2025 Nursing Conference Grant Winning Essays

The questions for this year’s application cycle were as follows: 

1. Please describe how you will share what you learn at this conference with colleagues. 

2. How will you incorporate what you learn from this educational offering into your practice? 

3. How will this conference advance your long-term career goals (beyond the attainment of continuing education hour requirements)? 

 

Essays were lightly edited for grammar, flow, and readability.  

 

Rachael Harless

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Essay 1:  I Attending the APHON conference as a CNS fellow presents an excellent opportunity to learn knowledge and expertise that I can utilize to enhance team knowledge and patient outcomes. I plan to mentor, educate, and engage my peers and interdisciplinary team members through creative written summaries, informative presentations, and implementation projects. I plan to organize mini-informational presentations and written resources about specific subjects to share with bedside nursing staff. Sharing key takeaways for particular topics, such as CLABSI reduction, end-of-life care, and compassion fatigue, will enable me to maximize engagement and structure each session to be as impactful as possible. I will create visual aids to make the information digestible and more accessible. I will utilize a question-and-answer format to ensure open dialogue and encourage active participation. Furthermore, I will ensure that each presentation is adaptable to various interdisciplinary teams, thereby maximizing its impact. I will transform the information I gain into actionable initiatives within my areas to sustain the conference's impact. My area struggles with hygiene compliance, readily available resources, dressing selection, and adherence, as well as positive engagement, which I continuously see in listservs. I would ensure I attend any sessions or services that align with these identified gaps and challenges. I plan to share these lessons and successful projects with key stakeholders at my facility, enabling them to design and execute projects for their respective areas. All these resources and information will be provided by an interdisciplinary team, including dietitians, social workers, providers, and pharmacists, to ensure that we all have this knowledge and can work together to provide the best care to our patients.

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Essay 2: Attending the Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Nurses (APHON) Conference will provide invaluable opportunities to enhance my practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Fellow. As someone still learning and growing in this role, I am eager to utilize the knowledge and skills gained from the conference to drive impactful change within my units and contribute to the overall advancement of pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant care. One of the most significant ways I plan to incorporate the learnings into practice is by initiating quality improvement or evidence-based practice improvement projects within my units. For example, strategies to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) or prevent other common complications, such as Clostridium difficile (C diff). Currently, my units are experiencing increased CLABSI and C diff rates, and I have been heavily involved in implementing a variety of projects and changes to address these infections. This includes refining central line maintenance protocols, enhancing staff education, promoting bundle compliance, improving peer validation of central line practices, and evaluating new products or processes. Attending this APHON conference would enable me to gain new insights into successful interventions and quality improvements from other facilities, which could further refine our strategies and practices. I would implement effective data-driven solutions and practices to reduce infection rates and improve patient outcomes. Additionally, the conference will empower me to take on an educational and mentorship role within my unit. As I acquire new knowledge and practical techniques, I plan to share these insights with nursing team members through in-service training, team meetings, and presentations. For instance, if I can attend a workshop on compassion fatigue or nurse experience with palliative and end-of-life communication, I can create a tailored training module to enhance my team?s communication and strategies to counteract burnout. Suppose there are presentations on evidence-based protocols or successful quality improvement projects to reduce medication errors or manage chemotherapy side effects. In that case, I can implement these successful changes or encourage new possible projects for my units. I can present updates on the latest advancements in oncology treatments to healthcare providers, sharing knowledge and assessing opportunities to enhance our treatment plans. This cascading effect will ensure that the conference's benefits extend well beyond my individual practice and positively impact my entire team, as well as all our patients and families.

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Essay 3: The APHON conference presents a unique opportunity for me to advance my professional goals and make meaningful contributions to my organization and the nursing community. With nearly nine years of experience as a pediatric hematology and oncology nurse and one year as a CNS fellow, I am committed to continually expanding my knowledge and leadership skills. The APHON conference directly aligns with my goals to reduce CLABSI rates, grow as an educator and mentor, and enhance my leadership skills. The three-day event includes presentations, resources, connections, and opportunities to grow in a magnitude of possibilities and at an accelerated rate. I will strive to grow in my everyday practice; however, this range and accelerated rate will develop far beyond my aspirations. This conference directly supports my goal of enhancing evidence-based practice by providing access to the latest research, guidelines, and clinical advancements. The presentations, workshops, and discussions with leading experts will equip me with actionable insights to drive quality improvement initiatives within my organization. One key area I am actively exploring is red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, in the prevention and treatment of mucositis in pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant patients. This emerging modality has shown promise in supporting tissue healing, reducing inflammation, and mitigating side effects of treatment. This specific topic of presentation would be tremendous to learn from other experts. By learning from pioneers in the field, I can implement the best practices that reduce patient harm and ensure the highest level of care for the vulnerable population we serve. Additionally, the conference offers an invaluable platform to strengthen my leadership skills and develop as an educator and mentor. Engaging with fellow nursing professionals will allow me to refine strategies for mentorship, education, and collaboration, fostering a culture of continuous learning and excellence. Strengthening my leadership skills will allow me to drive quality improvement initiatives and advocate for evidence-based practices that elevate patient safety and standards of care. As an educator, I am committed to translating research and innovative techniques, such as photobiomodulation, into accessible learning opportunities for colleagues. Furthermore, expanding my role as a mentor will enable me to support my fellow nurses in their professional growth, fostering a culture of collaboration and excelling in pediatric hematology and oncology nursing. The insights gained from this conference will empower me to build connections, refine strategies, and contribute meaningfully to both my organization and the broader nursing community.

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