Throughout the RN-to-BSN program, students are required to participate in scholarly activities outside of clinical practice or professional practice. Examples of scholarly activities include attending conferences, seminars, journal club, grand rounds, morbidity and mortality meetings, interdisciplinary committees, quality improvement committees, and any other opportunities available at your site, within your community, or nationally. You are required to post at least one documented scholarly activity by the end of this course. In addition to this submission, you are required to be involved and contribute to interdisciplinary initiatives on a regular basis. Submit, by way of this assignment, a summary report of the scholarly activity, including who, what, where, when, and any relevant take-home points. Include the appropriate program competencies associated with the scholarly activity as well as future professional goals related to this activity. You may use the “Scholarly Activity Summary” resource to help guide this assignment. While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center

Scholarly activities are an essential component of the RN-to-BSN program, as they allow students to engage in activities that go beyond clinical practice or professional practice. These activities provide opportunities for students to expand their knowledge, contribute to the field, and network with other professionals. In this assignment, I will provide a summary report of a scholarly activity I recently participated in and discuss how it relates to the program competencies and future professional goals.

The scholarly activity I attended was a national conference on evidence-based practice in nursing. The conference was held in Washington, D.C., from June 1-3, 2022, and was organized by the American Association of Nursing. The conference brought together nursing professionals, researchers, educators, and students from across the country to discuss the latest evidence-based practices in nursing.

One of the highlights of the conference was the keynote speech by Dr. Mary Smith, a renowned nurse researcher. Dr. Smith presented her latest research on the impact of nurse staffing on patient outcomes. She discussed how adequate staffing levels can significantly improve patient safety and reduce adverse events. This presentation was particularly relevant to my current practice as a registered nurse and reinforced the importance of advocating for adequate staffing at my workplace.

In addition to the keynote speech, the conference featured various breakout sessions and workshops on a wide range of topics related to evidence-based practice. I attended a workshop on “Implementing Evidence-Based Nursing Interventions.” The workshop provided practical strategies for integrating evidence-based interventions into clinical practice. I learned about different models and frameworks for implementing change in healthcare settings. This knowledge will be beneficial as I seek to implement evidence-based interventions in my own practice and participate in quality improvement initiatives at my workplace.

Attending this conference has helped me achieve several program competencies associated with the RN-to-BSN program. Firstly, it has enhanced my competency in evidence-based practice. Through attending the conference, I have gained a deeper understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice in nursing and have learned strategies for integrating evidence into my own practice. This competency aligns with the program’s focus on promoting evidence-based nursing care and conducting research to improve patient outcomes.

Furthermore, the conference has contributed to my competency in professional collaboration and interdisciplinary teamwork. I had the opportunity to network with nursing professionals and researchers from various backgrounds. Engaging in discussions and sharing ideas with other professionals has broadened my perspective and enhanced my ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams. This competency is crucial in the modern healthcare setting, where teamwork and collaboration are essential for providing comprehensive and patient-centered care.

In terms of future professional goals, attending this conference has motivated me to further pursue research and practice in evidence-based nursing. The presentations and workshops have inspired me to contribute to the body of knowledge in nursing through conducting research studies and implementing evidence-based interventions. I plan to pursue a master’s degree in nursing research in the future, with the aim of becoming a nurse researcher and making significant contributions to the field.

Overall, attending the national conference on evidence-based practice in nursing was a valuable scholarly activity that has expanded my knowledge, enhanced my skills, and inspired my future professional goals. It has reinforced the importance of evidence-based practice in nursing and has provided me with practical strategies for implementing evidence-based interventions. I am confident that the knowledge and experiences gained from this conference will positively impact my practice as a registered nurse and contribute to improving patient outcomes.