2024 Nursing Conference Grant Winning Essays
The questions for this year’s application cycle were as follows:
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Please describe how you will share what you learn at this conference with colleagues.
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How will you incorporate what you learn from this educational offering into your practice?
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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.
Katie Wells
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Essay 1: Through working as a forensic nurse in Maryland, I plan on sharing items learned at this conference with my colleagues at Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center and in area hospitals. The forensic nursing community in Maryland and DC is small and meets regularly through the IAFN Maryland-DC local chapter. Many local connections me the opportunity to share ideas, not only with my team, but with other teams in my community to improve and expand access to forensic nursing care for patients experiencing abuse. In addition to the MD-DC IAFN Chapter (meets bimonthly), I am involved with the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, the Montgomery County Human Trafficking Prevention Committee, the MD Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Committee, Child Abuse Medical Professionals (CHAMP), and the MD Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team. Additionally, I would like to share the work of my team with other forensic nurses, not only at this specific conference, but in the future. Through networking with other FN programs across the country and the world at the IAFN conference, I not only will have the opportunity to take things back to my team and the Maryland area, but I will have the opportunity to share what my program and other programs across the state are doing right.
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Essay 2: The learning outcomes of the International Association of Forensic Nursing (IAFN) International Conference include increased knowledge about the current state of the science in forensic nursing (FN), concepts impacting the future of FN, issues influencing the future of FN and the global response to violence, how structural barriers to equitable care (i.e. systemic racism, discrimination) impact patient outcomes, risks and benefits of technological advances as related to FN and issues of violence, and strategies for incorporating evidence-based research into FN practice. I will incorporate my learning into practice in several ways. First of all, as a forensic nursing program leader, it is important to continue to be up to date on issues and topics relevant to my field. Forensic nursing is a newer specialty in nursing that rapidly changes due to changes in laws/regulations and further developments in the science and legal fields. Additionally, my team is called to court to testify as expert witnesses for patients. It is vital that my team and I are up to date on the current science and legal issues involved with FN science. In circumstances where we lack this knowledge, there is a possibility that our patients do not get the best care possible and there is a possibility where our testimony may be affected in court, impacting legal and safety outcomes for patients. Also, the patients we serve come from many diverse backgrounds. It is vital that I am able to learn strategies to break down barriers to care for all patients.
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Essay 3: This conference will allow me to network with forensic nursing colleagues throughout the United States and the world. Currently, my hospital is developing a formal training program for forensic nurses in hopes that expanded access to training and clinical programs will help to close the gaps in service due to patient access to forensic nursing care and services. I also am pursuing a PhD in nursing and am interested in networking to explore research opportunities to improve forensic nursing care and develop/maintain the forensic nursing workforce. I am studying under an occupational health fellowship and am invested in topics including burnout, high turnover, and resiliency among nurses, especially forensic nurses who are often exposed to increased levels of secondary trauma. The IAFN conference includes several learning tracts, including Administrative & Leadership. My career goals include becoming a more competent and servant leader. In 2023, I was honored to receive the DAISY? Nurse Leader Award from my employer, Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center. This conference will allow me to learn from other nurse leaders in my field on how to best support and grow my team. The Healing Hands Conference Grant will help to support me financially to attend this conference and incorporate what I have learned to facilitate my growth as a leader in forensic nursing.
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