2017 Call for Abstracts

Conference Theme, Goals, and Topical Areas

1. Translate evidence-based quality innovations into nursing practice.
2. Disseminate nursing research to drive evidence-based practice.
3. Demonstrate the effective use of technology to improve nursing practice and patient outcomes.
4. Relate exemplary work environment practices to patient and nursing outcomes.
5. Maximize the use of clinical tools and strategies to drive patient-centered care.

1. Abstract Submission Instructions

   1. Read all instructions below before beginning abstract submission.
   2. The deadline for submission of abstracts is May 4, 2016 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. No abstracts will be accepted after this date and incomplete abstracts will be disqualified.
   3. All authors (primary authors and additional authors) listed on an abstract accepted for presentation are REQUIRED to register for the FULL conference by the early bird registration deadline. Only those authors registered to attend the conference by the deadline will be listed in the conference program. Failure to register by the deadline will cancel the presentation from the conference program.
   4. No more than two authors may be listed for a given abstract. One author must be identified as the primary author and will be the point of contact for all communications regarding the abstract. Please ensure that the e-mail address for the primary author is accurate. The primary author is responsible for communication with other authors and for ensuring compliance with copyright law and deadlines.
   5. All fields must be completed for each author listed on the abstract including demographics, biographical information, and disclosure of financial interests related to potential conflict of interest BEFORE the submission deadline. Failure to complete all required information or violation of any submission guideline will disqualify your abstract from consideration.
   6. Abstract submission guidelines:
      1. All abstracts must be submitted online in alignment with the guidelines provided.
      2. Abstracts must not exceed the published character limit (based on track).
      3. Abstracts may be submitted for poster or oral presentation. Abstracts submitted for oral presentations will be considered for oral or poster presentation, unless otherwise specified by the primary author.
      4. Abstracts may be submitted for one track only: research, innovation & technology, practice, or work environment.
      5. Abstract scoring and selection is conducted via blinded peer review.
      6. Notification of acceptance status will be sent to the primary author in July 2016.
      7. Add ana@confex.com to your address book in order to ensure you receive communication regarding your abstract submission.
      8. Do not use acronyms.
      9. Do not include organization or facility name in abstract or abstract title.
      10. Review your abstract and edit for spelling and grammar prior to submission.
   7. Steps for submission:
      1. Click link entitled "Begin An Abstract"
      2. Complete online submission form ensuring that each field is completed as instructed.
      3. Biographical data and financial disclosure information must be completed for each author prior to abstract submission or the abstract will be disqualified.
      4. The following may NOT be entered: charts, graphs, tables, bullet points, indentations, references.
      5. Submit abstract.
      6. Edits may be made until May 4, 2016 at which time the submission site will close and no further changes may be made.
   8. Authors of abstracts accepted for presentation at the conference are required to:
      1. Respond with their intent by the designated date in the invitation and register for the FULL conference by the early bird deadline. Failure to respond or register will cancel the presentation from the conference program.
      2. Assume costs associated with registration, travel and accommodations for the conference.
      3. Submit a speaker release form via the Speakers Center section of the online abstract system two weeks after acceptance.
      4. Upload their electronic presentation (oral or poster) and handouts to the online system by December 11, 2016.

   
   

2. Conference Tracks

   TRACK 1: RESEARCH
   Research track abstracts for oral presentation are limited to completed health care research using a quantitative or qualitative design pertaining to topics relevant to the conference goals. Research in progress is acceptable for poster presentations only. Research can be original or replication studies that address one or more of the conference topic areas. Research must incorporate measurement of nursing quality and/or some aspect of nursing quality data; management of work environment (i.e. nurse staffing, governance models); the impact of the registered nurse on patient outcomes; innovation in delivery and coordination of nursing care services aimed toward improvement of patient outcomes; interprofessional approaches to improving patient care outcomes; or leveraging technology to enhance nursing care delivery. For qualitative studies, researchers must include an explanation of their mechanism for assessing and maintaining research rigor, as well as outlining the research approach (e.g., phenomenology). Abstracts must describe the research purpose, significance, methods, sample, results, conclusions, and implications for practice. Posters may omit results and conclusions, but must include hypotheses.
   

   Abstract Review Criteria

   • Relevance to conference goal(s)
   • Scientific merit, including appropriateness of research methods
   • Overall contribution to the body of nursing knowledge
   • Clarity of abstract, including, but not limited to comprehensiveness and readability

   
   
   Elements of Research Abstracts

   Section Character Limit (2,500 overall)	Section
   300	Purpose: State the intent or goal of the research.
   500	Background/Significance: Describe the knowledge base you are building on, and the importance of the research goal. This section should also include hypotheses or research aims.
   700	Methods: Identify the research design, sample, instruments, data collection procedures, and analytic approach used.
   700	Results: Describe findings and include actual analytical data.
   300	Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Discuss the meaning of the findings and their implications for nursing practice.

   
   

   TRACK 2: INNOVATION and TECHNOLOGY
   Innovative and Technology track abstracts should focus on non-traditional or "out-of-the-box" strategies or technological advances that affect nurses and/or interprofessional team members in any healthcare practice setting and are futuristic in approach. Such strategies must relate to the conference topic areas and directly address nursing quality and/or some aspect of nursing quality data; management of work environment (i.e. nurse staffing, governance models); innovation in delivery and coordination of nursing care services aimed toward improvement of patient outcomes; interprofessional approaches to improving patient care outcomes; or leveraging technology to enhance nursing care delivery. The innovation or technology may be oriented to administrative or staff level approaches and should highlight creative methods used to enhance outcomes in one or all of the following areas:

   Abstract Review Criteria

   • Relevance to conference goal(s)
   • Comprehensive description of the creative, unique, or innovative strategy or technology
   • Rigor of evaluation of response to the innovation or technology
   • Clarity of abstract, including, but not limited to comprehensiveness and readability

   Abstracts must include a description of the innovation or technology; its organizational history and implementation; nurses', team members', and patients' responses to the innovation or technology; effectiveness of the strategy; and implications for broader implementation into professional practice.
   
   Elements of Innovation and Technology Abstracts

   Section Character Limit (2,500 overall)	Section
   300	Purpose: Identify the innovative strategy or technology and overall goal impacting nurses
   500	Relevance/Significance: Describe the relevance to the conference goals, the importance of the quality/performance/work issue, and reasons why the innovation/technology was needed
   1000	Strategy and Implementation: Describe the innovation or technology and the process of implementation.
   400	Evaluation: Describe analytic findings and include actual evaluation data demonstrating success.
   300	Implications for Practice: Discuss specific implications for nursing practice.

   
   TRACK 3: PRACTICE (NURSE AND PATIENT)
   Practice track abstracts focus on actions implemented by nurses to facilitate nursing practice improvements based on opportunities identified or in response to regulatory requirements. Such actions evidence nursing staff or management quality improvements and must focus on one or more conference goals. Abstracts must incorporate measurement of some aspect of nursing quality data. Topics may include, but are not limited to: measurement of nursing quality and/or some aspect of nursing quality data; management of/or improving the nursing work environment related to models of care coordination and delivery; nurse staffing; interprofessional approaches to improving patient care outcomes; measurement of educational interventions in the care environment. Abstracts must include a description of the issue or problem addressed, the practice changes implemented, an evaluation of the effectiveness, and implications for practice.
   

   Abstract Review Criteria

   • Relevance to conference goal(s)
   • Rigor of evaluation of nursing practice improvement
   • Evidence of relevance to contemporary or future nursing practice
   • Clarity of abstract, including, but not limited to comprehensiveness and readability

   
   
   Elements of Practice Abstracts

   Section Character Limit (2,500 overall)	Section
   300	Purpose: Identify the overall goal of the practice initiative.
   500	Relevance/Significance: Describe the initiative�s relevance and importance in context of the conference goal(s).
   1000	Strategy and Implementation: Describe the practice actions and the process of implementation.
   400	Evaluation: Describe analytic findings and include actual evaluation data demonstrating the value of the practice change (success or failure).
   300	Implications for Practice: Discuss specific implications for nursing practice.

   
   TRACK 4: WORK ENVIRONMENT (NURSE AND LEADER OR NURSE AND ORGANIZATION)
   Work environment track abstracts focus on actions implemented by nursing staff and leaders to facilitate positive, professional nursing work environments that promote autonomy of nursing practice and decision-making, the health and safety of the nurse (e.g. improved nurse satisfaction, reduced turnover, reduced workplace injuries etc.), and optimal patient outcomes or nurse outcomes. Such actions evidence nursing staff or management quality improvements targeted directly toward creating and sustaining high performing, agile, and patient-centric nursing and interprofessional care teams and must focus on one or more conference goals. Topics may include, but are not limited to: safety initiatives, shared governance, business case, nurse staffing or skill mix, fatigue, shift work, workplace incivility or violence, or interprofessional care models. Abstracts must incorporate description of identified opportunity, actions implemented, outcomes, and evaluation of interventions impacting nurses.
   

   Abstract Review Criteria

   • Relevance to conference goal(s)
   • Rigor of evaluation of nurse work environment improvement
   • Evidence of relevance to contemporary or future nursing practice
   • Clarity of abstract, including, but not limited to comprehensiveness and readability

   
   
   Elements of Work Environment Abstracts

   Section Character Limit (2,500 overall)	Section
   300	Purpose: Identify the overall goal of the work environment initiative.
   500	Relevance/Significance: Describe the initiative�s relevance and importance in context of the conference goal(s).
   1000	Strategy and Implementation: Describe the actions and the process of implementation.
   400	Evaluation: Describe analytic findings and include actual evaluation data demonstrating the impact of the change in the work environment (success or failure).
   300	Implications for Practice: Discuss specific implications for nursing.

Information regarding the conference, including the conference registration fees, will be available on the ANA website at http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/Conference/ANA-Annual-Conference. The website will be updated periodically with new information.

For help in submitting an abstract online, email Tech Support.