American Association of Critical-Care Nurses/National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition© - NTI News Online - Chicago, IL - Sunday/Monday - May 4/5, 2008

Special Event for Newcomers Returns to NTI

Attending one of the Marsh First-Timers Orientation sessions will go a long way toward maximizing your experience. Two sessions are scheduled: 4 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 a.m. Monday at McCormick Place in Room S100.

Sponsored by Marsh Consumer Association Business, these sessions are conducted by members of the NTI Work Group to familiarize first-time participants with the extensive learning and networking opportunities NTI offers.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of NTI:

Register and pick up your NTI bag and Program and Proceedings book as soon as possible. Take time to review the session outlines and descriptions. Decide which sessions you want to attend, then prioritize your choices and plan your schedule. Be aware that some sessions are offered more than once. In addition, some require tickets in advance. You can also purchase CDs of sessions that you are unable to attend.
Arrive at least 10 minutes before the session because many sessions fill early. Participants are accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. Plan a second session choice as a backup in case you are unable to get into your first-choice session.
If you have questions, ask. The NTI staff and members of the NTI Work Group are eager to assist you.
Take advantage of opportunities to make new friends and establish professional contacts. NTI is a great place to network. Start by attending Network Night on Sunday. This fun and relaxing event will help you feel comfortable and set the tone for the rest of the week. Introduce yourself to other participants at the sessions you attend. Have your business cards available to exchange contact information with colleagues.
Make the most of breaks in your schedule. Stop by the Research and Creative Solutions Posters sessions. Here you will find a good source of ideas to take home and implement in your own practice. To allow more members the opportunity to share their research findings and creative solutions, two separate poster sessions have been scheduled. More than 300 posters will be available for you to review. The first, Session A, will take place on Monday and Tuesday, and the second, Session B, will take place on Wednesday and Thursday.
Visit the Self-Study Pavilion, where you will find self-paced learning programs on a number of topics. Read the CE articles in NTI News. A different article appears each day in this conference daily.
Visit the Critical Care Exposition as often as possible. Set aside sufficient time to talk to company representatives about their products and technologies so that you can share what you learn with your colleagues back home. Find educational and clinical resources. If you are in the market, explore career opportunities.
Take advantage of Exhibit CE sessions during the Critical Care Exposition, which is open Tuesday through Thursday.
Visit the Information Center to learn about AACN and go to the Certification Oasis to find out more about AACN Certification Corporation. Check out the array of resources in the Bookstore, and attend special demonstrations of AACN products.
Have fun. Join your colleagues at Wednesday evening’s Participant-Exhibitor Event. You must exchange the event voucher received with your registration materials for a wristband at Bag Pickup in the Resource Center. Extra tickets can be purchased at Registration.