It’s time to let the good times roll in the Big Easy. Nearly 4,000 emergency nurses from around the globe have arrived in New Orleans for Emergency Nursing 2025, ENA’s biggest event of the year.
Lisa Matamoros, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CEN, CPEN
The anticipation and enthusiasm are already palpable as attendees learn, network and play at the only conference dedicated exclusively to emergency nurses.
New Orleans’ lively, soulful vibe and spirit of celebration aptly complement the electric energy buzzing around Emergency Nursing 2025, according to ENA Conference Education Planning Committee Co-chair Gregory Pittman, DNP, RN.
“New Orleans really brings a one-of-a-kind energy to the conference this year,” said Pittman, who grew up in New Orleans. “That’s exciting for me to see the energy and excitement around New Orleans and what the conference has to offer for everybody.”
Attendees have much to look forward to. Both traditional and interactive education sessions are designed to help nurses stay up to date on the latest practices and trends in emergency care, covering topics such as triage, leadership, health equity and emergency preparedness.
“Whether you’re a brand-new ED nurse or you are an experienced nurse, the education sessions will help you excel in the ED and advance your careers,” said ENA Conference Education Planning Committee Co-chair Lisa Matamoros, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CEN, CPEN.
In between sessions, Matamoros and Pittman recommend heading over to the Experience Hall to discover the cutting-edge products and services in emergency care. And they urge attendees to take advantage of the various formal and informal networking opportunities and social events to connect and celebrate with their peers.
Matamoros and Pittman share more about what attendees can expect over the next three days and some tips on how to maximize their conference experience.
What makes Emergency Nursing 2025 stand out this year?
Matamoros: The interactive Murder Mystery event and the welcome party are really, for me, the two biggest events. They add a fun component to the conference, but they’re also extensions of the networking sessions. We have many meet and greets tailored to various sectors of ED nursing, from emerging professionals to first-time attendees to military. And you can hop around those meet and greets.
I’ve met so many people at previous conferences through the networking that I’ve kept in touch with and tapped into for different things and vice versa. Just to know you are not alone. Our EDs may be very different, but they’re also very similar. The issues that we’re facing in Florida, we’re facing in New York, we’re facing in the Carolinas — those issues are really one in the same. And to talk to people about how they’ve managed it, you come up with some good ideas.
Gregory Pittman, DNP, RN
Pittman: I also think that the networking part is important to capitalize on. I have met so many people through these conferences and become friends with them. But having that person as a resource when something’s going on and you’re trying to figure out better ways to make things better in your ED, it helps me learn and do things differently.
What should attendees know about this year’s educational programming?
Matamoros: We really tried hard to listen to what the survey from last year’s conference said, especially around what do you want to see more of? What do you want to see less of? They wanted to see more peds and more trauma sessions. So, we kept that in mind as we picked out the various programs.
Pittman: We also built on the leadership side of the track that they started last year. Those sessions are geared to people in leadership roles or who want to be in leadership roles and aren’t just being directly impacted by the bedside care that’s being provided. There’s a lot of focus on throughput and turnaround times and all these things that are driving financial resiliency in the world that we live in today.
We also have a large number of first-time presenters this year that were selected. So, I think that’s another huge win to see that there is a very large interest in people getting up and sharing their message around what they feel that they’re subject matter experts in and how they are able to share that message with their peers across the globe.
What advice do you have for attendees to help them make the most of their time at Emergency Nursing 2025?
Matamoros: Be willing to talk to other people. You really need to utilize your time getting to know other attendees because you’re going to want to know them. Somewhere down the line, you’re going to remember, “Oh, that nurse from Chicago, she told us how they did x, y and z. I need to get ahold of her.” Put yourself out there and network with people.
Pittman: Be ready to engage. Be ready to be open-minded and take in everything you can and have fun. Enjoy your time. This is a time to unwind from your daily routine and be shown the compassion that we have through ENA, and then take back the knowledge that you have and be re-energized, because it is one of the biggest things for me. Closing out conference every year always gives me a fresh step in my journey through my career. Every time that I leave a conference, I feel like I could just conquer the world.