From the latest Advance for Nurses:

The American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) has issued a call for research posters for its 2009 annual conference, to be held June 11-14 at the Madison Concourse Hotel in Madison, WI.

The theme of the conference is "Reflective Practice: Creating Sacred Space."

Poster abstracts will be accepted until Dec. 1. All proposals will be peer-reviewed.

The purpose of the conference, according to AHNA, is to focus on holistic nursing's central value of self-care, and how it incorporates the concept of personal awareness as a way to understand the meaning, purpose, strengths and connections with the self and others.

Reflective practice "is a process of exploring the meaning of caring experiences and creating space within ourselves to evolve as holistic practitioners."

The goals of the AHNA conference include:
  1. Engaging in reflective practices to enhance one's healing presence when designing and providing mindful and holistic care in any setting.
  2. Examining the relationship between reflective practice processes and holistic nursing education, research, and practice.
  3. Evaluating evidence-based nursing research related to the incorporation of reflective practice in creating healing environments.
  4. Appreciating the journey of evolving holism in professional nursing. Topics may reflect: practice, education, research, aesthetics, or personal and professional development.
Click here to download submission forms and guidelines. For more information contact: Angela Krupica, Director of Education, at education@ahna.org, or 928-526-2752, ext. 11.

About AHNA

Founded in 1981, AHNA is a nonprofit membership association for nurses and other holistic healthcare professionals with headquarters in Flagstaff, AZ. AHNA promotes the education of nurses, other healthcare professionals, and the public in all aspects of holistic caring and healing. Holistic nursing is recognized by the American Nurses Association as an official nursing specialty with defined scope and standards of practice.