Top Nursing Conferences You Don’t Want to Miss

Nursing conferences can be powerful tools for professional growth, and they’re happening year-round. Whether you’re a nursing student working toward your bachelor’s in nursing, an RN looking to earn continuing education (CE) credits and expand your clinical knowledge, or an advanced practice nurse pursuing your Master of Science in Nursing, there’s a conference designed with your goals in mind. The right event can connect you to peers, thought leaders, and the latest evidence-based practice—all in one place.

From large national events to focused specialty retreats, there is an impressive lineup of annual nursing and nurse practitioner conferences that may be worth your time and investment.

Key Takeaways

• This guide covers 15 different nursing conferences, organized by audience: general nursing, nursing students, researchers and educators, specialty nurses, and nurse practitioners.
• A dedicated section for nurse practitioner conferences helps NPs find events tailored to their advanced scope of practice and CE requirements.
• Conferences range from large national events with thousands of attendees to focused clinical retreats and leadership summits.
• Options include in-person, hybrid, and online attendance—making it easier than ever to participate regardless of schedule or location.
• Use the comparison chart in the “How to Choose” section to quickly match a conference to your career stage, specialty, and budget.

Why Nursing Conferences Matter for Your Career

Nursing conferences do more than deliver continuing education credits—though that alone can make them worth attending. They bring together clinicians, researchers, educators, and students from across the country and the globe to share advances in patient care, policy, and professional practice. For nurses at every stage of their career, these events offer an opportunity to step outside the daily rhythm of clinical work and invest directly in professional development.

For those pursuing a nursing degree—whether through a three-year BSN program, an accelerated nursing program, or a hybrid learning pathway—attending a conference early in your professional journey can be career-defining. You’ll discover specialties, build your professional network, and gain exposure to work being done at the highest levels of the profession. For practicing nurses, conferences can keep clinical knowledge sharp, satisfy CE requirements, and open doors to leadership and research opportunities.

Advanced practice nurses and those pursuing an MSN degree or DNP degree will find dedicated conferences that speak directly to their scope of practice, legislative landscape, and growing role in healthcare leadership. Many NP-focused events also address the regulatory and advocacy issues that shape everyday practice.

Whether you’re earning your first nursing credential or building toward a Doctor of Nursing Practice, these events can be an essential part of your journey.

Top Nursing Conferences 

Nursing conferences bring together clinicians, researchers, students, and leaders from every specialty and career stage. Whether you’re seeking CE credits, looking to build your network, or exploring the latest advances in patient care, the following events can offer valuable opportunities to enrich your nursing career.

Best for Nurses, Nursing Researchers and Educators, and Specialty Nurses

ANCC Magnet & Pathway Conference

Called the largest conference for professional nursing, the ANCC Magnet & Pathway Conference brings together nursing leaders from around the world to celebrate, connect, and inspire change across the profession. Hosted by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the event offers up to 50 ANCC CE contact hours and centers on themes of nursing excellence, innovation, and research. If you’re a nurse leader, a staff nurse at a Magnet-recognized hospital, or someone working toward ANCC credentials, this is a must-attend event.

Sigma International Nursing Research Congress

The International Nursing Research Congress, hosted by Sigma Theta Tau International, is the premier global gathering for nurses with a passion for evidence-based research. It brings together a diverse community of nursing students, faculty, clinicians, and leaders to explore topics spanning technology, practice, well-being, and community health. Attendees have the opportunity to network with and learn from researchers conducting work at every level of the profession—and no matter where you are in your nursing journey, Congress is designed to inspire. A pre-conference option adds additional CE opportunities for those arriving early.

AACN National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI)

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI) is the premier conference for critical care and progressive care nurses. Each year, NTI draws thousands of nurses from across the country for more than 200 sessions covering the clinical and professional development topics most important to modern critical care practice. Attendees can earn up to 37.75 CE contact hours on-site, making this one of the most CE-dense events in the nursing calendar.

Annual NBNA Institute and Conference

Hosted by the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA), the annual Institute and Conference is a cornerstone event for nurses committed to advancing healthcare equity. Over 1,200 nurses and nursing students gather each year to receive state-of-the-art clinical instruction across topics including cardiovascular disease, cancer, children’s health, diabetes, end of life, HIV/AIDS, kidney disease, research, and women’s health. The conference features more than 100 exhibitors showcasing clinical products and services, continuing education units provided by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, and nine NBNA award categories including Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer.

AONL Annual Conference

The American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Annual Conference is where nurse leaders come together for innovation, collaboration, and leadership solutions that move healthcare forward. If you’re a nursing administrator, director, or emerging leader, this is one of the most important events on the calendar for your professional development. Monitor the AONL website for registration details and secure your spot early.

Academic Nursing Leadership Conference (ANLC)

For deans, directors, associate deans, and assistant deans at American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) member nursing schools, the Academic Nursing Leadership Conference (ANLC) is the premier annual gathering for academic nursing leaders. This members-only event offers exclusive access to forward-thinking dialogue, award-winning speakers, innovative perspectives, and meaningful peer networking. Leadership teams are encouraged to attend together for a team-based experience designed to strengthen collective impact—and participants are eligible to earn Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) credit.

AANA Annual Congress

Nurse anesthesiology’s largest educational event, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Annual Congress draws 4,500+ attendees to five days of sessions, workshops, and hands-on learning. Plus, attendees can earn up to 25.25 CE credits. Open to CRNAs, nurse anesthesiologists, residents, and anesthesiology students, this is the essential gathering for the nurse anesthesiology community.

Society of Pediatric Nurses Annual Conference

The Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) Annual Conference is the go-to event for nurses specializing in pediatric care. Each year, the conference brings together pediatric nursing professionals to share clinical advances, research findings, and best practices in the care of children and their families. Monitor the SPN website for registration details and the 2027 Call for Abstracts, opening soon.

Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts CME Conferences

The Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts CME Conference series is a popular choice for nurses and advanced practice providers in outpatient and multispecialty settings. Offered at multiple locations across the United States throughout the year, these focused continuing medical education events cover dermatology, orthopedics, cardiology, and primary care—delivering targeted clinical content in a convenient format. If you’re looking for practical, CME-eligible education that aligns with your day-to-day specialty practice, this series is worth checking out.

Best for Nursing Students

NSNA Annual Convention

The National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) Annual Convention is one of the most energizing events a nursing student can attend—and can be a valuable investment in your future nursing career. The convention is packed with events tailored specifically to students, including a live NCLEX review, opportunities to build clinical judgment and test-taking skills, and expert career advice covering everything from interviewing tips to resume writing. Whether you’re in a BSN program or exploring accelerated nursing programs, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of the specialty areas available to you and the educational pathways ahead.

AACN Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA) Conference

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Graduate Nursing Student Academy Conference is purpose-built for nurses pursuing graduate-level education. If you’re working toward an MSN degree, completing an RN to MSN pathway, or preparing for a Doctor of Nursing Practice, this event offers focused professional development, peer networking, and insight into academic nursing leadership. Attending this conference is an ideal complement to an online MSN program or on-campus graduate curriculum, and a strong opportunity to connect with others navigating the same career transition.

Nurse Practitioner Conferences to Check Out

Nurse practitioners have a growing roster of conferences tailored to their advanced scope of practice, continuing education requirements, and evolving role in healthcare. From the largest national NP events to focused clinical retreats, the following conferences are worth building into your professional development calendar.

AANP National Conference

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) National Conference is the largest national conference for nurse practitioners of all specialties—and it’s one of the most comprehensive NP education events in the country. You can expect to see hundreds of expert faculty sessions, on-demand courses, and hands-on workshops, with up to 32 CE contact hours available for in-person attendees. Sessions cover practical, clinically oriented, evidence-based content across diverse NP roles, patient populations, and practice settings, plus current national and state legislative, regulatory, and practice issues affecting NPs. Virtual attendance is available, which is a flexible option for NPs managing demanding clinical schedules.

ICN NP/APN Network Conference

Endorsed by the American Nurses Association (ANA), the International Council of Nurses (ICN) NP/APN Network Conference is a global gathering connecting NPs and advanced practice nurses from around the world to explore themes of innovation, equitable access, and impact in advanced practice nursing. Keynote speakers, collaborations, and a renewed focus on the future of the NP role make this an ideal event for nurses with interests in global health or health policy.

National Nurse Practitioner Symposium

Held each summer in the Rocky Mountain retreat of Keystone, Colorado, the National Nurse Practitioner Symposium combines approximately 100 sessions and workshops over four days with a setting designed to help NPs recharge. Attendees earn up to 23.75 CE contact hours—including 10 hours of pharmacology—through evidence-based, clinically focused education spanning self-care for the busy nurse practitioner, barriers to care, and a wide range of clinical topics. It’s a highly regarded event for NPs who want relevant, practical continuing education in an environment that feels far from the daily pace of clinical work.

NPACE Conference

Founded by nurse practitioners and run by NPs for NPs, Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education (NPACE) provides focused CE conferences designed for busy clinical schedules. NPACE offers multiple conference opportunities throughout the year across different formats and locations, making it a practical resource for NPs who need flexible CE options.

How to Choose the Right Nursing Conference for You

With so many options available, choosing the right nursing conference comes down to a few key factors: where you are in your career, your specialty focus, how many CE credits you need, your budget, and whether you prefer to attend in-person or online. Use the chart below to quickly match a conference to your situation.

1. Check your employer’s professional development benefits. Some healthcare organizations offer reimbursement for conference registration, travel, and lodging. Ask your manager or HR team about your annual professional development budget before registering.
2.  Register early. Popular conferences can sell out. Early registration may also offer the lowest pricing, so planning ahead can save both stress and money.
3. Look for member pricing. Most professional nursing organizations offer significant registration discounts to members. If you’re not yet a member of an organization like the AANP, ANA, or Sigma, it’s worth calculating whether membership dues plus the discounted conference rate is less than the standard registration fee.
4. Consider online and hybrid options. In-person attendance offers the richest networking experience, but several conferences—including the AANP National Conference—offer virtual access that can work well for nurses with limited travel budgets or demanding schedules. Chamberlain’s own commitment to flexible learning formats, including hybrid and online options, reflects how the profession is adapting to meet nurses where they are.

Advance Your Nursing Career Beyond the Conference Room

Attending a nursing conference can be a powerful investment in your career, but the biggest leaps in professional growth often happen in the classroom. For nurses ready to take that next step, Chamberlain University offers flexible, CCNE-accredited nursing degree programs built around how nurses actually live and work.

Chamberlain’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is available in campus/hybrid and online options. The standard BSN can be completed in as few as three years. A Fast Track option offers tuition savings and can be finished in under three years,¹ while the fastest BSN path is designed to take just over two years and also offers substantial savings.¹

For RNs ready to advance, Chamberlain’s Master of Science in Nursing program offers RN to MSN and online options. Whether you’re building toward a nurse practitioner role, a leadership position, or an advanced clinical specialty, Chamberlain’s graduate programs are designed to fit alongside a working nurse’s life.

Every conference you attend, every CE credit you earn, and every new skill you bring back to your unit is a step forward. Chamberlain is here to help make those steps count—with accredited nursing programs that support your career, your goals, and your patients.

Interested in learning more? Explore Chamberlain’s nursing programs and find the path that’s right for you.

Chamberlain University, an HLC-accredited institution, offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs in nursing and healthcare professions. With a growing network of campuses and robust online programs, Chamberlain continues to build on more than 135 years of excellence in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals.

¹Time and cost savings may vary by student. Savings amounts assume full time enrollment and transfer of eligible general education and science credits; transfer credit acceptance is not guaranteed.