One of the best parts of #AMSN2026 is the way connection happens everywhere — in the exhibit hall, between sessions, during celebrations, and in those quick hallway conversations that turn into lasting professional relationships. For medical-surgical nurses, this convention is more than a meeting place; it is a chance to find encouragement, exchange ideas, and build a community that continues long after everyone heads home.

At #AMSN2026, members of the Digital Content Committee and Podcast Subcommittee set out to capture those moments of connection in real time. Meet the nurses and AMSN community members they connected with, hear what stood out to them, and discover why they continue to come back to AMSN for learning, inspiration, and belonging.

Dr. Trish West, DNP, MSN, CMSRN, PCCN, CEN, NEA-BC, FAMSN

Sonia Watson is a nurse and nurse educator who has been CMSRN certified for 22 years. She enjoys coming to the AMSN Convention, and she does not miss a conference! To her, AMSN means educating herself. The network is No. 1 for the specialty, and in educating herself, she goes home and educates her staff. Her favorite session on day one was “When Seconds Count: Closing the Gap Between Theory and Practice with In Situ Mock Codes.”

Maren Hall is a first-time attendee who has had a very inviting and welcoming experience at convention. Her day-one highlight was Dr. Renee Thompson’s presentation, and she will bring back culture changes for her unit.

Alexandria Allman is a first-time attendee who is learning new perspectives to apply to her career. She plans to bring Dr. Thompson’s ideas and pathways back to her teammates. She also attended “New Strategies to Reduce Fall Risks on an Acute Neurosciences Unit: A Quality Improvement Project,” and it reinforced how helpful bedside shift report is to reducing falls and checking on patients. She looks forward to bringing this data back to her unit.

Verden Browne is a director of nursing from New York and a first-time attendee. She loves the convention and wishes to bring a lot of her staff next year. She especially liked the session “Awake and Engaged: Night-Shift Med-Surg Education that Drives Attendance & Satisfaction” as she agrees night shift staff requires special care, handling, education processes, etc.

Dr. Maritess Quinto, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CMSRN, FAMSN, FINE, FCN, FAMSN

I met Roy Pinca last year in Austin during the 2025 AMSN Convention. It was his first time attending last year, and he shared today that he started listening to Med-Surg Moments podcast since I met him at the convention last year. He is back this year to engage more and learn more. I am so happy to reconnect with him today!

I interviewed John Christopher Overdurf, a first-time attendee, who shared how he has been so inspired since day one of the convention and looks forward to attending every year. He also shared how he is reflecting on how he can contribute to AMSN and help colleagues. 

I spoke with Katherine Feliciano-Nguyen, and she shared how she has always thought of starting a chapter in Washington. As a long-time attendee, she always has many ideas that she wanted to implement, and she felt the message from this year’s conference is her sign to start that chapter. She also shared her passion to increase CMSRN certification, and she shared she will look at volunteer opportunities to support med-surg nurses. 

I interviewed Sonia Watson, long-time convention attendee, and her takeaway after attending the conference is to look more on the contributions of nurses in her local community. I am also meeting her for the first time and I learned that she is from South Florida, so she is joining our AMSN Florida Southeast 652 chapter! 

I talked to Denise Verosky, and she shared that she will look into talking to the legislators who visit their community during town hall meetings and educate them about nurses. 

Dr. Ergie Pepito Inocian, Ed.D., RN, CNOR, CMSRN

Meeting Kelly Hunt and Alejah Tabula, both AMSN staff members, in person today at the AMSN Convention was one of the most meaningful parts of my day. Although we had first met virtually during my interview for the Instructor Course Reviewer role, connecting face-to-face made the experience even more special. They were pleasant, welcoming, and so easy to talk with — the kind of people I may never have had the opportunity to meet had I not become involved with AMSN. As a certified medical-surgical nurse and clinical assistant professor teaching adult health courses, I deeply value being part of a community that understands the heart of our work. Today was a wonderful reminder that AMSN truly feels like home, because here, I know I belong.

What new connections did you make at #AMSN2026? Tell us about your new friends in the Huddle, and if you haven’t yet joined AMSN, what are you waiting for? Become a member today to stay connected to your new network all year around.