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.  

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Hanan Setto

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Essay 1:  Attending this conference will not only help me prepare for my NP boards but will also provide valuable knowledge that I can share with my colleagues to enhance clinical practice in the Emergency Department. As a Nurse Educator, I have a responsibility to disseminate evidence-based information in a way that is practical, engaging, and applicable to real-world patient care. One of the primary ways I plan to share my learnings is through formal education sessions and in-service trainings. After the conference, I will organize a structured presentation or a series of brief educational meetings to highlight key takeaways, such as updated clinical guidelines, advanced assessment techniques, and pharmacologic updates relevant to emergency and critical care. These sessions will be tailored to the needs of our department, ensuring that the information is relevant to both nurses and other healthcare professionals. In addition to formal training, I will integrate these learnings into daily clinical mentoring and bedside teaching. As nurses encounter complex cases, I will apply relevant concepts from the conference to guide their decision-making, reinforcing best practices in real-time. Whether it is refining differential diagnosis skills, improving medication safety, or enhancing patient communication, I will use these moments to translate theoretical knowledge into actionable skills. To ensure accessibility, I will also create educational resources such as quick-reference guides, handouts, or digital summaries. These materials can serve as ongoing learning tools for staff who may not be able to attend in-person sessions but still want to benefit from the information. Additionally, I can incorporate key points into competency checklists and clinical scenarios used for staff training. Collaboration is also key, so I plan to engage in interdisciplinary discussions with physicians, advanced practice providers, and nursing leadership. By sharing the latest evidence-based recommendations and treatment protocols, we can work together to improve patient outcomes and refine our department?s approach to complex cases. This may include revisiting protocols for conditions such as sepsis, stroke, cardiac emergencies, or pain management. Finally, I will encourage an ongoing culture of learning and professional growth by sharing conference insights in informal settings, such as huddles, debriefings, and staff meetings. By fostering open discussions, I hope to inspire my colleagues to stay engaged with emerging research and consider attending similar conferences to further their own professional development. Through these strategies?formal education, bedside teaching, resource development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and fostering a culture of learning?I aim to ensure that the knowledge gained from this conference benefits not only my own practice but also the entire Emergency Department team and, most importantly, our patients.

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Essay 2: As a Nurse Practitioner (NP) student and a full-time Nurse Educator in the Emergency Department at a Level II trauma hospital, I am continuously seeking opportunities to expand my knowledge and enhance my practice. The upcoming conference I will be attending is a critical step in my journey toward passing my NP boards and transitioning into advanced practice. While I have not yet attended, I anticipate that the knowledge gained will significantly impact both my role as an educator and my future as a Nurse Practitioner. One of the primary benefits of this conference is that it will provide essential preparation for my NP board exams. As I progress through my studies, I recognize the importance of mastering advanced clinical concepts, diagnostic reasoning, and evidence-based treatment strategies. This conference will reinforce key topics and equip me with the tools necessary to succeed on my boards, ultimately ensuring that I enter practice with a strong foundation in patient care. Beyond exam preparation, I expect to gain insights that will enhance my current role as a Nurse Educator. The emergency department is a fast-paced and high-acuity environment where nurses must think critically and act decisively. By incorporating the latest clinical guidelines and advanced practice knowledge into my teaching, I can better support the nurses I mentor, helping them develop stronger clinical judgment and a deeper understanding of pathophysiology and treatment protocols. My goal is to bridge the gap between bedside nursing and advanced practice, fostering a culture of continuous learning within my department. Additionally, the conference will prepare me for the transition from bedside nursing to my role as a Nurse Practitioner. The shift from RN to NP requires not only expanded clinical expertise but also confidence in decision-making, patient management, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Attending this conference will provide me with strategies to refine my assessment skills, strengthen my diagnostic reasoning, and develop a comprehensive approach to patient care. These skills will be invaluable as I move forward in my career, ensuring that I provide high-quality, evidence-based care to my patients. Finally, as someone dedicated to serving the Detroit community, I am committed to using the knowledge gained from this conference to improve healthcare outcomes in underserved populations. Many patients in our community face barriers to care, and as an NP, I want to be part of the solution by implementing best practices that improve access, education, and treatment adherence. The insights from this conference will help me refine my approach to patient education and advocacy, ultimately enhancing the care I provide. While I never ask for special treatment, I do believe that recognition and support for ongoing education are essential for professional growth. When healthcare professionals are given the opportunity to expand their knowledge, it not only benefits their careers but also improves patient outcomes and strengthens the healthcare system as a whole. This conference is a stepping stone in my journey, and I look forward to applying its lessons to both my NP board preparation and my future practice.

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Essay 3: This conference is specifically designed to prepare NP students for their board exams while also providing deeper clinical insights that will be invaluable in practice. It will support my professional goals in several ways: Comprehensive Board Review ? The structured review sessions will focus on high-yield topics, clinical scenarios, and exam strategies that will give me the confidence needed to pass my NP certification exam on the first attempt. Advanced Clinical Learning ? By covering topics such as differential diagnosis, pharmacologic management, and complex patient presentations, the conference will help me refine my skills in critical thinking and clinical decision-making. Access to Expert Faculty and Peer Collaboration ? Learning from experienced educators and practicing NPs will provide me with practical insights that go beyond textbooks, giving me a real-world perspective on advanced practice nursing. Educational Tools and Study Resources ? The conference will provide updated study materials, practice questions, and case studies that I can use not only for my own preparation but also as teaching tools for my colleagues. Professional Development and Networking ? Engaging with fellow attendees will allow me to build relationships with other NPs, educators, and healthcare leaders, which can open doors for mentorship, collaboration, and future career opportunities. By attending this conference, I will be better prepared for my NP board exam, enhance my ability to educate and mentor nurses, and ultimately improve the care I provide to patients in the Emergency Department. This experience will be a stepping stone toward achieving my long-term career goals as an advanced practice provider.

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