Kentucky Organization of Nurse Leaders Track
Tuesday, May 20
8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Breakfast Keynote: Unstoppable
Anthony Robles
Anthony Robles was born without a right leg, yet he never let disability stop him from achieving his dreams. With unrelenting determination – and the belief that he could do anything – he defied all odds and became a champion collegiate wrestler, competing against able-bodied athletes. An NCAA Division I Champion, three-time All-American, and a recipient of the ESPY Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, Anthony inspires others to believe that they too can overcome the odds. In this moving, awe-inspiring presentation, Anthony shares his extraordinary life story – now chronicled on the big screen in a major motion picture starring Jennifer Lopez and Jharrel Jerome – and illustrates how perseverance, hard work, and a strong belief in yourself can not only lead you to success but make you unstoppable.
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Inculcating a Culture of Regulatory Compliance
Rick Curtis, RN, MS, HACP
Chief Executive Officer
Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ)
This presentation provides practical real-world strategies that have shown to be effective in establishing a culture that supports continuous on-going compliance to regulations and improvement in quality.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will be able to discuss the importance of organizational culture
- Identify the difference between formal and informal culture
- Interpret barriers to creating a successful culture
- Communicate how to inculcate a desired culture
into the structural fabric of an organization
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Networking Break with Sponsors
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Three topics will be covered in this session.
Sharing and Presenting Best Practices
Every Nurse Matters: A Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Program
Judy Ponder, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, NE-BC, CSSGB
Director of Education and Professional Development
Baptist Health Richmond
This session shares findings from a study that was conducted at seven Baptist Health Hospitals. A team of nurse educators across the system collaborated with a local school of nursing’s psychiatric nurse practitioner faculty to develop educational content based upon the Kentucky Board of Nursing suicide prevention continuing education requirement and the feedback from the nursing needs assessment.
Learning Objective:
- Recognize the elements of an effective educational program that can be implemented with nursing staff and nurse leaders to support suicide prevention efforts
- Describe ways in which structured educational approaches can enhance confidence in nurses’ abilities to intervene during when the threat of suicide exists
- Identify ways to empower nurses to make safe decisions regarding risk for suicide following educational interventions
Responding to Patient Escalation: Code Violet Activations
Erin Morris, MSN, RN, CEN
Director, Behavioral Health Services
University of Kentucky
This presentation will present the development and implementation of a nurse led patient de-escalation process modeling rapid response concepts for medical emergencies. Focus will be on providing trauma informed care, comparing the patient centered “Code Violet” response to traditional responses to patient behavioral emergencies, detailing the role of the behavioral health specialist nurse and other team members, and presenting outcomes and next steps for the program.
Learning Objectives:
- Detail the reason for moving to Code Violet responses and how it supports trauma informed care
- Describe the role of the behavioral health specialist nurse
- Discuss outcomes of the program
How to Write a Winning Abstract
Jennifer Smith, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CMSRN
Professional Development Specialist
Baptist Health Richmond
Your abstract should be a stand-alone document that summarizes the key points of your research or your ideas and entices readers to learn more about your work. These guidelines can be used to create abstracts for a range of publications and presentations.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the key elements of a well-written abstract
- Identify “dos” and “don’t” with abstract writing
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
KHA Awards Luncheon
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Exercising Nursing Leadership through Advocacy
Stacey Chapell
Senior Director, Advocacy and External Communications
American Organization for Nursing Leadership
Nurse leaders are natural advocates. Learn how to exercise nursing leadership in legislative advocacy. From learning more about who represents you to finding messages that resonate with policy makers, this session will inspire novice advocates to find their voice and help more experienced advocates learn how to expand their influence politically.
Learning Objectives:
- Articulate why advocacy is important for nursing leadership and work environment
- Demonstrate how to hone a message to resonate with different legislators
- Identify impact of communication on legislative decision making
- Verbalize AONL’s 2025 legislative priorities
2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Snack Break with Sponsors
2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
AONL Span of Control
Brandy Mathews, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC, CENP
KONL Immediate Past President
This session will describe the ongoing work of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders Workforce committee, and introduce the Span of Control Assessment Tool, designed to help leaders assess the variables that impact SOC, and the ROI Calculator, an interactive tool that quantifies the financial and operational impact of adjustments. Walk away with actionable insights to advocate for resources, enhance nurse manager success, and drive sustainable outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will describe the work of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) workforce committee and discuss best practices and innovative strategies with the goal of creating sustainable work environments and support needed to empower nurses.
- Participants will understand the factors associated with determining and rightsizing nurse manager span of accountability. Using the AONL assessment tool, participants will be able to evaluate if the SOC needs to be adjusted to ensure nurse manager success.
- Participants will describe how the value of the nurse leader/finance business partner relationship and learn how the ROI Calculator will assist to justify an investment in resources while providing expected outcomes and accountability measures.
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
KONL Business Update
Sally Davenport, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
ACHE Reception
Continuing Education Credits
Nursing Morning Session
(Inculcating a Culture of Regulatory Compliance, Every Nurse Matters: A Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention Program, Responding to Patient Escalation: Code Violet Activations, and How to Write a Winning Abstract)
The Kentucky Hospital Research and Education Foundation is an approved Kentucky Board of Nursing continuing education provider. The Kentucky Board of Nursing approval does not constitute endorsement of program content. This offering number 5-0023-12-25-040 (expiration date 12-31-25) is approved for 2.3 contact hours. Participants must sign in on the attendance roster with their name and license number, attend the full morning session, and complete the post-session evaluation at the conclusion of the session in order to receive contact hours and be awarded a certificate. No partial credit will be given. Failure to complete any of the requirements listed above will result in no contact hours being issued.
Nursing Afternoon Session
(Exercising Nursing Leadership Through Advocacy and AONL Span of Control)
The Kentucky Hospital Research and Education Foundation is an approved Kentucky Board of Nursing continuing education provider. The Kentucky Board of Nursing approval does not constitute endorsement of program content. This offering number 5-0023-12-25-041 (expiration date 12-31-25) is approved for 2.1 contact hours. Participants must sign in on the attendance roster with their name and license number, attend the full morning session, and complete the post-session evaluation at the conclusion of the session in order to receive contact hours and be awarded a certificate. No partial credit will be given. Failure to complete any of the requirements listed above will result in no contact hours being issued.
