2026 AAENP National Conference: EmergNP

Dizziness is one of the most common—and often most challenging—chief complaints in emergency care, requiring clinicians to distinguish benign conditions from time-sensitive neurologic emergencies. Through a practical, evidence-based approach, this session will strengthen your evaluation of the dizzy patient by integrating focused history, bedside examination techniques, and clinical decision-making strategies to identify high-risk presentations. You'll leave with greater confidence in differentiating peripheral from central causes, avoiding common diagnostic pitfalls, and making safe, effective disposition decisions.

An elevated troponin doesn't always point to acute coronary syndrome—and recognizing when the diagnosis lies beyond the cardiac workup can be lifesaving. Through a compelling case review, this session will explore how anticholinergic toxicity can mimic cardiac pathology, highlighting key clinical features, mechanisms of non-ischemic troponin elevation, and strategies to distinguish toxidrome from true ischemia. You'll strengthen your diagnostic reasoning, recognize cognitive biases that contribute to premature diagnostic closure, and gain practical approaches to evaluating complex patients with greater confidence and precision.

Ready to lead—or just wondering if leadership is right for you? This session will explore the diverse paths to leadership in emergency care, from academic and organizational roles to leadership within clinical practice. You’ll examine leadership styles and individual traits, identify where your strengths and interests may fit, and consider what leadership could look like at different stages of your career. You’ll leave with greater insight into your leadership potential, a clearer sense of the opportunities available, and practical next steps to turn interest into action.

Sedation agents are essential in emergency care, yet many nurse practitioners routinely use only a limited subset. With ongoing supply chain disruptions, clinicians may need to rely on less familiar medications. This presentation will review both commonly used and less frequently encountered sedation agents—including benzodiazepines, etomidate, ketamine, dexmedetomidine, nitrous oxide, and propofol—as well as important adjuncts such as analgesics, neuromuscular blockers, and antipsychotics. Attendees will reinforce existing knowledge or gain new insights to enhance medication safety, adaptability, and confidence in clinical decision-making.

Your clinical expertise has the power to influence far more than the patients you care for each day. This session will demystify the publishing and peer review process, offering practical guidance on transforming clinical experiences into scholarly work that advances emergency APRN practice. Whether you're considering your first manuscript or looking to expand your academic contributions, you'll gain actionable strategies to navigate publication, strengthen your professional impact, and help shape the future of emergency nursing practice.

Anticoagulants are among the most commonly prescribed—and highest-risk—medications encountered in emergency care, making informed clinical decision-making essential. This session will provide a practical, evidence-based review of commonly used anticoagulants, reversal strategies, bleeding management, and key considerations for urgent procedures and trauma. You'll leave with greater confidence in selecting appropriate interventions, navigating complex anticoagulation scenarios, and making safe, patient-centered treatment decisions in the emergency department.