Healthcare professionals around the globe are excited to meet up again and learn live at in-person healthcare events. Many long-standing conferences and exhibitions are returning from a year or two of virtual-only offerings. While that is good news, for busy healthcare professionals with limited time to attend these events, it means making a difficult choice: Which event(s) should you spend your time and money attending?
Ultimately, you’ll want to do your research on any events that you’re considering to make sure they’re worth your resources. Here are five common mistakes healthcare professionals make when choosing which events to attend; watch out for these event limitations to ensure your next event is worthwhile.
Mistake #1: You aren’t earning CE credit
You’re spending your limited time on an educational experience—in addition to the knowledge you’re gaining, you should also be receiving Continuing Education (CE) credits. These are both measurements of the time you’re spending learning at a professional healthcare event, and depending on your specialty, both are needed in different amounts for maintaining your medical certifications.
For wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nurses, one method of recertification after each five-year period includes earning at least 10 CEs in the WOC clinical specialty; WOCNext® 2023 will provide 40.5 Contact Hours and for the first time ever—CME Credits! If you’re looking for an event to attend, ensure you’re earning eligible credits or hours to make the time spent away from patients or the care setting worth your while.
Mistake #2: The range of education offered is slim
Going to a professional healthcare event should feel like looking at a pile of presents and deciding which one to open first—you should have a wide range of exciting and enriching opportunities to select from at the event in terms of speakers, session types, exhibits, and more. A wide range of education not only offers more value in exchange for your time but demonstrates credibility from the host organization.
WOCNext 2023 will offer educational sessions, ePoster presentations, industry-supported sponsored symposia sessions, innovation hub presentations, and an exhibit hall. Plus, 59 inspiring speakers over the course of the event. You should have trouble choosing which events on your calendar sound the most interesting!
Mistake #3: There aren’t ample networking opportunities
If we’ve learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that in-person connections are incredibly valuable and important for both personal and professional relationships. To truly get the most out of a professional healthcare event, make sure the opportunity is there to grow your career by networking and meeting other members of your specialty community.
One of the goals of WOCNext 2023 is to provide unmatched professional development. With renowned speakers, specialized learning, valuable networking, and more, attendees will be at the center of the latest and greatest in WOC care.
Mistake #4: It’s not specific to your healthcare specialty
While it’s great to be interdisciplinary in your medical education, spending time and money on a professional healthcare event that isn’t particularly useful within your specialty can be a waste. You’ll learn the most at a conference or event that’s specific to your area of expertise.
WOCN® is the most trusted source for wound, ostomy, and continence education, and WOCNext features education for every attendee to learn what they need to treat the “whole patient” at every step of their healthcare journey.
Mistake #5: Food and beverage isn’t included
Meals are an important part of any conference or event. Attendees need to stay nourished so they can have the energy to absorb the information during sessions and get their creative juices flowing when networking with peers. Not every healthcare event includes food and beverage as part of the registration fee.
WOCNext includes more value in registration prices than any other WOC event. Registration not only gives attendees access to all evidence-based education, unmatched Contact Hours, speakers, sessions, and networking, WOCNext provides free coffee and two meals per day, plus makes accommodations for dietary restrictions.
Takeaways to Remember
Overall, keep in mind the things that matter most to you about attending professional healthcare events. When you find one that’s geared toward your medical specialty, offers networking opportunities, provides a wealth of new information, and lets you earn CE credits, make sure to register!
Looking for a valuable event to attend this year? WOCNext is an annual event hosted by The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society™ (WOCN®) that educates and inspires healthcare professionals from around the world on what’s new, what’s needed, and what’s next in wound, ostomy, continence, and foot and nail care. As the only educational event of the year hosted by healthcare professionals for healthcare professionals, WOCNext delivers all the newest evidence-based education, value-packed professional development, and an inclusive experience that unlocks the power of community.
Get more details about WOCNext 2023 and register here.
Continuing Medical Education Information
Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) and Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN). The ASCRS is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation Statement
This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Nursing Continuing Professional Development Accreditation Information
Accreditation Statement
The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 15115.