2025 Neuroscience Nursing Annual Conference Schedule-at-a-Glance
The 2025 Neuroscience Nursing Annual Conference will be held from March 16 – 18, 2025 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, LA.
Sunday, March 16
Pre-Conference Workshops
8:00 am – 12:00 pm CDT
(001) 3D Functional Brain Anatomy Related to Stroke, Truama, and Pathology Across the Lifespan
Linda Littlejohns, MSN RN SCRN CNRN FAAN
8:00 am – 11:00 am CDT
(002) Best Practices in Neuroscience Orientation
Cynthia Bautista, PhD APRN FNCS FCNS
Lorin Daniels, MSN APRN AGACNP-BC CNRN RNFA
Mary McKenna Guanci, MSN RN CNRN SCRN FNCS
Lori Rhudy, PhD APRN CNS ACNS-BC CNRN
Marianne Beare Vyas, PhD RN ANP-BC CNRN
Lunch with Exhibitors
12:00 – 1:00 pm CDT
Pre-Conference Workshops
1:00 – 3:00 pm CDT
(003) Spine Anatomy and 3D Correlation to Trauma and Degenerative Disease
Linda Littlejohns, MSN RN SCRN CNRN FAAN
(004) Basic Neuroimaging: More Than Fifty Shades of Grey
Cathy Cartwright, DNP RN-BC PCNS FAAN
Rachel Malloy, DNP RN CNRN SCRN
Break with Exhibitors & Posters
3:00 – 3:30 pm CDT
Concurrent Sessions (2 sessions, 1 CE contact hour)
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm CDT
(100) Managing Neurological Autoimmune Disease Lifelong Evolving Symptoms: A Patient-Clinician Experience and Outcomes Driven Approach
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Movement Disorders/Neuromuscular/Neurodegenerative
Caroline Piselli, DNP MBA RN FACHE SSBB
Pharmacology hours: 0.25
(101) Empowering Nurses: Tools and Techniques for Epilepsy Care Using Simluation and Human Factors
Level: Intermediate
Track: Quality/Safety/Process
Minna Masor, MSN Ed RN CCRN SCRN
Jen Hernandez, MSN RN CCRN
Stasia Rouse, MD
Concurrent Sessions (2 sessions, 0.5 CE contact hour)
4:40 pm – 5:10 pm CDT
(102) Transsphenoidal and Sinus Surgery Precautions: Science or Just a Self-Perpetuating Myth
Level: Intermediate
Track: Special Topics
Shaun Golden, MS CNRN SCRN
(103) Neuroscience: A Growing Specialty and Philosophy
Level: Advanced Practice
Track: Quality/Safety/Process
Della Mathew, PhD MSN RN
Newcomers Reception for First Time Attendees
5:30 – 6 pm CDT
Everyone who is attending their first AANN conference is invited to this session. Mingle with other first time attendees, the AANN Board of Directors, and committee volunteers.
Opening Reception with Posters and Exhibitors
6:00 – 7:30 pm CDT
Sponsored by UCB, Inc.
Attend the Opening Reception in the exhibit hall to view the posters and mingle with exhibitors.
Monday, March 17
Opening Remarks, AANN/ABNN/JNN Awards, and Agnes M. Walker Keynote Address
8:00 – 9:30 am CDT
Finding Strength in Adversity: My Path to Neurosurgery
Betsy Grunch, MD FAANS FACS FCNS
Breakfast with Exhibits and Posters
9:30 – 10:15 am CDT
Networking
10:15 – 11:00 am CDT
Network with other attendees on different topics that apply to your role as a neuro nurse and make a new neuro nerd friend!
Concurrent Sessions (3 sessions, 1 CE contact hour)
11 am – 12 pm CDT
(200) Managing a Lifetime of Neurological Autoimmune Disease Variability: A Patient-Clinician Neuroscience Nursing Customized Process Framework and Toolset
Level: Expert
Topic: Movement Disorders/Neuromuscular/Neurodegenerative
Caroline Piselli, DNP MBA RN FACHE SSBB
Pharmacology hours: 0.25
(201) Implementing Anti-Racism Education in Neurocritical Care: A Pathway to Reducing Racial Disparities
Level: Advanced Practice
Track: Quality/Safety/Process
Ebonye Green, DNP ACNPC-AG CNRN SCRN APRN FNCS
(202) Clinical Sequelae of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) After Hyperacute Phase: Not Out of the Woods Yet
Level: Beginner
Track: Neurotrauma
Denise Li, PhD AGACNP-BC CNS
Pharmacology hours: 0.25
(203) Supporting Families and the Care Team Through a Diagnosis of Brain Death
Level: Intermediate
Track: Special Topics
Maureen Lall, PhD APRN FNP-BC COHN-S SCRN NEA-BC
Merrilee Littlewood, BSN RN CCRN SCRN
Lunch with Exhibits and Posters
12:00 – 1:00 pm CDT
Concurrent Sessions (4 sessions, 1 CE contact hours)
1:00 – 2:00 pm CDT
(204) Past President Session
Level: Intermediate
Track: Special Topics
(205) APP Role Survey
Level: Intermediate
Track: Professional Development
(206) In Our Right Mind: Keeping Our Right Hemisphere Damage Patients Safe in the Acute and Post Acute Period
Level: Intermediate
Track: Cerebrovascular/Stroke
Samuel Melada, MA RN NPD-BC CNRN SCRN
(207) Brain Injury Behavior Management
Level: Intermediate
Track: Neurotrauma
Cynthia Bautista, PhD APRN FNCS FCNS
Pharmacology hours: 0.5
Concurrent Sessions (4 sessions, 0.5 CE contact hour)
2:10 – 2:40 pm CDT
(208) Journal of Neuroscience Nursing (JNN) Session
Level: Intermediate
Track: Professional Development
DaiWai Olson, PhD RN CCRN FNCS
(209) Pick Up the Beat: A Call to Action for Improving Social Determinants of Health, Racial Inequality, and Healthcare Inequities in Chronic Neurologic Health Management
Level: Intermediate
Track: Special Topics
Melissa Moreda, MSN APRN ACCNS-AG CDCES CNRN SCRN
Pharmacology hours: 0.5
(210) Thinking Like a Neuro Nurse: The Development of a Novel and Meaningful Neurological Clinical Decision Aid Tool and High-Fidelity Simulation Program to Recognize Neurological Emergencies
Level: Beginner
Track: Quality/Safety/Process
Eugena Bergvall, DNP APRN ACNP-BC CCNS-BC ACCNS-AG CCRN CNRN
(211) Paperwork vs. Patients: How Coordinator and Navigator Role Delineation Enhances Stroke Outcomes
Level: Expert
Track: Cerebrovascular/Stroke
Caitlin Wilschevick, MSN CCRN CNRN SCRN
Rachel Campbell, BSN RN SCRN
Break with Exhibits and Posters
2:40 – 3:10 pm CDT
Concurrent Sessions (4 sessions, 0.5 CE contact hours)
3:10 – 3:40 pm CDT
(212) Epilepsy Foundation Session: Epilepsy Disparities
Level: Intermediate
Track: Epilepsy
(213) Risk for Hospital Readmission for Neurovascular Patients: An Opportunity for APRNs
Level: Advanced Practice
Track: Cerebrovascular/Stroke
Teresa Connolly, PhD RN ACNS-BC
Kim Paxton, DNP APRN ANP-BC LHITC IHMC
(214) Addressing the Nursing Shortage: Enhancing Onboarding to Reduce Turnover
Level: Intermediate
Track: Special Topics
Jillian Cosgrove, MSN RN CCRN
Sonya Lester, BSN RN CCRN
(215) Support and Resources for the Neuro-Oncology Patient: From Diagnosis to Survivorship
Level: Beginner
Track: Neuro-Oncology
Jaclyn Garcia, BSN RN CNRN SCRN
Concurrent Sessions (4 sessions, 1 CE contact hour)
3:50 – 4:50 pm CDT
(216) Pathways to Excellence: Certification in Neuroscience and Stroke Nursing (ABNN Session)
Level: Intermediate
Track: Professional Development
Ellen Ahlersmeyer, DNP, RN, CNRN;
Carey Heck, PhD, CRNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, CNRN;
Samantha Orr, MSN, RN, SCRN
(217) Unraveling the Mystery of Migraine: How to Assess, Diagnose, and Treat
Level: Expert
Track: Special Topics
Amy Larson, APRN CNP
Pharmacology hours: 0.5
(218) Paint Your Circle of Willis
Level: Beginner
Track: Anatomy/Physiology/Neuroassessment
Denelle Hebert, BSN RN SCRN
DaiWai Olson, PhD RN CCRN FNCS
(219) Does Seating Matter? A Trial of Therapeutic Specialty Chairs on the Neurosciences Units
Level: Intermediate
Track: Quality/Safety/Process
Jennifer Johnson, BSN RN CNRN
Michelle Donoughe, BSN RN CNRN
Melissa Robinette, MSN BS RN
Concurrent Sessions (3 sessions, 0.5 CE contact hours)
5:00 – 5:30 pm CDT
(220) Achieving a Median Door in-Door out Time of 75 Minutes or Less for Endovascular Stroke Therapy Across 21 Facilities is Hard but Doable
Level: Intermediate
Track: Cerebrovascular/Stroke
Patricia Zrelak, PhD RN NEA-BC ASC-BC CNRN SCRN CCRN FAHA
(221) Fostering Inclusion and Allyship: Reducing Biases in Gender Identity and Sexuality in the Neuroscience Population
Level: Beginner
Track: Special Topics
Holly Wirth, DNP RN NE-BC CNE SCRN
(222) Jazzing Up the Awareness of Sensory Impairment and Innovative Ideas to Optimize the Music of Daily Living
Level: Expert
Track: Anatomy/Physiology/Neuroassessment
Melissa Moreda, MSN APRN ACCNS-AG CDCES CNRN SCRN
Tuesday, March 18
AANN/ABNN/AMWF Update
8:00 – 8:30 am CDT
Hear an update on the accomplishments of AANN, ABNN, and AMWF over the past year. Learn more about AANN membership, CNRN and SCRN certification, and AMWF grants.
Concurrent Sessions (4 sessions, 1 CE contact hour)
8:30 – 9:30 am CDT
(300) Lather Rinse Repeat: The Role of the Glymphatic System in Maintaining a Healthy, Happy, and Homeostatis Brain
Level: Intermediate
Track: Anatomy/Physiology/Neuroassessment
Samuel Melada, MA RN NPD-BC CNRN SCRN
Kyna Seale, BSN RN CNRN SCRN
(301) To Go or Not to Go? Bypassing the ICU: A Nurse's Role in Craniotomy Pathway Implementation
Level: Intermediate
Track: Special Topics
Alessandra Derose, BSN RN
Meghan Mulhern, BSN RN
Jacqueline Santana, BSN
Pharmacology hours: 0.25
(302) A Patient’s Journey with Rare Peripheral Neuropathy: Learning About Guillain-Barre Syndrome and CIDP from Patients Themselves
Level: Intermediate
Track: Movement Disorders
Concurrent Sessions (4 sessions, 0.5 CE contact hours)
9:40 – 10:10 am CDT
(303) The Neuro Response Nurse: An Innovative Approach to Supporting the Rural Level 1 Academic Medical & Comprehensive Stroke Center
Level: Beginner
Track: Quality/Safety/Process
Carmen-Lee Westenfeld, MSN RN CNR
Shawna-Markie Malynowski, RN
Elle McGraw, BSN RN SCRN
Bridgette Normandin, BSN RN
Serphore Thomas-Mathurin, MSN
(304) A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Identifying the Pitfalls to Early Recognition of Posterior Circulation Stroke
Level: Intermediate
Track: Anatomy/Physiology/Neuroassessment
Dawnielle Feucht, BSN RN SCRN
Rita Muldoon-Laccone, MSN RN-BC SCRN
(305) Dirty Mouth? Clean It Up! Optimizing Oral Care Practice in a Stroke Unit
Level: Intermediate
Track: Cerebrovascular/Stroke
Ashley Higgins, MSN APRN ACCNS-AG CCRN CNRN SCRN
Christine Bass, MSN RN CNL
(306) I Don't Want to Use Medications! How to Help Patients Manage Mirgraines Without Medication
Level: Expert
Track: Special Topics
Amy Larson, APRN CNP
Break with Posters
10:10 – 10:40 am CDT
Concurrent Sessions (4 sessions, .05 CE contact hour)
10:40 – 11:10 am CDT
(307) SEEG Surgery Journey as an Epilepsy Nurse and a Caregiver
Level: Intermediate
Track: Seizure/Epilepsy
Amy Matzkanin, BSN RN CNRN
(308) Matters of the Heart: Recognizing Large-Vessel Occlusion Strokes in Cardiovascular Surgery Patients
Level: Intermediate
Track: Cerebrovascular/Stroke
Breanna Cabecerias, MSN RN PHN CNL ASC-BC CNRN SCRN
Jessica Newsom-Wilkinson, MSN PHN
Dharati Trivedi, MD BSc CCRC ACRP
(309) Debunking the Mystique: Breaking Down the Neuro Assessment for Novice Neuro Nurses Utilizing Simulation
Level: Beginner
Track: Anatomy/Physiology/Neuroassessment
Denelle Hebert, BSN RN SCRN
Anna Ellis, BSN RN CCRN SCRN
(310) The Impact of COVID-19 on Esthesioneuroblastoma: Diagnostic Challenges and Innovative Solutions
Level: Intermediate
Track: Neuro-Oncology
Ebonye Green, DNP ACNPC-AG CNRN SCRN APRN FNCS
Concurrent Sessions (2 sessions, 1 CE contact hour)
11:20 am – 12:20 pm CDT
(311) Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) Session
Level: Intermediate
Track: Professional Development
(312) "Why Is My Patient on Two Steriods?" and Other SAH Conundrums
Level: Intermediate
Track: Pharmacology
Ashley Higgins, MSN APRN ACCNS-AG CCRN CNRN SCRN
Mavis Robinson, RN SCRN
Pharmacology hours: 0.5