Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to present our 22nd Annual Convention, The New Frontier: Pediatric Nurses Embracing Our Changing Environment. On behalf of the 2012 Program Planning Committee and the SPN Board of Directors, I want to invite you to take a look at the exciting learning and networking opportunities awaiting you at the Pre-Convention Workshops and Certification Preparation Course, April 18-19 and the Convention from April 19-22. From the poster sessions, the consultation services of senior nurse researchers and nurse editors and the educational sessions, you will walk away from this year’s convention with enhanced knowledge and skills in pediatric nursing. We have selected national, notable speakers for our Opening Session, Rich Bluni and our Keynote Session, Sorrel King.   Our general sessions and concurrent sessions will enrich your dynamic role as a pediatric nurse.

Besides the phenomenal education opportunities, we are pleased to bring back the Barbara A. Larson 5K Memorial Walk benefiting the Barbara A. Larson Humanitarian Award. The 5K walk will wind through beautiful Memorial Park Conservancy. We also are planning a tour of the local world renown children’s hospitals, Texas Children’s Hospital and Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital located in the Texas Medical Center. Once again, we are planning the conference community service project to Blessings in a Backpack, a program designed to feed elementary school children who may not have any food or enough food on the weekends. Additionally, we are bringing back the Corrine Barnes Research Fund Raffle which funds the Corrine Barnes Research Grant. To top off all of this excitement, a social event is in the works to bring old fashioned fun for all of the participants to this convention!

I hope I will see each of you at the 22nd Annual Convention at the Omni Houston Hotel in Houston, Texas. Pack your cowboy hat and plan to have a “kick up your heels” time!

Best,

Debbie Arnow, DNP, RN, NE-BC
President, Society of Pediatric Nurses