The American Association for Long Term Care Nursing is testing a “new” approach at its annual conference next Thursday and Friday in Las Vegas. Nurses will be able to attend a traditional conference and exhibition AND fulfill requirements for certification at the same time. Certification requirements can be fulfilled for: Director of Nursing in Long Term Care, Long Term Care Staff Development Specialist, and Long Term Care Safety Specialist.

“Nurses and their employers are increasingly expressing a desire for conference attendance to yield new skills or credentials in order to justify the investment of time and money,” explained AALTCN Executive Director Charlotte Eliopoulos. “Those factors along with members’ feedback have led (us) to test a new approach to the conference experience. This has particular relevance for long-term care nurses who often have minimal preparation for the clinical and leadership realities that they face in their work settings.”

The conference, “Investing in Competencies for Improved Leadership, Clinical, and Financial Outcomes,” will showcase content on a broad range of clinical and leadership topics, presented by some of the leading names in long-term care. Sessions, learning objectives, exhibits and networking also will be appropriate for attendees not interested in pursuing certification, organizers pointed out.

The event will take place at Caesar’s Palace from Sept. 8-9. For more information, visit the AALTCN website.