#AMSN23: Key Highlights From Day 3

The 2023 AMSN Annual Convention gathered at the Westgate Las Vegas for the final day of educational sessions and networking opportunities. Check out this recap of what took place on Saturday:

Interaction in Action

Saturday’s morning general session kicked off with MSNCB President Wes Foster, MSN, BA, RN, CMSRN, OCN, taking the stage to share MSNCB updates, including the new test blueprint, the CAVRN credential, and call for CAVRN beta testers. Wes also encouraged the medical-surgical nursing community to get CMSRN certified. He then presented the CMSRN of Distinction Award to Arlyn Labtis, MSN, RN, PCCN, CMSRN. Next, Marisa Streelman, DNP, RN, CMSRN, NE-BC, presented the Clinical Leadership Award to Golda Manalili, DNP, MSN, RN, RN-BC. Congratulations to Arlyn and Golda!

Then, Kristi Reguin-Hartman, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, and Marie Mullins, BSN, RN, presented the Virtual Nursing Town Hall, which was an interactive and engaging discussion among the presenters and attendees. After the town hall, attendees were off to concurrent sessions!

Key Concurrent Session Takeaways

Day 3 of #AMSN23 brought the education to the next level. Check out these takeaways from several convention sessions:

• Unstageable pressure injuries make it difficult for a nurse to identify a stage, as the wound base is usually covered. Deep tissue injuries are non-blanchable and can be maroon or purple. This type of wound is likely Stage 3, 4, or unstageable. (First Assess, Then Dress for Wound Success: Wound Care Basics)
• Sleep deficiency and disorders impacting sleep include obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, delirium, and restless leg syndrome. Delirium increases by 47% if patients are not sleeping at night. When it comes to sleep deficiency, consider environmental factors, psychosocial factors, and medications for sleep. (Sniff This: A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Sleep in the Inpatient Setting)
• On a medical-surgical floor, nurses can consider the therapeutic potentials of cannabis, including inflammatory and pain perception, nausea and vomiting control, anxiety, and sleep disorders. (Cannabis Basics for the Nurse)
• During patient handoffs and when communicating with the healthcare team, consider your language. Avoid vague or missing information when discussing a patient’s care, and do not describe or label a patient by their diagnosis or disease. Only state the facts of the case, not personal perceptions or assumptions. (Struggles and Solutions in Novice Nurses’ Communication)
• Researchers in Germany discovered that part of the COVID-19 virus, the spike protein, remains in the brain long after the virus clears. Autopsies are finding the spike protein in the bone marrow of the skull and in the meninges, also in the brain parenchyma, showing that long COVID is very much an ongoing concern. (Long COVID)
• What can medical-surgical nurses do about managing microaggressions? Encourage diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging statements supporting diversity; create a welcoming environment; educate; and hold others accountable. (Microaggressions in Health Care Environments)
• When it comes to waste reduction, reconsider processes. For example, sometimes it is easier to give a patient a bedpan, but that uses more plastics. Instead, encourage patients to get up and moving, therefore reducing waste. (Waste Reduction in the Clinical Setting; Florence Would Be So Proud)

Final Remarks

Our final sessions of the day welcomed Bob Dent, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, FACHE, FAAN, FAONL; and Elizabeth Rudolph, JD, MSN, RN to the main stage. In his session, “Building a Culture of Ownership in Healthcare,” Tony Award winner Dr. Bob Dent discussed the necessity of creating a culture of ownership in healthcare. He reviewed the 12 core action values needed to be a values-based leader. In the Closing General Session, “RaDonda Vaught: Lessons Learned From the Criminal Case Against a Nurse,” Elizabeth Rudolph reviewed the high-profile Vaught case and further dove into how to deal if a nurse suspects a colleague diverting. What an excellent continuation of Friday’s opening general session.

Thank You!

To the medical-surgical nursing community, AMSN and MSNCB volunteers, and exhibitors in attendance, thank you so much for joining us for three days of education and fun in Las Vegas! We can’t wait to see you again next year in Toronto. Mark your calendars for Sept. 12–14, 2024. See you there!