Virtual | Live, April 22-23 | On-Demand thru July 31, 2026
The Virginia Nurses Association and Foundation's 2026 Spring Conference, Embracing the Power of Nurses™, will bring together nursing leaders, frontline clinicians, educators, and nursing students from across Virginia to explore how nurses are shaping the future of healthcare and redefining the public image of nursing. Participants will gain practical strategies to strengthen leadership capacity, amplify their professional voice, and translate inspiration into meaningful action.
What Our Participants Say
I got more value out of this virtual exhibit hall than I have in previous face-to-face formats! I was able to take my time on the virtual sites and click on the various links that interested me. I viewed various videos and learned
a lot about the schools and healthcare organizations!"
"The content was on-point and valuable to me and my workplace!"
"I had reservations about the virtual format, but loved it and felt like I was able to retain more and interact with the speakers more!"
Pricing
Discounted Pricing for Hospitals & Schools of Nursing
Hospitals and Health Systems can register ALL nurses that work at their organization for one great price by visiting our Health System Registration Form below.
Schools of Nursing can register ALL of their students and faculty for one great price by visiting our School of Nursing Registration Form below.
Cancellations & Refunds Requests for cancellations must be made via email with the subject line "Cancellation" sent to lmckay@virginianurses.com no
later than 5 p.m. on April 5, 2026. Refunds are subject to a $25 administrative fee.
Substitutions Substitutions are encouraged. Please make the request via email with the subject line "Substitution Spring Conference Registration" to lmckay@virginianurses.com and
include the name of the registered party and the name of the replacement attendee.
Empowerment is not a gift bestowed—it is a professional obligation claimed. This dynamic session explores the essential attributes that move nursing from aspiration to action, examining how ownership, accountability, and structural
engagement converge to create meaningful and sustainable professional impact. Participants will confront the critical interplay between personal agency and systemic design, discovering that true empowerment demands not
only individual commitment but the structural foundations that make it real. Prepare to challenge assumptions, reclaim professional identity, and leave with a renewed framework for translating empowerment from rhetoric
into practice.
Blink by Blink Jake Haendel, Podcaster & Professional Speaker
Once believed to be in a vegetative state and unable to move or speak due to locked-in syndrome, Jake Haendel spent more than three years hospitalized—fully conscious, yet unable to communicate. In this powerful and deeply
moving session, Jake shares his lived experience of trauma, resilience, and survival, offering a rare and profound patient-side perspective. His story highlights the extraordinary capacity of the human spirit to endure
and adapt, while providing nurses with meaningful insights into patient experience, presence, and advocacy.
Keynote Address: The Power of Nurses During These Challenging Times
Ernest Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN
This keynote explores the enduring strength of the nursing profession through past and present challenges. Attendees will reflect on the historical barriers that shaped nursing, examine the current pressures impacting the workforce,
and gain insight into how the profession can turn the tide through innovation, leadership, and collective action. Inspiring and forward‑looking, this session highlights the vital role nurses play in shaping the future of
healthcare.
The Future of Nursing: Thriving in an AI-Enabled Healthcare World Amy McCarthy K. McCarthy, DNP, RNC-MNN, NE-BC, CENP
This session explores the evolving role of nursing in the age of artificial intelligence, highlighting how clinicians can leverage emerging technologies to enhance patient care. Amy will discuss practical strategies for nurses
to remain resilient and empowered as they lead the charge in an increasingly digital healthcare landscape.
Bridging the Gap: How Leading Multigenerational Teams Shapes Culture in Healthcare Priscilla Meyers, APRN, MSN, NNP-BC, ANLC-N, ACC
Today’s healthcare workforce spans four generations—each with its own values, expectations, and communication styles. When leaders fail to recognize and adapt to these generational dynamics, trust erodes, silos form, and workplace
culture suffers. This session gives leaders the tools to bridge generational gaps, reduce friction, and build an inclusive, psychologically safe culture where all team members feel valued and engaged.
Closing Session - This is Our Moment: Nurses Shaping the Future of Healthcare Dr. Bradley Goettl, DNP, DHA, RN, FNP-C, FAAN
Healthcare is changing rapidly. Workforce pressures, rising complexity, financial strain, and accelerating innovation are reshaping how care is delivered. In this environment, nursing remains one of the most trusted and influential
professions in healthcare and is uniquely positioned to help lead what comes next.
This session will challenge attendees to look beyond today’s immediate pressures and focus on the broader opportunity ahead for
the profession. Nurses are not only responding to change. They are shaping the future of care through leadership, innovation, advocacy, and system level influence.
Participants will explore how nurses across
roles and settings can strengthen their impact, influence strategy, and lead with clarity during times of uncertainty. Attendees will leave with renewed purpose and a clear call to action to elevate nursing’s voice, expand
leadership, and advance the profession in the years ahead.
Nursing Continuing Professional Development Disclosures
The Virginia Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
There are no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those with the ability to control the content of this activity.
Participants in the VNA/VNF 2026 Spring Conference: Embracing the Power of Nurses™ can earn up to 12.5 contact hours. Credit will be awarded commensurate with participation in the program and with the completion of an evaluation.
This activity is being jointly provided by the Virginia Nurses Association and Virginia Nurses Foundation.
Sponsor & Exhibit
Bonus promotions and new marketing perks are available!
Click the portfolio on the left to view the sponsor & exhibitor options for each of our events!
As a sponsor, we offer the opportunity to showcase your corporate social responsibility, increase brand awareness, and build a positive image within your community. With your sponsorship contribution, we can continue to fund critical programs and services, as well as raise awareness of our mission and impact.
Whether it's by celebrating with us and 530+ nurses at our annual Gala or showing up for important conversations during our conferences and summits, there are a variety of sponsorship options to fit your organization's needs! Top sponsoring organizations are also highlighted in Virginia Nurses Today (circulation 140,000) and VNA's members-only News Brief. These two publications boast an open rate of greater than 50%! Certain sponsorships are limited to a single organization so don't wait!
For sponsor and exhibitor questions, please contact VNA's Sponsor Engagement & Office Manager, Linda McKay, at lmckay@virginianurses.com.
Call for Abstracts - Embracing the Power of Nurses™
Submit Your Idea by February 13!
Join us for this inspiring two-day virtual event designed to celebrate, empower, and elevate the nursing profession. The Virginia Nurses Association and Foundation’s annual Spring Conference brings together nursing leaders, frontline clinicians, and educators from across Virginia to explore how nurses are shaping the future of healthcare and redefining the public image of nursing.
We invite you to submit an abstract for consideration as a rapid-fire presentation or virtual poster presentation. Abstracts should highlight innovation, leadership, education, research, or advocacy efforts that amplify the voice of nurses, elevate the profession, and demonstrate nursing’s meaningful impact on communities.
Presentation Formats:
Rapid-Fire Presentation (15 minutes): Share key insights, best practices, or innovative projects in a concise, engaging format.
Virtual Poster Presentation: Showcase your work in a visual format accessible to all participants throughout the conference.
We’re Seeking Abstracts That:
Amplify the voices of Virginia nurses
Elevate the nursing profession through innovation and leadership
Redefine the public image of nursing
Showcase meaningful community and patient impact
Submission Requirements:
Share your presentation and/or poster idea by February 13, 2026 by completing our Rapid-Fire Presenter Application form. Your submission should include:
A description of your best practice
How the practice transforms the nursing work environment and/or improves practice
Outcomes or expected outcomes
Lessons learned, what did not work and what would you change to improve the practice
Guidance for how other organizations can implement this practice or idea
The Spring Conference Review Team will review all submissions and notify accepted presenters by Friday, February 13. The abstracts will be evaluated on the following criteria:
Relevance to Conference Theme
Clarity of Best Practice
Innovation/Originality
Impact on Nursing Practice/Patient Outcomes
Transferability
Organization and Structure
Grammar and Writing Quality
Alignment with Abstract Guidelines
Who Can Submit: Individuals or interprofessional teams committed to advancing nursing practice and culture are encouraged to submit! Nurses in all practice environments, at all levels, and nursing students are welcome. Submissions promoting commercial products or services or unrelated to the conference theme will not be considered. This is your opportunity to contribute to a statewide movement that celebrates the power of nurses. We look forward to highlighting your work at the 2026 Spring Conference!
Rapid Fire Presenter Guidelines: Selected presenters will prepare a 15-minute recorded presentation to be shared during the conference and will also join a live Q&A with attendees. Final PowerPoint slides and recordings are due by April 3, 2026.
Rapid fire presenters will be required to submit all necessary forms by the deadlines provided in the acceptance letter. Acceptance as a presenter will be contingent upon an assessment for relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies. VNA reserves the right to rescind the acceptance of an abstract due to any relevant financial relationships that cannot be mitigated.
If not selected to present a rapid-fire presentation, individuals may be offered the opportunity to submit an electronic poster. An electronic poster is a digital version of a traditional poster.
Presenters are responsible for all costs associated with registering for the conference and can register here.
Selected Presenters who do not register by March 20, 2026 will be removed from the event schedule. Presenters must register and submit payment to be included in the final schedule.
Important Dates:
Rapid Fire Application Submission Deadline: February 13, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: March 6, 2026
Conference Registration Due: March 20, 2026
Recorded Presentations or Virtual Poster Due: April 3, 2026
Print Page | Contact Us | Report Abuse | Sign In | Create a Profile
