Summary – TONL Annual Conference: Leadership Reconsidered: Rebuilding the Workforce

By Cynthia Plonien DNP, RN, CENP
The TONL Annual Virtual Conference opened – with Dr. Jane McCurley, TONL President, welcoming 230 attendees, and recognizing of the generosity of business sponsors supporting the Conference and professional education of nurse leaders across Texas. Specifically recognized were Gretchen Hunt and the TONL Education Committee for their work in organizing and developing the Conference. Appreciation was given to Texas Health Resources, providing CEUs. Credit can be received for 8.75 CEUs with sessions available for 60 days following the closure of the Conference.  

In the keynote session – “Compassion in Hard Times,” presented by Dr. Christy Dempsey, the value of compassionate leadership was discussed as well as trends faced daily by nurse leaders – staffing, retention, burnout, generational issues, too many tactics, leadership issues, and workplace violence. It was noted that issues being addressed today existed before the pandemic and have gotten worse. Throughout the presentation, Dr. Dempsey talked about compassionate, connecting, and caring actions that support the needs of nurses, colleagues, and patients.  As an FYI, Dr. Dempsy has an article in the February 2022 edition of JONA, “Outcomes-Based Nurse Staffing During Times of Crises and Beyond.”  

 Poster presentations – included a variety of current topics related to nursing leadership. Presentations occurred in four separate time sessions, viewed in interactive Zoom Rooms with poster presenters offering a live classroom learning environment for session attendees.  

TONL Talks – a general session allowed select poster presenters to give a live 20-minute talk on their project leading to their poster.  

 Panel Discussion: Mental Health, Advocacy, and Recovery – an interactive session with a panel of nurse leaders describing strategies used during the COVID-19 pandemic to advocate for the staff nurses in coping with the increased workload, burnout, violence in the workplace, and substance abuse.    

 General Session II – “More Important than Ever: Nurse /Civility & Wellness in the Pandemic,” by Cole Edmonson, highlighting a topic more important than ever: incivility and bullying, with an examination of the impact of COVID-19 stress on incivility and bullying. Also discussed are reasons for nursing leaving the workforce and mental health and well-being programs for nurses.  

 Business Meeting and Awards – Annual TONL Business Meeting inclusive of presentations related to TONL’s mission/vision/values and reports related to memberships, strategic imperatives, financial statements, upcoming elections and nominations, as well as recognition of committees and chairs and chapter presidents.  

Awards - the 2021 Leadership Award was presented to Rebecca Geist, DNP, RN, SAA, PhNA-BC. 

 Virtual Exhibit Hall – networking opportunity for interaction with Diamond, Gold, and Silver Sponsors.      

 Closing Keynote – “Lead Your Evolution”, by Judson Laipply, M.Ed, CSP, comedian, and educator. With humor and wisdom, Judson discussed the inevitability of change, change will happen. Evolving requires focus, learning, and application of new skills, growing, and stretching. Judson ended his segment performing the “Evolution of Dance,” for which he has received national and international acclaim.