ASC NURSE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

AGENDA

As an ASC nurse leader, your operational responsibilities are diverse. This program* will focus on the areas where you can grow as a leader, improve your processes and efficiency, maintain compliance in an ever-changing and highly regulated environment, and better support your team.

The dynamic 2025 program features fan favorite keynote Heather Lambert and welcomes by popular demand, Nancy Norton, nurse and comedian. With 11 total sessions, including panels and workshops, we guarantee the highest quality of education, practical advice, and motivation specific to your unique role as an ASC nurse leader. 

Round Tables are back! Drawing on success from last year, the agenda features built in time to connect with other attendees and the option to participate in themed and facilitated round tables discussions.

Click the “details” links below to read course descriptions.

*This program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nurses, Provider Number 17841 for 9.25 CE Contact Hours. This program is pending approval for 9.25 hours of AEU credit and 1 hour of IPCH credit by BASC Provider #1016. Certificates of completion will be provided for all eligible attendees.

April 2, 2025 :
2:00pm - 5:00pm

Early Check In

April 3, 2025 :
7:00am - 7:50am

Check In & Breakfast

Check in for the conference and mingle with peers over breakfast.

7:50am - 8:00am

Conference Kickoff

  • Regina Boore   Courtney Leonis  

Welcome to the 2024 ASC Nurse Leadership Conference!

8:00am - 9:00am

KEYNOTE | Crafting Culture: Intentional Strategies for Organizational Success

  • Heather Lambert  

An intentional culture thrives on engaged team members and sustainable practices. In this dynamic session, we will delve into the key elements that foster a vibrant and healthy organizational culture. Participants will learn to identify, build, and sustain a purposeful culture that enhances employee engagement, safety, productivity, retention, and overall organizational performance. Through interactive discussions and real-world case studies, attendees will explore practical strategies for nurturing a positive and impactful work environment. This session is designed to equip you with actionable insights that can be immediately implemented, empowering you to cultivate a more intentional culture within your teams and organizations. Join us to discover how an intentional culture can transform your workplace and drive success.

9:00am - 9:15am

Break

9:15am - 10:15am

PANEL | Optimize Your Accreditation Relationship

  • Debra Stinchcomb  

Deemed status, provisional status, and partial compliance—navigating the complexities of accreditation can be overwhelming. This session aims to clarify these concepts by exploring four prominent ASC Accrediting Organizations (AOs): AAAHC, TJC, Quad A, and ACHC. Experts from each AO will join us for a panel discussion to address your pressing questions about standards and surveyors, including: Where can you find clarification on specific standards? How are surveyors trained, and what qualifications do they require? What is the process for developing and approving standards? How can you determine which AO best fits your ASC's needs? This session will provide valuable insights to help you understand your accreditation options and optimize your relationship with your chosen AO. Don’t miss this opportunity to empower your ASC with the knowledge needed to navigate the accreditation landscape confidently.

10:15am - 11:00am

Round Table / Break

Break or option to participate in themed and facilitated round tables discussions.

11:00am - 12:15pm

Benchmarking Excellence: Assessing your ASC’s Operational Performance

  • Regina Boore   Nancy Stephens  

This interactive presentation will guide participants through a comprehensive evaluation of their center’s operational performance, benchmarked against key industry standards. Attendees will complete a hands-on assessment, tailored to the ASC nurse leader, enabling them to rate and reflect on their center's performance across various operational metrics. The session aims to highlight areas for improvement while fostering a culture of continuous enhancement. By the end, nurse leaders will walk away with actionable insights to elevate operational effectiveness, ultimately driving better outcomes for both staff and patients.

12:15pm - 1:30pm

Lunch

Mingle with peers over lunch.

1:30pm - 2:30pm

The Journey to QAPI/IPC Mastery: Newbies vs. Groupies

  • Apryl McElheny  

All ASCs are required to have Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programs. Whether you’re a novice Newbie learning the basics or a experienced Groupie looking for renewed passion, this session is designed to meet you where you are on your professional journey to QAPI/IPC mastery. Through this course, you will expand your program’s findings beyond the walls of your ASC and uncover how rigorous QAPI/IPC practices can positively impact your broader community. Prepare to take your knowledge and skills to the next level—you might be surprised by the far-reaching benefits of your dedication to quality improvement and infection prevention.

2:30pm - 3:15pm

Round Table / Break

Break or option to participate in themed and facilitated round tables discussions.

3:15pm - 4:30pm

COMEDY KEYNOTE | The Power of Humor for Nurse Leaders

  • Nancy Norton  

Join Nancy Norton, RN, CHP (Certified Humor Professional) for an energizing and fast-paced session exploring the transformative power of humor in leadership, relationships, and personal well-being. Backed by evidence-based studies and enriched with real-life stories, this presentation offers uplifting antidotes to burnout and stress in the demanding world of healthcare. Nancy will also facilitate interactive peer-to-peer sharing, encouraging participants to reflect on moments when humor has helped them or their teams persevere. Discover how humor can be an essential tool for boosting morale, fostering resilience, and leading with positivity in challenging times.

4:30pm - 6:30pm

Networking Reception

Relax after a long day of sessions with an open bar, appetizers, conversation with peers and faculty, chair massages and prizes.

April 4, 2025 :
7:00am - 8:00am

Breakfast

Fuel up with breakfast before another full day of sessions!

8:00am - 9:30am

Anatomy of a Deposition

  • Debra Stinchcomb   Will Miller  

This informative session offers an in-depth exploration of the deposition process from both nursing and legal perspectives, with real-life examples to provide practical insights. Participants will learn the crucial steps to take when served with a subpoena and gain a clear understanding of the deposition process from start to finish. The presentation will equip attendees with essential skills and knowledge to effectively prepare for a deposition, ensuring they can approach the experience with confidence and professionalism. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of legal proceedings and protect your organization.

9:30am - 10:00am

Round Table / Break

Break or option to participate in themed and facilitated round tables discussions.

10:00am - 11:00am

PANEL | Navigating HR Management in the ASC: Insights from Nurse Leaders

  • Regina Boore  

This dynamic and engaging presentation features a diverse panel of ASC nurse leaders as they explore the complexities of human resource management in the ASC environment. Our panelists will share their unique experiences, discuss the challenges they’ve encountered, and present effective strategies for managing human resources in a fast-paced healthcare setting. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge and practical insights to enhance their leadership skills, improve workforce management, and create a thriving team culture in their own ASCs. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from experienced leaders and elevate your approach to HR management.

11:00am - 11:45am

Medical Staff Credentialing: What’s the Big Deal?

  • Crissy Benze   Vanessa Sindell  

Medical staff credentialing remains one of the top 10 cited deficiencies by CMS and accrediting organizations, and many ASCs still lack a formal peer review process. Managing the necessary documentation and ensuring medical staff participation can feel like a daunting task. This presentation will offer a comprehensive overview of the specific requirements for credentialing and peer review, providing practical strategies for implementing these processes effectively. Attendees will gain valuable insights to streamline credentialing, foster accountability, and maintain compliance, ultimately ensuring their ASC meets regulatory standards with confidence.

11:45am - 12:15pm

While You've Been Working…Regulatory Update Trivia

  • Apryl McElheny  

Staying current with the constant changes in regulations, standards, and best practices that govern the ASC world can feel like a never-ending race. Before you get dizzy trying to catch up, join us for a fun and interactive session designed to bring you up to speed on the most important updates from the past year. In this fast-paced game-style presentation, we’ll review key regulatory changes and developments that you may have missed while you were busy doing the hard work of running your ASC. Get ready to test your knowledge, learn what’s new, and leave prepared to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape with confidence!

12:15pm - 1:15pm

Lunch

Enjoy a final lunch with peers and faculty.

1:15pm - 2:30pm

WORKSHOP | Inner Spark, Outer Shine: Leading from Within to Lead Others

  • Laura Baldwin  

Today’s leaders are faced with an onslaught of challenges, typically putting their own wellness as a bottom priority. Understanding influencers that positively or negatively impact energy is essential to helping leaders be at their best. This interactive session will introduce you to the concepts of Energy Leadership and increase your awareness of six wellness influencers, as well as help you identify strategies that can positively impact you, your team, and your organization.

2:30pm - 3:30pm

BONUS WORKSHOP | Practicing Playful Presence

  • Nancy Norton  

Join award-winning comedian Nancy Norton, RN, CHP (Certified Humor Professional) for a lively and playful breakout session designed to help you lighten up and lead with more levity. Through experiential learning and improv, this session will guide you into the present moment STAT —where all the joy in life (and humor) happens naturally. You don’t need to be funny or try to be funny to invite more playful presence and joy into your life. Participants will engage in team-building improv games that foster creativity, connection, and spontaneous laughter. Get ready to share some laughs, build camaraderie, and leave with strategies to bring more levity into your leadership and everyday life!

3:30pm -

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