Emergency Nursing 2026 is finally here. For the next three days, nearly 4,000 emergency and forensic nurses from around the world will immerse themselves in education sessions, networking and celebrations at ENA’s biggest event of the year. ENA Conference Education Planning Committee Co-Chairs Rhonda Manor Coombes, BSN, RN, TCRN, and Roger Cecil, MS, BSN, RN, NRP, CEN, CFRN, share what they are looking forward to and how to make the most of the conference.
Roger Cecil, MS, BSN, RN, NRP, CEN, CFRN
With the theme “Lock In” woven throughout Emergency Nursing 2026, attendees can expect events and activities designed to steady their mindset and sharpen their skills bolstered with the support of their peers so they can return to their workplaces both grounded and energized. That relaxed yet purposeful environment complements Phoenix’s laid-back, welcoming energy, according to Cecil.
“Phoenix is much more calm and collected than New Orleans and Las Vegas, [where the most recent annual conferences were held],” Cecil said. “We’ll still have fun. It will still be exciting, but I want to roll into this and kind of chill as well. It’s just a different kind of vibe.
“It’s more like you’re sitting on the back porch watching the sunrise or sunset over the mountains, drinking your coffee in the morning, having your adult beverage at night versus the lively energy of a town that’s awake 24/7,” he added.
“Locking in means we want attendees to get as much as they can out of the conference and to be in the moment, not worrying about work,” said Manor Coombes. “You want to be focused on your task at hand at the conference, which is learning, having fun and making those connections.”
Something for Everyone
To ensure the education programming addresses the opportunities and challenges emergency and forensic nurses are facing today, Manor Coombes and Cecil worked with the committee to develop 140 sessions that cover a range of topics, including clinical skills, advanced practice, technology, operations, health equity and leadership.
“There’s a cornucopia of sessions — something for everyone,” Manor Coombes said. “There are going to be sessions that they have not seen before being offered. So that’s going to be a big plus.”
As an ED nurse in a Level 4 trauma center with limited resources that often works with EMS, Manor Coombes is looking forward to attending several sessions that address prehospital collaboration and best practices for rural EDs.
“Many rural facilities send their nurses to conferences, but they rarely see sessions that apply to them,” she said. “Just having those sessions come to this conference is exciting.”
In between education sessions, Manor Coombes and Cecil encourage attendees to check out the vast Experience Hall, where more than 125 exhibitors are on hand to demonstrate the latest tools, technologies and services in emergency care.
“You never know when you’ll come across an innovative product that may be beneficial to your facility,” said Manor Coombes.
Getting Social
Rhonda Manor Coombes, BSN, RN, TCRN
Attendees should also stop by the numerous social events and celebrations that Emergency Nursing 2026 is known for, according to Cecil. He recommends hitting up the Desert Disco Welcome Reception, where attendees will don their best disco glam outfits as they mingle and dance the night away.
Cecil also advises attendees to take advantage of the many networking opportunities at the conference, including the Specialty Group Mixers. Attendees get to mingle and swap stories with nurses from various sectors, including forensic nursing, uniformed services and APRNs.
Cecil is particularly keen to attend the First-Time Attendee Mixer, where he plans to connect with new and old friends, cultivate camaraderie, and share some of his experiences on how to navigate the conference with ease. That includes encouraging newbies to maximize the formal and informal opportunities to connect with their peers.
“Go talk to two different people and make those friends,” he counseled. “It’s hard to gravitate outside your circle because that’s your comfort zone. But we’re all here to support each other and get to know each other. … Once you make that connection with someone, you’ll see them at every conference and stay in contact. That’s the most important thing.”
Cecil and Manor Coombes worked with their committee and ENA for nearly a year to ensure the networking in conjunction with the education sessions, industry exhibitors and social events cater to what emergency and forensic nurses need to deliver effective and efficient care. Now that Emergency Nursing 2026 has officially commenced, they are excited and eager to help their fellow attendees make the most of the only conference dedicated exclusively to emergency and forensic nurses.
“This conference is by ED nurses for ED nurses,” Cecil said. “So that truly is our focus, our passion, and that’s why Emergency Nursing 2026 and the ENA conferences will always be the best.”