In her address, AACN President Theresa “Terry” Davis celebrated 50 years of NTI. “That’s five decades of education, inspiration and making a profound difference.” She acknowledged that the sea change in nursing we've experienced is not just a moment in history, but a continual movement. Looking to the future, she encouraged nurses to embrace that wave of change. “Let’s continue to face the future with courage and curiosity, and let the theme of Rising Together be our guiding light.”
During AACN President-elect Jennifer Adamski’s address, she shook things up by revealing the new theme, Courage to Soar, early in her speech. Taking risks and finding courage has been a continual theme in Adamski’s life, and she explored “the challenge and the gift of courage” by imagining a day without AACN and without nurses. “It takes courage to be a nurse. It takes so much courage to keep showing up. Every hour. Every day. A day – even an hour – without each of us changes the face of healthcare for the worse. Together, we have the Courage to Soar.”