Graduate Nursing Admissions Professionals (GNAP) Conference

Provides an opportunity for those most involved in recruiting graduate nursing students to share their successes, develop new strategies, and to establish a resource network of peers.


Share:

Questions?
Contact AACN Conference Team

Graduate Nursing Admissions Professionals (GNAP) is a diverse group comprised of nursing education administrators and faculty responsible for graduate nursing student recruitment, admissions, marketing, and programming. The purpose of the group is to provide an opportunity for those most involved in recruiting graduate nursing students to share their successes, develop new strategies, and to establish a resource network of peers.

Hotel Information

To view the hotel information, please view the National Student Nurses' Association conference page.

Gaylord Opryland
2800 Opryland Drive
Nashville, TN 37214

Contact Information

AACN Conference Team
655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-463-6930
Email: conferences@aacnnursing.org
www.aacnnursing.org


Monday, April 2
Tuesday, April 3
Wednesday, April 4

* The GNAP conference is located in Delta Island ABC

1:30 -3:30 p.m.
Optional NursingCAS & Admissions Trends Panel Discussion and Luncheon
Join your colleagues from Rush University, the University of South Florida, and The College of St. Scholastica for a panel discussion & luncheon to learn about trends in graduate nursing admissions and how their schools are leveraging NursingCAS , the centralized application service for nursing. NursingCAS is a free resource provided by AACN for schools to use to collect and review admissions criteria from applicants. We ask that you RSVP (via online form or email) to this optional session for planning/catering purposes and refer to the schedule for more details.

3:00-4:30 p.m.
Registration

4:30 -6:00 p.m.
GNAP Nuts & Bolts for Newcomers (concurrent)
If you’re a first-time GNAP attendee, join us for an overview of graduate nursing recruiting, admissions and marketing, an introduction to the Graduate Nursing Admission Professional organization, and some helpful tips to make the most of your GNAP conference experience.

4:30 -6:00 p.m.
Tools & Tips Panel for Returning GNAP Professionals (Concurrent) This opening session is designed for returning GNAP conference attendees. A panel of experienced GNAP colleagues will share tips, tools and creative solutions on time management, getting a seat at the table for important discussions, communicating with faculty, and more!

6:00-7:00 p.m.
Welcome Gathering

7:00 p.m.
Optional Networking Dinner

7:00-8:00 a.m.
Breakfast and Conference Registration

8:00-8:30 a.m.
Welcome and Icebreaker

8:30-9:45 a.m.
Opening Plenary: A Holistic Approach to Managing Change
As professionals in the fast-paced world of graduate nursing admissions, constant change is the norm. It seems that every day there are new programs, new policies, new admission criteria, new staff and new technology. To kick off the conference, Joanne Thomas will help us fill our toolbox with practical tools to manage and even embrace change.
Speaker: Joanne A. Thomas, Director of Master’s Admissions and Recruitment, Boston University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences

9:45-10:00 a.m.
Break

10:00-11:30 a.m.
Building a Master Communication Plan
Kristi Lehmer and her team set a goal to create a strategic enrollment plan that included a partnership with the school’s marketing team. A major component was a comprehensive assessment of students' needs from first touch to enrollment If you're contemplating or needing to assess your own processes, this session will provide you with a guide for preparing, building, and maintaining a master communication plan.
Speaker: Helen Jones-Toms, MNO, Director of Marketing & Communications; Kim Cornuelle-Marks, Assistant Director of Marketing; Michelle Koski, Communications Assistant Manager; Kristi Lehmer, MBA, Director of Enrollment and Recruitment; Zachary Nichols, MEd, Recruitment Specialist; and Ashley Thomas, Recruitment Specialist, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University.

11:30-11:45 a.m.
Networking Break to Visit Sponsors

11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Café Session #1 – Choose One
Facilitated sessions and activities to explore current trends, discuss challenges and share marketing, recruitment and admissions ideas.

  • Marketing in a Digital World - Social Media
    This session includes an overview of various social media platforms and will focus on organic posting and boosting ads. It will also give attendees a chance to find out what is working for your colleagues and how they are responding to the challenges of a digital world.
  • Recruitment Challenges – Doctoral Programs
    A call has been issued to double the number of nurses with doctoral degrees by 2020. The facilitator will provide an overview of recruitment challenges being faced in enrolling Ph. D and post-master’s DNP students as well as facilitate a discussion focused on understanding the roots of and ideas to address the challenges.
  • Accept or Deny?
    The presenter will outline some of the common challenges we face when evaluating candidates for admission. They will then facilitate a discussion where GNAP members have an opportunity to share how they have overcome and/or managed these challenges.
  • How Admission Professionals can Help bring Diversity, Inclusion and Equity in Nursing
    The presenter will provide an overview of how organizations like the Robert Wood Foundation, HRSA and the AACN are promoting the importance of diversity in nursing education and the workplace, and how members of GNAP are involved in the AACN HAAN group. Attendees will then have the opportunity to complete an assessment of how inclusive their own marketing, recruitment and admission practices are at their own school.

12:30-1:30 p.m.
Lunch & Sponsor Introductions

1:30-2:15 p.m.
Café Session #2 – Choose One
Facilitated sessions and activities to explore current trends, discuss challenges and share marketing, recruitment and admissions ideas.

  • Marketing in a Digital World - Website Optimization
    This session includes an overview of SEO, Google Analytics, and Accessibility Tools for enhancing web sites. Attendees will find out what is working for their colleagues and how they are responding to the challenges of a digital world.
  • Recruitment Challenges – APRN Programs
    This session will allow attendees the opportunity to discuss questions like the following: Are you recruiting to an APRN program where securing preceptors is affecting your ability to enroll students? What other challenges are you encountering when recruiting to your MSN or DNP APRN program?
  • Accept or Deny?
    The presenter will outline some of the common challenges we face when evaluating candidates for admission. They will then facilitate a discussion where GNAP members have an opportunity to share how they have overcome and/or managed these challenges.
  • Before you Communicate: Make a Plan
    This session will include an exercise & discussion of how to map out a communication plan to move prospective students through the admissions funnel.

2:25-3:05 p.m.
Cafe Session #3– Choose One

  • Marketing in a Digital World - Online Advertising
    Session includes an overview of programmatic advertising, banner ads, Facebook ads, etc. followed by a facilitated discussion. Find out what is working for your colleagues and how they are responding to the challenges of a digital world.
  • Recruitment Challenges – MSN Programs
    Are you experiencing difficulty filling your MSN program(s)? Are your challenges related to budgets, demand, how to market the program or competition? Share ideas and strategies with colleagues.
  • Before you Communicate: Make a Plan
    This session will include an exercise & discussion of how to map out a communication plan to move prospective students through the admissions funnel.
  • How Admission Professionals can help bring Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Nursing
    The presenter will provide an overview of how organizations like the Robert Wood Foundation, HRSA and the AACN are promoting the importance of diversity in nursing education and the workplace, and how members of GNAP are involved in the AACN HAAN group. Attendees will then have the opportunity to complete an assessment of how inclusive their own marketing, recruitment and admission practices are at their own school.

3:05-3:15 p.m.
Break

3:15-4:30 p.m.
AACN Annual State of Graduate Nursing Education Report
As higher education professionals in admissions, marketing, and recruitment roles, we strive to be experts on the various graduate nursing programs at our institutions. However, we also recognize that we are part of a larger mission to promote the academic progression of nurses and that our decisions and strategies are shaped by national issues and trends. Dr. Stanley, AACN’s Chief Academic Officer will provide an update on the current state of graduate education and on some of the AACN initiatives that have direct or indirect impact on the work we do in admissions, marketing, and recruitment for nursing programs.
Speaker: Joan Stanley, PhD, RN, Chief Academic Officer, American Association of Colleges of Nursing

7:00 p.m.
Optional Networking Dinners

7:00-7:45 a.m.
GNAP Fun Walk

8:30-9:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

9:00-9:45 a.m.
GNAP Business Meeting, Awards & Townhall Discussion

9:45-11:00 a.m.
Plenary: Guiding the Professional Development of Nurses
In addition to her years in clinical practice, Chris Wilson is the president of the Association for Nursing Professional Development. Ms. Wilson has extensive experience in helping nurses to map out a path for professional development. She will provide insights on how to be an effective adviser to nurses by asking good questions, by educating nurses about their educational options, and by helping them to prepare for enrollment in a demanding graduate nursing program.
Speaker: Chris Wilson, MSN, RN-BC, Director of Nursing Education and Professional Development, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

11:00-11:15 a.m.
Break

11:15 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Power Presentations
Three, Ted Talk styled presentations by experience GNAP Colleagues. Each 20 minute presentation will deliver a quick overview of a hot topic or approach in graduate nursing admissions. The presentations will be followed by 20 minutes to ask questions of the presenters.

  • How to use mini interviews as a tool for incorporating holistic admissions into the admission review process
    Ashley Sonke, Director of Nursing Admissions, California Baptist University
  • Proven ideas for making alumni part of a successful recruitment plan
    Devon George, MSN, RN, Marketing and Recruitment Director, Duquesne University
  • An overview of how to create a plan that keeps your school in compliance with state Boards of Nursing and a brief introduction to the ins and outs of the SARA Compact
    Lynette Kingsmore, Director, Graduate and Adult Admissions, Recruiting for RN-BSN and MSN programs, Northwest Nazarene

12:15-1:30 p.m.
Lunch (on your own)

1:30-3:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Strategies for Recruiting Men to Graduate Nursing Programs
The number of male registered nurses is on the rise. Dr. Christenbery and a panel of currently enrolled male graduate nursing students from Vanderbilt School of Nursing will share insights about the importance of graduate education as a pathway for the full participation of male nurses in the nursing profession. Expect insights and tips, and opportunity to ask questions of students about how to enhance your recruitment and marketing practices to better understand, serve and attract this growing demographic.
Facilitator: Tom Christenbery, PhD, RN, CNE, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

3:00-3:15 p.m.
Closing Remarks

7:00 p.m.
Optional Networking Dinners


Registration Fees

We encourage attendees to place their conference/meeting registrations and hotel reservations at the same time. If you have reserved your room already, please register for the conference/meeting as soon as possible.

(Only one discount per person, per conference can be taken.)

  Early Bird
By March 12, 2018
Regular
After March 12, 2018
AACN Members    
GNAP Network Members $419 $519
Non-GNAP Network Members $449 $549
Additional Registration(s) from same institution $419 $519
*Applies to AACN Members only.    
AACN Non-Members $599 $699
Full-Time Students* $225 $275

* Full-time graduate students carrying 9 or more credit hours this semester may request a 50% discount. Submit your request together with verification of your full-time student status to conferences@aacnnursing.org.

For payment related questions, please contact us at conferences@aacnnursing.org.

Substitution, Cancellation, and Refund Policies

If you subsequently cannot attend this event, the following options are available:

1. You may substitute your registration to another individual within your organization. This must be done by contacting the AACN Conference Department via email at conferences@aacnnursing.org.

2. If a transfer is not possible, your cancellation request must be received in writing and confirmed by AACN; otherwise, it cannot be honored. The following refund arrangements will then apply:

a. Cancellation requests received by March 19, 2018 will be refunded minus a $150 non-refundable administrative fee.
b. Cancellation requests received after March 19, 2018 will not be granted any refunds.
c. Refunds will not be given for no-shows.
d. No-show registrations with an open balance will be charged a $150 non-refundable administrative fee after the event.

Please note: Cancellations received fewer than 7 days prior to the conference start date will be reviewed and processed within two weeks after the last day of the conference.

AACN reserves the right to cancel this conference and any group activity that does not meet minimal group requirements. AACN assumes no responsibility for non-refundable airline tickets, hotel reservations, car rental, or other travel costs.

Location Information

a static map image of the event location, with interactive Google map linked below

Gaylord Opryland
2800 Opryland Drive
Nashville, TN 37214

Get directions

Site Maintenance

Our system is currently down for scheduled maintenance. Your member services will be available again shortly. Please check back soon.