7:45am - 12:30pm

7:45am - 8:30am 

8:30am - 9:00am

9:00am - 9:15am

9:15am - 10:15am

10:15am - 10:45am

10:45am - 11:00am

11:00am - 11:45am

11:45am-12:15pm

2:15pm - 12:30pm

Registration

Continental Breakfast; Visit our Sponsor Partners in the Exhibit Hall

Morning Announcements, Business Meeting, Passing of the Gavel, and Presentation of Poster Awards

Legislation and Advocacy Update
Jill Direnzo, DNP, RN, CCRN
Co-Chair, SWPONL Legislation and Advocacy Committee
Associate Chief Nursing Officer
Forbes Hospital and Allegheny Valley Hospital

Panel Discussion: AONL Nursing Leadership Insight Study
Panelists will share their perspectives on the survey's findings and reflect on how these insights relate to their own leadership experiences and challenges.

Moderator:
Laura Fennimore, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Retired Professor
University of Pittsburgh

Panelists:
Heather Ambrose, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, CPN
Chief Nursing Officer
Allegheny General Hospital

Jill Direnzo, DNP, RN, CCRN
Associate Chief Nursing Officer
Forbes Hospital and Allegheny Valley Hospital

Nicole Evanick, DNP, MSN (ed), RN
Interim Associate Dean, College of Health Sciences and Human Services
Executive Director, School of Nursing
Pennsylvania Western University

Lauren  O’Donnell, PhD, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
Associate Professor
University of Pittsburgh

Refreshment Break; Visit our Sponsor Partners in the Exhibit Hall


AONL 2025 Annual Conference Update
Hope Waltenbaugh, MSN, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC
Vice President, Nursing Operations and Innovation
Allegheny General Hospital

Closing Keynote:   You Can’t Talk to Me Like That! When ‘Managing’ High-Risk, Non-Adherent Behaviors Leads to Moral Distress
Kimberly Baker, DNP, RN, CARN, NPD-BC
Clinical Assistant Professor
Duquesne University School of Nursing

The healthcare environment can often feel turbulent, but nurse leaders are essential in fostering stability and guiding their teams through the storm. When patients exhibit high-risk, non-adherent (HRNA) behaviors, it can disrupt the healing environment, compromise safety, erode trust, and contribute to moral injury among staff.

In this session, you’ll engage in collaborative planning to reduce risk and effectively address HRNA behaviors. You'll also explore a critical question: If a colleague is experiencing moral distress, would you recognize the signs—and know how to respond?

This is your opportunity to gain practical tools for navigating moral and ethical challenges in healthcare, build personal and team resilience, and lead with clarity and compassion in difficult moments.

Closing Celebration
Throughout the conference, attendees will be invited to contribute to an interactive Leadership Wall to add tips, advice, or insights. This evolving display will culminate with a closing celebration to reflect on takeaways from the conference and our roles as nurse leaders.

Thank You, Raffle Announcements, and Conference Adjournment