Taking It All In: One Nurse’s Experience with ‘Leaning In’ to the TNA Annual Conference

By Laura Kincheloe, Ed.D., MSN, RN, NE-BC and Rachel Hutton, BSN, RN-BC, NPD-BCThe Texas Nurses Association (TNA) Annual Conference has grown year over year, and the momentum and enthusiasm of Texas nurses is palpable. This year over 400 nurses filled the conference enter to learn together, grow together, and network with new and established friends. It was an exciting time where we had more new TNA members and first-time conference attendees who were eager to engage and take advantage of all the offerings.  In a post-conference discussion, I had the opportunity to interview a nurse who has truly leaned into the work we are doing at TNA. Rachel Hutton, BSN, RN-BC, NPD-BC, joined me for a short interview to highlight her experience of not only presenting a podium presentation but also detailing her growth personally and professionally over the last couple of years.  

How many TNA Conferences have you previously attended?  I have been to two different TNA conferences.  How was this year’s conference different for you? This year just felt different. I have grown a lot in the last year. I viewed the concurrent sessions with a different perspective this year than I have previously. This year networking was more about reconnecting with nurses I have seen at other events of conferences and following up with them on their programs and projects to see how they have grown. I strategically went into sessions with programs or projects I wanted to learn about. It was exciting this year. This year something new happened to you: a news station showed up and wanted to interview you about your session. You mentioned you didn’t know ahead of time but wanted to answer the call. What was that like for you?  I didn’t have anything prepared. It wasn’t about what my topic was but other important issues. Being able to talk about your profession in a way you can be proud of and push it out there to the public. I really had to listen to the questions being asked. I felt like at times the news interviewer wanted me to talk about the negative parts of nursing. I wanted to talk about what I love about the profession and how we work to address some of the challenges we faced. It was a good experience, and I felt supported, but it is something nurses definitely need more training for.  Following your news interview, you had quite a packed house in your concurrent session room. So much so that TNA staff unfortunately had to ask some to attend another session because of concerns with room capacity. Describe that experience. It was incredible! It was kind of sad that they had to kick people out. I felt honored to have so many people there and many who reached out to me after the presentation. I felt very seen. If I can take my work and share it with you so you can grow yourself or your department or organization, that’s what it is all about. That is where we thrive. What advice do you have for nurses who are considering coming to a TNA conference in the future? How should they engage? Don’t be afraid to submit an abstract for the next conference. It can be really scary, and you must learn to be okay with rejection. Even if you don’t get selected there is a review committee somewhere who is still looking at your abstract and your work. You need to get exposure for your work, that is how you make an impact. Find a mentor to help you or go to a presentation workshop where you can learn to write an abstract or prepare for a poster or podium presentation. And don’t forget to use the resources you have. Seek out those opportunities. Learn to get uncomfortable. Channeling what I have learned during a keynote presentation: don’t forget the lobster analysis (if you know, you know)! Who has been your guiding light, mentor, or biggest encourager for leaning into professional growth and networking at this conference? Kate Williams has been a rock star for me. She has encouraged me to find other ways to grow and learn more. She trusts me with running with ideas, and she continues to push me to achieve my potential. I am here because of her. Our conference theme this year was The Power of Us: Advancing our Profession Together. How did the theme of the conference resonate with you now that you have had time to reflect on the post-conference? I see the power of us. We are only as strong as the next person we lift up. Our leaders are the embodiment of power of us. I came out of my podium presentation and someone I pointed to me and said, “You! I want you to know I have been a nurse for a long time and that’s one of the best concurrent sessions I have ever seen. As a bachelor’s degree nurse (BSN) nurse who is dual certified, I am so impressed.” Hearing her say this gave me pause.  She saw me. Deeply. That empowered me so much more than anything. I would have never had that experience if I hadn’t gone to the conference. Overall, each nurse there was ready to empower the next nurse and lift each other up. 

Attending any conference can seem like a daunting task. When you lean into the experience, great things are possible. There are so many ways to engage into a conference from submitting an abstract for a podium or poster presentation, to attending a networking event, or even glamming up go to the Foundation Gala. Every conference attendee starts somewhere. We look forward to seeing you in Grapevine next year!