I began my plan to attend the ANA Biennial Convention in Minneapolis a year ago, June of 2003, and spent a whole year working on "The Big Plan". I have wanted for years to attend an ANA conference, but I've always told myself that these conventions were way out of my budget (I never really figured out what it would cost), way too far away (wherever it was being held was too far), and way too intimidating (there must certainly be thousands of nurses attending such a conference, and they only hold these conventions in HUGE cities).

I am a public health nurse with the Indian Health Service (IHS), and am the supervisor of the PHN department at Shiprock. The National Council of Nurse Administrators (NCONA) in IHS holds a conference each year, sponsored by one of our national service areas. In June of 2003, while attending the NCONA meeting in Albuquerque (sponsored by Albuquerque and Navajo Areas of IHS) I found out that the 2004 NCONA conference was to be sponsored by the Aberdeen Area, and would be held in Prior Lake, Minnesota at the Mystic Lake hotel and casino. Once I heard that announcement, The Big Plan was hatched.

I am originally from southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, and I began to figure out a way that I could combine an educational trip (using my nursing CEU funds I get each year from IHS) with some time to visit family and friends who still live up that way. NCONA chose the dates June 14th through 18th. I had been carrying around a note in my daily planner with the 2004 ANA Biennial Convention dates and location (Minneapolis, Minn.) on it since the date was chosen- way back when. I couldn't believe how close together in time and location the two conferences were!

The Big Plan grew bigger. My husband and I would drive up to our mothers' to visit, and then on to the Minneapolis area. How perfect! And my CEU funds would help pay for the gas and motel. I announced to everyone that I was going to both conferences"! Then The Big Plan took a nosedive. Our budget at Shiprock IHS became very tight, and along about March or April, the administration decided, that in order to save money, all travel and training funds would be cut. I decided that I couldn't give up The Big Plan, and started figuring what to do. I have a very good friend I've known since childhood who lives in a suburb of Minneapolis, who is a nurse, and who is coincidently, my husband's cousin. (I've got a great story to tell of how I met my husband, and then married him 30 years later, . . . but I digress.) I set up communication with Evelyn by phone and email-I was blessed-she was thrilled to think I'd be in the Minneapolis area, and she would LOVE to have Ron and I stay with them during my two conferences. AND, they would drive me to each session, so Ron could do other things. What more could I have asked for!!! Oh, yes, I can't forget-my home group, District 19 paid for my registration to the ANA convention! What a great group! Thanks much, friends!

Well, June of 2004 came, and Ron and I took off-now on what I called The Big Adventure. We are incredibly "home bodies" and being gone for over three weeks was very much out of our usual comfort zone, as was driving in the big city of Minneapolis. Ron left me at Evelyn's for the week of the NCONA conference, and Evy and her husband, Jim, chauffeured me all around the Minneapolis area, showing me all the sights, and taking me out to eat. That was great fun, as was talking with Evy for hours. We hadn't seen each other for 8 or 9 years, we figured.

Ron came back for me, and I joined him in cleaning out his mother's basement and garage-she is selling her house and has to get rid of MAJOR stuff- much of which came home with us to New Mexico.

After a week of cleaning, and a short visit with my mother, it was back to the city, for the ANA Convention. Due to my limited funds and limited time, I decided to attend only two days of the convention- Monday and Tuesday. Evy, an active Minnesota Nurses Association member, attended with me on Monday.

What a great time I had! It was so . . . so NURSING related!! And it was so exciting to be around so many other nurses. I had never met a person from Rhode Island before this conference! There appeared to be only 800 to 1,000 nurses at the convention, which wasn't intimidating at all! But, also weren't many nurses for the number that could have been there.

There were so many things about the convention that I enjoyed! The exhibits were the most fun. The exhibitors really catered to nurses, as well they should! I compared various disposable bath wipe samples and gave them my opinion about which was softer, stronger, smelled better, etc. I have used one of the wipes in the past-I recognized it by the fragrance-and was glad to have the opportunity to tell the company that I thought the smell was too strong. (A month after the conference, a case of hand wipes showed up at my home, as an appreciation for completing the survey. I'm not sure what I'll do with 15 containers of hand wipes-they've become gifts for all occasions!) At another booth I reviewed syringe and IV bottle labels, in exchange for a stopwatch, and at another booth, I completed a survey on traveling nursing, to get a cool t-shirt. Both of the two days, I walked away with about 15 pounds of stuff I collected there. My most favorite item I got there was a reproduction of the first AJN magazine, which was published in October of 1900. It is a hoot to read! I love learning about the history of this convention, AJN, and nursing in general. We've come a long way, and yet our roots are still here as our foundation.

My second favorite souvenir from the convention is my "Barf Happens" magnet. You can find just about anything nurse related at an ANA convention.

The poster presentations and the speakers at the convention were really interesting, also. I enjoyed the speaker on elder care competency for nurses, and the sharing of nursing experiences that was part of a small group presentation. I was also a participant in a small group discussion of how to get more nurses to join ANA. We did some brainstorming and sharing about the tactics we've each tried in our states. We, in the group, seemed to be mostly in our 40's and 50's, and we talked about how to get the younger generation involved.

The computerized CEU set up was amazing! We printed our CEU's right on site and took the certificate home with us! The bookstore had some incredible bargains on books. Everyone seemed to be giving away prizes! What excitement! What action!

I spent some time checking out the House of Delegates, to see what that group does at these conventions. The delegates were nearly done with their business when I arrived, but I can vouch for our representatives-they were there and at their assigned positions (which was right up towards the front)-working away in our behalf!!! Thanks, ladies, for being there to bring our concerns to light!!! The delegates apparently have some tradition I couldn't quite figure out. They were always giving away stuff to other delegates-like cheap jewelry! Barbara Blakely herself was decked out in some enormous plastic pearls during the meeting I sat in on. I don't know what it was all about, but I'm sure the rest of us missed out on something special by not being HOD delegates! Debra Cyphert did give me some of her beads, so, for that day, I looked as though I know what was going on, anyway! Maybe.

Evy and I were so impressed by the convention that we resolved to put in a proposal to present at the next one-wherever it would be held. We warned our husbands, and even started formulating our presentation-something to combine OB and public health, our two fields of interest. "Regular" nurses, like us, did many of the presentations. We could all be there, sharing our knowledge and experience, I think! It's not intimidating! The costs are tax deductible, and even someone with a small budget like mine can make it! You find people you know there, and the ones you don't know are friendly! Plus, there are fun things to do around the city-like the Mall of America, which is a historical site! (not)

Since then, I've heard that these biennial conferences may not be held any longer!! And just when I got started! I think it would be an enormous shame to discontinue these conventions, as it is a wonderful opportunity to meet nurses, talk nursing issues, celebrate nursing, and to be proud to be a nurse. I can see, too, that the low turnout might be a factor in discontinuing the conventions. I can't recommend strongly enough, this convention-it made for a wonderful Big Adventure!!