NPACE Changes: Feedback really does drive what we do

NPACE Changes: Feedback really does drive what we do
By: Terri Schmitt PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP
Executive Director, NPACE

We really do listen. Like many organizations, we collect information from multiple sources, but one of those is our yearly needs assessment. When we sent it earlier this year many of you were kind enough to give us a few minutes of your time. Four lucky people also won free conference seats with their participation!

From that work we found:

• 3 days is the ideal length of time (no more long conferences)
• Las Vegas, Chicago, Boston, Orlando, but many of you want to see the Southeast sometime.
• Only about 60% of you get any type of employer help for CE (We must work on this!)
• Many of you are uncomfortable with ordering genetic testing on anything, managing tiny
  humans < 1 and from 1 to 5, various skills like suturing someone closed, and interpreting
  hormone and other complex lab testing
• Despite the above, you want pharmacology credit above all else 😊
• You prefer in person and hands-on, but time, life, lack of CE budget appear to be driving you to
  do more on-demand (and you will take a combination of both to get out of the conference space
  earlier and visit the location)
• You want fun, relaxation, to be a bit unplugged, and to network when in person.
• You don’t want the same old same old… same places, same speaker all day, etc.
  Well, NPACE listened and for 2025 we have great conference themes and titles, some of the above
  places, and many 2- and 3-day options for tickets, pharmacology in some form at each event, and
  options for what interests you! We also are focusing on our advanced practice provider for people
  beyond nurse practitioners.
  
  February 2025 – NPACE Las Vegas on the Strip at the Bellagio for 3 days! What happens at NPACE stays at NPACE: Continuing Education on Difficult Healthcare Topics. This 3-day event promises unique topics on cutting edge primary care like suicide prevention, unintended pregnancy, HIV and more.
  
  March 2025 –NPACE Onco-Vision: Building better patient outcomes through primary care. This 2-day virtual we are doing something no one else is. We are trying to get in front of the increasing cancer diagnoses, lack of specialists, and help equip primary care providers to better understand topics like genetic testing, reading lab on our cancer patients, soup-to-nuts in common diagnosis and more. We are proud to work with the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) and Advance Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology (APSHO).
  
  April 2025 – NPACE Chicago: Step Back in Time: A roaring 20’s conference awaits! I mean it is the roaring 20’s once again and we will enjoy it in NPACE style with a 3-day pharmacology conference in one of the most historic and beautiful hotels right on Michigan Avenue in Chicago! Join us for speakers that you won’t hear anywhere else and get your pharmacology hours in, while joining us for 20’s fun! This hotel is likely to sell out early due to location and history.
  
  June 2025 – NPACE Cape Cod: 1980’s Revival: Celebrating 45 years of NPACE! Bring your neon, your side
  ponytails, wear your Izod collars up and roll your jean cuffs at this totally awesome 4 day event with 2 day ticket options in primary care and pharmacology. We will hold a special celebration for our 45 years as an organization and the hotel sells out early, so register early.
  
  August 2025 – NPACE Labfest! This virtual 2 day brings all of what you have requested about difficult labs and interpretation. Join us to discuss topics beyond basic lab and do it in your PJs with your favorite snacks from home!
  
  September 2025 – NPACE Phoenix: Relax, Rejuvenate, and Retreat! Primary and acute care, and pharmacology conference. This 4-day event has 2 day options and will also have an acute care track or get a super pass and get all the education. If you have not seen the dessert around Phoenix, this is a must-see location with multiple wellness offerings and many ways to just decompress.
  
  November 2025 – NPACE Orlando: Bringing back the magic and fun! NPACE pharmacology and primary care conference. Just a hint that we have hotel rates discounted the weekend prior, which is Halloween and Halloween at the theme parks is something not to miss! We are working to invite students and preceptors to this event prior to any December graduations and will have more on this coming soon. A hint from me, this hotel block is limited so book early.
  
  As you can see, it’s not the same old topics, places, or focus at each event. Join us to enjoy your CE this
  year and connect! Reach out to us at npace@npace.org if you have any questions.