driver at speeds of 75 mph, with a focus on helicopter flight crew, trauma/ED resuscitation and ending with transport to inpatient care. This case study is a “behind the rails” firsthand experience from the presenter.

Communication in this scenario is extremely complex. Multiple demands are placed on the clinicians and on the patient/family, including their own advocacy for care. Patient/family-staff clinical communication has an essential role during major trauma initial care that can guide healing and the beginning stages of acceptance when performed using best practice, trauma-informed communication.

Learning Objectives:
• Analyze clinician communication when a family member is experiencing an “amygdala hijack”
• Examine the psychosocial support given to family in ED/trauma
• Define trauma-informed communication and how it applies to our practice.

We’re bringing a little competition to continuing education! This interactive session will explore how gamification can empower and engage learners to increase content retention and understanding. But we won’t just be talking about gamification… Get ready to jump into the action! Game on!

Learning Objectives:
• Engage in nursing education within a gamification design
• Increase knowledge of certification content
• Describe how gamification can increase educational engagement

This interactive learning session will focus on a detailed case study of a patient with a severe pelvic injury and decompensated hypovolemic shock who required immediate and effective resuscitation on arrival to a trauma center. Participants will explore the complexities of managing fluid resuscitation in a critical setting, highlighting the importance of timely interventions to stabilize patients in hypovolemic shock.

Learning Objectives:
• Review the fundamental concepts of fluid components, enabling them to identify best practices and critical considerations for managing fluid therapy in trauma patients
• Explain the fluid compartment model in hypovolemic fluid resuscitation and apply this understanding to optimize fluid management strategies in critically injured patients
• Apply the principles of the fluid compartment model to clinical practice for patients with traumatic injuries, ensuring improved patient outcomes in clinical settings

In the chaotic world of trauma medicine, every second counts. Discover how artificial intelligence is becoming the unseen hero in emergency rooms and accident scenes worldwide. This presentation dives into the cutting-edge AI technologies that are transforming trauma care – from lightning-fast triage to precision diagnostics and personalized treatment plans. Prepare to witness the future of trauma medicine, where AI and human ingenuity combine to push the boundaries of what’s possible in patient care.

Learning Objectives:
• Identify key applications of AI in trauma care, including triage, diagnosis, and treatment planning
• Evaluate the potential benefits and limitations of AI integration in trauma management workflows
• Discuss ethical considerations and challenges in implementing AI systems for trauma patient care

Through obstetric trauma case studies, this presentation delves into real-world cases studies of obstetric trauma, focusing on identifying, managing, and preventing injuries of the impacts of trauma. Key topics include assessment techniques, prompt intervention strategies, and the latest guidelines for obstetric trauma care. By analyzing these cases, participants will learn critical decision-making skills, enhance their ability to handle emergency situations, and improve outcomes for both mother and child.

Learning Objectives:
• Describe necessary additional to the primary and secondary survey of trauma resuscitation in the setting of obstetric trauma
• Discuss intervention strategies to enhance ability to handle obstetric trauma
• Review latest guidelines for obstetric trauma care.

This presentation focuses on the critical connection between trauma care in the ER and its continued management in the ICU. By exploring trauma resuscitation, communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration, we can gain a deeper understanding of how critical care principles directly impact the care that we provide in both environments. The decisions and actions taken in the ER set the foundation for ongoing patient resuscitation and recovery in the ICU, promoting safe and seamless transitions in their care.

Learning Objectives:
• Describe the key components of trauma resuscitation protocols used in the emergency room and their impact on the subsequent care provided in the ICU
• Analyze common challenges in transitioning trauma patients from the ER to the ICU and propose strategies to enhance communication and continuity of care
• Evaluate the effectiveness of trauma care interventions across the ER and ICU settings, identifying opportunities for improvement in patient outcomes through interdisciplinary collaboration

Are you already an expert on drips, IVs and trauma? Wanting to do more than call RT when the ventilator alarms? Come learn about how to start a patient on mechanical ventilation, including ventilator calculations and troubleshooting, then test your knowledge with a few patient case studies.

Learning Objectives:
• Calculate starting ventilator settings for a newly intubated adult patient
• Identity ventilator alarms and possible troubleshooting steps
• Feel comfortable speaking “ventilator language”

To improve patient safety, we must create environments in which it is easy to do the right thing. This begins with educating and embracing ALL resuscitation team members on essential teamwork skills and training these skills as core principles across disciplines, including physicians, nurses, medical assistants, respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, laboratory, and blood bank participants. The goal of this discussion is to highlight and discuss skills proven to boost effective communication, promote situational awareness, and foster shared mental models to create enduring exceptional trauma resuscitation teams.

Learning Objectives:
• Understand the soft skills needed to improve outcomes
• Acquire tools to enhance team communication
• Recognize levels of situational awareness and how to promote shared mental models

A big burn patient doesn’t come through the doors very often, so when they do, it is crucial for the first responders, ED staff and providers be ready to prioritize care using primary and secondary assessment with burn-specific considerations. To better understand the full care of the burn patient, we will offer the dual perspective of the burn team side-by-side with a burn survivor who sustained an 85% TBSA burn.

Learning Objectives:
• Recognize the need for intubation for the burn patient
• Implement IV fluid resuscitation goals for the burn patient
• Identify the need for temperature regulation for the burn patient

Join us for a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of frostbite patients, enhanced by visual case studies. We will discuss initial management strategies for this patient population, focusing on how to distinguish between implementation of basic wound care and initiation of limb-saving measures, including the use of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) and other emerging medications under investigation.

Learning Objectives:
• Understand the basic pathophysiology of frostbite
• Identify the initial clinical findings of frostbite patients
• Discuss pre-hospital and initial hospital management strategies of frostbite

Burn shock is a life-threatening condition caused by severe burn injuries, marked by extensive fluid shifts, low blood volume, and a widespread inflammatory response. This lecture will cover the pathophysiology, clinical signs, and stages of burn shock, emphasizing timely recognition and effective management strategies. Key topics include principles of fluid resuscitation, tools for assessing treatment effectiveness, and strategies to prevent complications. By the end of this session, participants will gain critical knowledge and practical skills to manage burn shock and enhance patient outcomes in cases of severe burn trauma.

Learning Objectives:
• Describe the underlying pathophysiology of burn shock, including the systemic inflammatory response associated with significant burn injuries
• Identify the key signs and symptoms of burn shock and differentiate these from other types of shock
• Explain the principles of fluid resuscitation in burn shock, including the calculation of fluid requirements, monitoring, and adjusting resuscitation based on patient response.

This session will explore what characteristics and best practices make a good nurse leader, including tactics to motivate and encourage nurses under your leadership, as well as strategies for those who may be dealing with poor decision-making in leadership to incorporate self-discipline and professional growth.

Learning Objectives:
• Develop tactics to motivate and encourage others
• Recognize strategies to deal with poor decision making in leadership
• Incorporate methods of self-discipline and professional growth

Learn about common pediatric presentations to the Emergency Department resulting from playground injuries, including falls, traumatic brain injuries, and dental injuries. This session will discuss playground safety as well as risk hazards in the playground including supervision, appropriate environments, fall surfacing, and equipment maintenance. The discussion will finish with implications including safety checks, surveillance, training, and policy development.

Learning Objectives:
• List at least one organization responsible for playground safety
• Identify symptoms of a potential traumatic brain injury
• Identify one component for the elements of model framework

This nature tour will highlight Colorado Springs’ most well-known landmarks: the Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, Cheyenne Canyon, and Helen Hunt Falls. Colorado history, railroad tunnels and amazing scenery will provide an adventure you’ll never forget.

Children under the age of 4 or under 40 lbs. must have appropriate child car seat for tour.

Adults/Children: $113
Pricing includes transportation to and from Cheyenne Mountain Resort hotel.

This outing to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will feature a private feeding of a giraffe herd, an up-close meet and greet with zoo ambassador animals, and a specially guided Africa exhibit tour led by EdVenture staff while indulging in a sweet treat.

Adults: $50
Children 5 and under: $20
Pricing includes transportation to and from Cheyenne Mountain Resort hotel.

All emergency nurses know of the NIHSS assessment… and many dislike it! That loathing is usually related to complex patient presentations, confusion around differences between scores, and uncertainty about implications of the score itself (i.e. why does it matter?). It is past time that real world strategies be shared for performing and using the score whether you see stroke patients every single day or only every few months.

This session will cover neuroanatomy, imaging in stroke, and a detailed step by step tutorial for performing and scoring the NIHSS…with NEW videos and examples of each score! Time-saving techniques and challenging patient assessments will be reviewed so you can better grasp the why, how, and when to use the NIHSS in the high acuity and insanely busy world that is emergency nursing.

Pre-conference attendees earn 3.5 additional CE credits. Registration and $100 fee required.

This session is designed to appeal to nurses intending to enter the field of transport or those who want to expand their knowledge of a high acuity, low occurrence therapy. Presented in both a traditional didactic presentation and through medium fidelity simulation, patient ventilator management scenarios and strategies will be reviewed. Attendees will have the opportunity to make their own decisions regarding management with real time feedback both with hands-on ventilators and through computer-based simulation.

Attendees will need to bring a laptop computer for the session.

Pre-conference attendees earn 3.5 additional CE credits. Registration and $100 fee required.

Join us for a lively cocktail hour and mingle with your fellow conference attendees! Hors d’oeuvres and additional raffle opportunities will be provided.

Conference badge required upon entry.

Enjoy a bonus networking event after-hours, where we’ll be turning up the heat by making s’mores around courtyard fire pits.

Enjoy refreshments and hors d’oeuvres while you mingle with conference attendees and exhibitors at the BCEN Learn Live networking mixer!

Conference badge required upon entry.

Certified Master Life Coach, speaker, registered nurse, social worker, and a New York Times best-selling author of The Silver Lining, A Supportive and Insightful Guide to Breast Cancer, Hollye is a respected expert in the field of women’s health and wellness, and has appeared on Good Morning America with Robin Roberts, CBS Morning News, Dr. Phil, and Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday.

As a Certified Master Coach, Hollye specializes in helping people cultivate resilience in the face of life’s inevitable upheavals, from career change to illness, recovery, and everything in between.

Hollye is in private practice, teaches, and leads international retreats. She lives with her husband, and amazing black lab in New York City and Harbor Springs, Michigan.

Join us at BCEN Learn Live this April to hear Hollye’s inspiring, resilience-boosting keynote session at our iconic Celebration Breakfast kickoff!

We will discuss the background and indications for direct peritoneal resuscitation for patients who have undergone damage control laparotomy with an open abdomen. As we review a case study, we will review the setup and management of this complex patient from the OR to initial fascial closure, including complications that can arise.

What’s a better stress reliever than spending time with furry friends? Join us in the West Courtyard between 12-4 PM to play with cute rescue puppies from our friends at local shelter Arf-Anage Rescue!

Join us poolside to enjoy a lively cocktail hour and mingle with your fellow conference attendees! Hors d’oeuvres and additional raffle opportunities will be provided.

Conference badge required upon entry.

Leaps of Growth: Embracing Bold Steps in Professional Development is a transformative session where Becky Rich, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, CEN will share her path from a diploma school-prepared RN to a doctoral-prepared nurse. In this session Becky will reveal the strategies used for continuous learning, how resilience helped her overcome various challenges, and how you can create an action plan for your next career leap. Whether you are at the beginning of your career seeking a certification or looking into an advanced degree, this session will provide you with insights and encouragement to take those bold steps forward in your professional life.

Procedures are a common practice in many ED patients. Lumbar puncture, central line placement, intubation, suture placement, abscess drainage and foreign body removal in adult and pediatric patients remain important tasks of the ED team. The astute ED clinician must be prepared for the proper set up, procedural intervention, risk/benefits, pearls, tips and recovery for all ED patients. We will renew and refresh some simple to complex procedural considerations in both adult and pediatric patients in the ED. Important procedural pearls will be highlighted with video compilation.

Pain is a common part of presenting complaints emergency departments and similar settings. While nurses understand that pain assessment is a complex, multi-dimensional, and subjective part of daily work, there are certain patient populations that receive inadequate pain management. Proper pain assessment is made more difficult with increased patient volumes, complex co-morbidities, and lack of proper tools to assess certain special populations. Through the use of interactive case studies and audience participation, pain assessment for the critically ill and injured, geriatric and non-verbal populations will be discussed.

Sepsis has been around for 20 years and is still a difficult patient population to care for. With the increasing co-morbidities, sepsis remains a challenging population of patients that are cared for in emergency departments. This lecture will link sepsis patients with the role of the CLNC when reviewing patient cases and expectations of standards of care for the sepsis patient.

This session will cover identification and acute management of decompensated heart failure and cardiogenic shock in the emergency setting, including discussion about medications and hemodynamics, presented by an advanced heart failure nurse practitioner.

It is sometimes difficult to attribute a particular clinical syndrome to a particular drug type. Certain common features emerge that may be related directly and specifically to the drug, but other clinical features may arise in a non-specific way from complications of injection and/or coma. Illicit drugs can have substantial negative effects on the structure and functioning of the brain. This presentation will discuss some of the common medications and the assessment of these patients, factors that may have adverse effects, and treatment plans for the acute and chronic complications that may occur in these individuals.

The presenter will discuss emergency management of electrical and lightning injuries, including case presentations and care rendered at a regional American Burn Association verified Adult and Pediatric Burn Center.

This session will provide an overview discussion on trends seen in pediatric burn injuries, including evidence-based recommendations for pediatric burn related management strategies both during the resuscitation and acute phases of care. Wrapping up we will briefly discuss potential complications seen in pediatric burn injuries and treatment.

Severe burns, while visually striking, can potentially mask more life-threatening injuries. This session will cover the importance of the recognition, prioritization, and treatment of life-threatening conditions in complex trauma burn patients via a case study approach.

This session will focus on burn wound assessment and implications for function and movement induced disorder, emphasize the difference between verified burn center care and non-verified care in the rehabilitation realm, and highlight contemporary practice in the burn rehabilitation arena including current research discoveries and applicability to practice.

Explore the basics of burn care plus recent innovations presented by Dr. Foster, Director of Burn Services for the Arizona Burn Center and Director of Surgical Research for the Department of Surgery.

On January 27, 2013, Firefighter Smoke Jumper Lane Lamoreaux was paragliding in a rural portion of the San Jacinto mountains. Lane is an experienced paraglider who unfortunately experienced an extreme wind change while flying. He had a prolonged EMS extrication due to the terrain and presented severe multi-system traumatic injuries, including multiple fractures, hemorrhagic shock, and ALOC. He coded twice during ED and OR resuscitation and received more blood products then any other trauma patient to date at Riverside University Medical Center.

Through great care and perseverance, Lane was discharged after 40 days to a hospital in AZ. His healing journey was only beginning, and since then, Lane has starred in a full length documentary film chronicling his journey as a trauma survivor. He is now a teacher and TED Talk presenter, and his documentary has won several awards at various film festivals.

Lane’s nurse, CEN Lori Maddox, will review Lane’s medical case, then Lane himself will close the session by sharing his experiences post-accident as a survivor.

Explore the great outdoors with your fellow BCEN Learn Live attendees! This free, 60-minute guided hike through the Phoenix Mountain Preserve surrounding the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort will provide scenic views of the mountains over Phoenix and Scottsdale. (And don’t worry, we’ll have you back in time for breakfast, coffee and our first conference session!)

Hike Difficulty Level: Easy/Moderate

Enjoy refreshments and hors d’oeuvres while you mingle with conference attendees and exhibitors at the BCEN Learn Live exhibitor reception! This reception will include an Accelerated Networking event and additional raffle opportunities.

Conference badge required upon entry.

In this presentation tailored for first responders, Kim Colegrove will shine a spotlight on issues that contribute to personal and professional stress and dissatisfaction, and present a path to balance and well-being that’s been tested and approved by your peers.

Have you ever felt like something is missing in your patient care? Have you felt that maybe you cured your patient for now, but did not leave them whole? This session will explore how to equip yourself to assess and address the spiritual needs of patients in a professional, ethical, caring, and patient-centered manner.

Attendees will discuss and identify rashes commonly seen in pediatric patients and implement a plan of care, including protective needs for staff and patient.

This session presented by BCEN’s 2024 Distinguished CPEN Award winner will provide an overview of Pediatric Readiness, why it’s so important in rural EDs and underserved communities, and how to overcome barriers to implementation, including simulation resources.

ATV injuries have risen to the top 5 MOI in pediatric trauma patients in AZ. Understanding the pattern of injuries sustained by the pediatric patient and recognition of assessment and management priorities related to ATV injuries is crucial for the survival of the pediatric patient. An actual ATV patient case scenario from time of accident to definitive care will be utilized to demonstrate the pattern of injuries and the management priorities involved.

Responses and resources dedicated to the treatment of STEMI, stroke, sepsis and trauma are vast. Their recognition as time-sensitive illnesses are directly related to the high risk of irreversible brain loss and death. Seizures also pose this same risk. In combination with the increased recognition difficulty, pediatrics may be more at risk of brain loss and death. This session will address barriers to recognition and treatment of pediatric seizures.

This informative session is designed to equip nurses with the essential knowledge and skills needed for disaster preparedness and response. Join us as we empower nurses to become key players in the face of emergencies and discover practical strategies for promoting readiness initiatives within healthcare facilities.

End-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) is routinely used to monitor ventilation during patient sedation and to validate endotracheal tube placement. Research has demonstrated ETCO2 can reliable be used for a multitude of other purposes.

1. Waveform analysis can point to the cause of a patient’s ventilation problem and assist in formulating a treatment plan.

2. Blood flow is necessary for gas exchange thus ETCO2 is a useful, non-invasive mode to evaluate patient hemodynamics.

This session is designed to make you less uncomfortable with the obstetric patient presentation. The general knowledge and assessment of the emergent OB patient can make a difference in the outcome of the care. Stress levels we experience when dealing with a high acuity and low volume patient population can increase the risk of a bad outcome.

This is meant to give you to the down and dirty of the general OB patient and how to medically manage this patient in a high-stress situation.

Injuries are one of the most important public health issues worldwide and have a considerable contribution to the disease burden, especially in young adults. Approximately 9% of all blunt trauma patients suffer pelvic fractures. These fractures can range from insignificant and requiring almost no therapy to massive destruction of the pelvic ring associated with multisystem injury and life-threatening hypotension which mandates the attention of specialists. Polytrauma involving multiple systems challenges the best assessment skills. This lecture will examine different types of trauma through a case study format.

Growing up, Jason had one dream – to serve as a Phoenix Police Officer. Inspired by his brother and the tragic loss of a local law enforcement hero, Jason worked persistently towards his dream. After serving four years in the Air Force, at age 26, Jason achieved his goal to work on the streets of Phoenix as a rookie police officer. Then, only 14 months into what was supposed to be a life-long career, Jason’s life took an unexpected, dramatic and, at the time, tragic turn.

On the night of March 26th, 2001, a taxi cab crashed into the rear of Jason’s patrol car. Upon impact, Jason’s car burst into flames, trapping him inside with temperatures reaching over 700 degrees.

Through a series of miraculous and fateful circumstances, Jason survived the crash and ensuing physical and emotional catastrophe. He suffered severe burns to over 40% of his body, which drastically altered his appearance. He has undergone more than 50 surgeries just to have the ability to accomplish simple daily tasks we often take for granted.

Jason’s journey chronicles his fight for life, his triumph over tragedy and the inspiration that enables him to continue to overcome unimaginable adversity. His personal narrative exemplifies that the power of the human spirit can never be underestimated or extinguished. His story is also a testament of true love and the dedication Jason and his wife have in their commitment to honor their family and the vows of marriage in good times and bad.

His story is one of life, rebirth and transformation. Jason represents the human experience at its very best – an ascent from despair to describing himself as the luckiest person alive!

Join us for an immersive workshop that reimagines emergency nursing training through the power of virtual reality. Designed to elevate emergency response skills, this hands-on event provides participants with a unique opportunity to practice managing a range of situations, from common emergencies to complex clinical cases to managing escalating situations in a realistic immersive environment. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to showcase your expertise in an engaging, Olympic-style competition, demonstrating your mastery of ED triage and patient management. Whether you’re looking to refine your emergency nursing skills or push your skills to new heights, this workshop will challenge you to redefine your practice and have some fun in our virtual ED!

No prior VR experience is required as the workshop team will provide all of the equipment and instructions necessary to care for patients in VR.

Pre-conference attendees earn 3.5 additional CE credits. Registration and $100 fee required, 20 seats available.

In this interactive resilience training designed for first responders, attendees will learn the importance of considering and addressing multiple components of wellbeing. Through a process of discovery and self-assessment, they’ll gain insight regarding personal and professional stress, trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Participants will leave the event with a practical strategy in place to restore resilience and improve quality of life.

Pre-conference attendees earn 3.5 additional CE credits. Registration and $100 fee required, 50 seats available.

Leadership development is essential to organizational success. This interactive presentation will describe a well-executed succession plan as a method for leadership development. As the past Treasurer of Texas ENA, Shawntay Harris will share practices essential for efficiency and engagement in leadership development.

Nearly 500,000 burn injuries requiring medical care occur in the United States each year. This session will include an overview of burn pathophysiology, burn care, fluid resuscitation and American Burn Association criteria for transfer to a burn center.

A review of first aid in providing care for extensive burn injuries. Advances in the care of burn victims will be reviewed, why they are significant, and you will be convinced the effort is worthwhile.

This session will focus on all areas of electrical injury discussed on the CBRN exam. It will incorporate principles of electrical injury from at risk populations through prevention, and ending with reintegration to work and home.

How many times have we said, “All patients can make it to L&D…” Most times this statement is true, however, deliveries can and do occur outside the labor and delivery setting. All EMS and ER professionals should have a basic understanding of the necessary steps in resuscitation of a newborn.

Most infants are healthy and require little more than “catching and clamping,” however, others may require more extensive resuscitative measures. This presentation has been designed to teach the what you really need to know (and will actually remember) information regarding neonatal assessment and resuscitation.

Do you know what to do when someone that has been strangled arrives to your facility? This session will review populations at risk, pathophysiology, nursing assessment, and care planning for strangulation survivors.

This session is to serve as a general overview of human trafficking, with an emphasis on how it may present itself in the healthcare setting – for patients and providers alike. The session will present potential red flags to be aware of as service providers, but also an understanding of what labor trafficking may look like for healthcare workers in their field.

This presentation will discuss the policies and procedures for sexual assaults within the department of defense, reporting instructions and follow up care, as well as the important role of civilian Emergency Departments in this vital process.

Behavior health patient volumes are rising in the Emergency Department, and inpatient psychiatric beds are dwindling. Developing new strategies to reduce length of stay and creating a therapeutic milieu within the ED can improve patient outcomes. An overview of this care model will demonstrate the success of reducing length of stay and creating a safer environment for patients awaiting placement at a psychiatric hospital.

Dr. Scaletta will discuss the intersection of two significant developments in healthcare:

1. The shift from fee-for-service to value-based care
2. The surge in the integration of artificial intelligence in emergency medicine.

The QUEST framework is introduced and used to explore the dynamic intersection of smart technology and value-based care, encompassing quality, utilization, efficiency, satisfaction, and teamwork.

This session will explore how state boards of nursing function, providing insight into threats to a nursing license and how a nurse can be proactive in protecting their hard-won license to practice.

Use social media to support your career success! In this lecture, learn the essential information on how best to leverage social media for professional development and steer clear of potential career pitfalls from your content.

Join us for an inspiring journey into the dynamic world of nursing in the media. In “Empowering Emergency Nurses in Media,” you’ll delve into the power of nurses’ narratives and expertise in shaping healthcare perceptions, policies and pubic safety.

Discover how nurses’ representation in the media impacts patient care, education, and advocacy, and gain practical tips for effective communication in this evolving landscape. Together, let’s foster collaboration between nursing staff and hospital leaders to advance our profession and elevate emergency medicine on a global stage. Don’t miss this opportunity to harness the potential of media to empower emergency nurses and enhance healthcare outcomes.

Ho hum, a CPR lecture? Are you kidding me? I can (and do) CPR in my sleep! Now, ask yourself, how often do you and your team actually obtain neurologically intact ROSC?

Come to this fast-paced and funny lecture to learn what we used to “know” is now wrong, and what the current science is teaching us about game-changing resuscitation. Explore the nerd-level science behind the resuscitation so we can actually give “Annie-Annie” a fighting chance!

This interactive presentation will cover a series of the latest breakthroughs in health care technology. The audience will be asked to determine if they are real or not, then the answer will be provided with the research, development and science, including its availability to the health care industry.

Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams provide access to a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to advancing the care of patient with PE. This session includes an overview of patient criteria, the impact of nurses, and improving patient outcomes.

This session is designed to delve into the critical aspect of seamless communication between prehospital EMS and the ED. Effective and timely information exchange is vital for optimizing patient outcomes during the continuum of care from the incident scene to arrival at the hospital.

This session will explore the challenges faced in communication handoffs, such as conveying critical patient data, relevant medical history, and incident details accurately. Join this session to explore real-world case studies to learn how best to foster communication, enhance patient safety, and ultimately provide the highest quality of care in emergency medical settings.

What do you do when everything changes in a matter of seconds? In this case review, we will discuss the rare cases where nothing is as it seems, and anticipating care is not an option. Discussion will include how flexibility and training are crucial to the ability of the flight team to care for any patient at a moment’s notice.

Fabricated or induced illnesses present a unique challenge to emergency department staff trained to recognize patterns of signs and symptoms and intervene accordingly. This session will explore factitious disorders induced on self and on another by combining didactic information with actual ED case studies.

This presentation provides an engaging exploration of simulation activities designed to enhance the skills of healthcare teams in managing pediatric patients within the Emergency Department and during transport. Leveraging the principles of simulation education, the session delves into real-world case studies, offering participants the opportunity to remember key pediatric emergency concepts, understand the complexities of pediatric care, and apply their knowledge in simulated scenarios.

By emphasizing critical thinking, effective communication, and collaborative teamwork, attendees will gain practical insights to elevate their clinical proficiency and contribute to improved patient safety outcomes in pediatric emergency settings.

This session will discuss the challenges of providing medical care and health education in a low resource, low-income environment. The ethical issues surrounding humanitarian missions will be addressed as well as the highs and lows of being on a humanitarian mission.

The ED transition nurse program is an extensive 12-week onboarding fellowship that provides nurses without an emergency nursing background the knowledge, skills, certifications, and clinical orientation needed to become proficient and competent ED nurses. Education is provided by ED clinical educators, department leadership, and interdisciplinary team members that includes advanced specialty training, didactic review, simulation, skill development activities, and certification course participation.

This session will discuss program benefits, including professional growth and competency for both new ED nurses and the precepting interdisciplinary team members, as well as increased department staffing with improved nurse retention.

This session will look at the emotional aspect of recovery from a burn injury. Burn injuries can be overwhelming and isolating, which makes addressing patient’s psychosocial incredibly important. This session will cover common issues that result from suffering a burn injury and ways to ensure burn survivors are able to integrate back into their community and their lifestyle.

Caring for a critically ill child can sometimes cause anxiety and fear even in the most seasoned of medical professionals. Children have many of the same diseases and conditions as adults, yet the assessment and management principles will differ in some areas and be quite similar in others. This presentation will review the essential components of a rapid pediatric assessment, along with some “just like adults” treatment tips. Through the use of real-life case studies and two rounds of Jeopardy, critical care and emergency personnel will come away better able to provide care for crashing kids.

Pre-conference attendees earn 3.5 additional CE credits. Registration and $100 fee required, limited space available.

Through current, evidence-based information, the emergency nurse will discover proper acute care of the burn patient. The presentation will deliver case studies that highlight the role of the emergency nurse in the initial management of a burn patient including discussion of fluid resuscitation, intubation decisions, inhalation injuries, determining burn size, and treatment interventions. Acute burn care management of the patient with a thermal injury determines both short-term and long-term outcomes, including survivability. Vivid photographs and interactive slides complement this session.

Pre-conference attendees earn 3.5 additional CE credits. Registration and $100 fee required, limited space available.

The unprecedented and widespread experience of languishing can be overcome. Dr. Joseph will help your team find clarity of purpose to restore your confidence, hope and optimism in challenging times.

What does it take for you to connect with your own North Star? How does your team maintain a culture of excellence in the face of setbacks or fatigue?

National championship coach and sport psychologist Dr. Ivan Joseph has not only studied the tenets of grit and resilience, he has successfully applied them time after time with professional and Olympic athletes, executives, industry leaders and high performers from all walks of life. In this session, you will learn the importance of finding your own clarity of purpose and shifting your focus to what matters, making sure those around you feel that they belong and finding your flow again.

Self-confidence, grit and optimism are the keys to Finding Your North Star. Dr. Joseph’s approach works: leaders and teams see an immediate impact.