Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

ASPMN Conference was a Success!

2008; Elsevier BV; Volume: 9; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.pmn.2008.09.002

1532-8635

Joyce S. Willens,

Anesthesia and Pain Management

The 18th national conference of the American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN) was held in Tucson, Arizona, in a very lovely setting on a hill surrounded by thousands of cacti. The hotel staff were very efficient and could not do enough for you. The meeting areas were very nice, accommodating either a small or a large crowd. With over 560 attendees and a total of nine symposia, all with meals, the event was seamless. Most attendees enjoyed a taste of the southwest. Every evening at 5:30 the hotel hosted a shot of tequila (1 of 111 types) ritual with any guest that chose to participate—something truly unique. The opening ceremony was very special, with local armed forces members carrying flags. The ASPMN members that were serving in the armed forces shared the stage. The first keynote speaker served as a brigade flight surgeon in Panama and spoke about caring for the wounded soldiers. There were basic and advanced sessions to suit different practice experience levels. Many research presentations were included as well. Twenty-five people sat for the American Nurses Credentialing Center's pain management certification examination while they were at the conference. Educational opportunities took place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Only nurses would know how to pack that much into a day! Chris Pasero gave a wonderful presentation about the special honoree, Margo McCaffery, which was followed by a reception in Margo's honor. Chris showed highlights of Margo's long and successful career in leading the way for pain management nurses. Look for the abstracts of the 54 posters that were presented. They should appear online for the Journal as soon as possible. Notice the longer list of editorial board members for the Journal. Several people approached me asking how to become a reviewer. If you are interested, please e-mail your curriculum vitae or resumé to Jerrie Lynn Kind at [email protected]. The information will be shared with the board of directors and voted on. Several people presented their research interests to me, asking whether they should be published in the Journal. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. The organization also reached out into the local community to help a crisis shelter, Casa de los Ninos, which serves the needs of families in crisis. There were many donations of yarn available for anyone who wanted to knit or crochet a baby cap. Boxes were loaded with baby items to be donated as well. Last but not least was the lazy river that was on the property along with two other pools. People were floating around the river and relaxing in the sun. In the end, I think a good time was had by all. Start making your plans for next year's conference, September 12-15, at the Hyatt Regency in Jacksonville, Florida.