PONL 2024 Annual Conference Schedule

 2024 Registration Rates

 Early Bird
on or before Aug. 12

 Regular
after Aug. 12

Pre-Conference: The Pennsylvania Action Coalition (PA-AC) Networking Breakfast & Strategic Plan Launch 

This session is free to attend, and will have contact hours awarded separately from the PONL Conference. This session will share the new strategic plan for the PA Action Coalition, formally unveil their brand re-fresh as the nursing workforce center in PA, and discuss how new and existing stakeholders can engage in our work and further our shared goals.  Simply RSVP your attendance when you register for the conference or sign up for the stand alone Breakfast session for FREE.

Opening Remarks & Welcome

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Fostering a Respectful Work Culture by Addressing Disruptive Behaviors: Strategies for Healthcare Leaders

Studies show that when the work culture is positive and respectful, employees stay, and patients achieve better outcomes. However, what if that work culture is negative, or worse, what if bullying and incivility are ignored?

Bullying leaves nasty fingerprints on individuals, healthcare organizations, the nursing profession, and patients. Its mark is damaging and long-lasting. Therefore, leaders are responsible for doing their part to stop the cycle of bullying and incivility. 

In this keynote presentation, your leaders will learn practical tools and strategies they can immediately implement to address disruptive behaviors within the care environment to foster a more positive and professional work culture.

When leaders are equipped to address disruptive behaviors, employees stay, and patients achieve better outcomes.

Renee Thompson DNP, RN, FAAN, CSP
CEO & Founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute                                                                       

PONL Annual Meeting & welcome luncheon

Generously sponsored by: 

1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

The Progressive Performance conversation continuum: moving Beyond Crucial conversations to improve Your Outcomes

Nurse leaders often cite a need to have a “crucial conversation” with an employee. However, there are multiple “types” of crucial conversations that need to occur and knowing which one to have – and when – is key to improving outcomes.

In this presentation, participants will learn about the Progressive Performance Conversation Continuum and the dialogue and relational skills that are necessary to make the changes they desire.

Greta Rosler, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CPXP

CEO & Principal, Radius Leaders

Refreshment Break with Exhibitors

Generously sponsored by:   

2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Nursing License implications and consequences of board investigations and criminal prosecutions

This lecture will provide basic "survival" tips when a nurse is confronted with unexpected interrogations and investigations. The four general topics to be discussed are: 1) the "Players" 2) the "Triggers" 3) the "investigation" and the 4)"Survival". Attorney Paletta's actual cases will provide the examples of these concepts put into practice. 

Joseph Paletta, Esq.
Attorney at Law                     

3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Advancing The Health Sciences Through Scientific Storytelling

The audience will have the unique experience of viewing the screening of "The Dixie Three," and come to understand the steps of scientific storytelling and how it closes gaps of inequities in the health sciences.

Denetra Hampton, BSN, MHA
Founder, For Nurses By Nurses Production Company

 Networking Reception        

Generously sponsored by:  Grand Canyon University and Healthcare Workforce Logistics    

Regional Connection Breakfast

Open to all attendees, this networking opportunity will group you by your geographical region to help you connect with colleagues you already know or whom you have not yet met!

8:15 a.m.-9:15 a.m.

Capacity management - mitigating ed boarding and hospital crowding 

It has been well documented that ED boarding negatively affects patient outcomes, hospital staff, and hospital-wide operations. Hospital leaders have worked for years (decades)to reduce the delays, yet it seems in the past few years, boarding has become its own public health emergency. According to a 2022 survey by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) 97% of ED doctors said they continue to experience patient boarding times that exceed 24 hours. The US hospital “safety net” is itself on life support.
This session will provide insight regarding the causes of crowding, the impact of crowding on patients and staff as well as review of some of the successful methods being used to improve hospital flow.

Debra Delaney, DNP, MHA, RN, CEN
Clinical Implementation Lead, Mednition, Inc.

9:15 a.m.-9:45 a.m.

Refreshment Break with Exhibitors

Generously sponsored by:                              

9:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m.

Rapid Roundtable Discussions

Roundtable Discussions will replace the traditional poster sessions, and invites nurse leaders from various specialties to share
their best practices implemented across the care continuum in a more casual setting. Presenters will give a 15-minute talk on
their project to separate groups of attendees in a roundtable setting and attendees will rotate among the Roundtable
presentation topics available. Attendees will be able to attend four of the nine listed topics below, for a total of 1 contact hour.

Roundtable Topics: 

Click here to find descriptions and presenters for the Rapid Roundtable Topics

Generously sponsored by:        

Networking Lunch

Generously sponsored by:                                                                      

12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m.

HAP Legislative update

2024 HAP Legislative Update

Heather Tyler

Vice President of State Legislative Advocacy for The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania

 1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m.

From Student nurse to nurse entrepreneur: a journey of passion, resiliance and innovation

Guardian Nurses’ Founder and CEO, Betty Long, shares her journey into nursing and how, after many years as a nursing leader, she became inspired to start her own patient advocacy business. She will discuss how her tolerance for risk and asking "why not" helped her along her path to success, and how it might do the same for you.

Betty Long, RN, MHA
Founder, President & CEO of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates, Inc. 

2:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Evaluation, Final Remarks & Adjournment