CONFERENCE

Introduction
Conference programme may be used in internal or external training.
These programmes can be valuable if they satisfy a training need and are
thoughtfully planned. A careful selection of topics and speakers will increase thee
effectiveness of this training device.
Meaning
It is meeting of large group, organized to discuss current problems and its
specifies to provide a workable solution.
Definition
Conference is to confer and discuss to provide an exchange of ideas or
information by two or more individuals.
- Loretta
The term conference is used to mean any coming together or two or more
individuals in a meeting for the purpose of giving or exchanging ideas.
- Marrelli
Objectives of conferences
a) Cognitive
b) Affective
a. Cognitive objectives
 To develop and critical abilities
 To develop the abilities of expressing his own feelings and observations
 To make sensitive towards the problems of the area
b. Affective objectives
 To develop the tendency to study a fact or concept in broader perspective
 To develop the tendency of emotional balance
 To respect and tolerate anti- ideas criticism by others.
Types
1. Nursing care conferences
2. Team conference
3. Individual conference

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 4. Group conference
1) Nursing care conference
The nursing care conference is to confer and discuss to provide an
exchange of information and expert opinion about nursing care of patient.
Members of clinical conference
 Learner
 Practicing nurses
 Ward sisters
 Nursing superintendent
 Nurse educator
 Patient
Types
 Pre clinical
 Post clinical
Pre clinical
The students share information about upcoming experiences, ask
questions, express concerns and seeks clarification about plans of care. This
conferences provide opportunities for faculty to clarify student misconceptions,
identify the problem and learn about student thinking.
Post clinical
The student and faculty discuss about the clinical experiences, debrief,
analyze the clinical situations, clarifying the doubts and identify problems and
developing the solutions.
Objectives
 Provide opportunity to evaluate the nursing care of a patient and to
discuss possible solutions
 Increase the quality of nursing care
 Increase the level and quality of communication between nursing staff in
the care of patient
 Provide learning experiences to students

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Planning and conducting clinical experience
 Conferences should not be free wheeling, spur – of – the
movement and adlibbing sessions.
 While planning the conference we should consider the curriculum
and learner.
 Topics, process, strategies and methods of evaluation should be
planned
 Prior permission should take from the authority if conducted in
conference hall and circular should sent to all the participants with
date and time.
 Conference involves oral reporting, discussion and exchange of
information and views about on going care of patient. The active
participation of the student should be encouraged.
 The discussion should focus on total care of patient includes patient
life situation, emotional status, specific nursing care given to the
patient.
All conference should use the problem solving approach. The steps are
 Identifying
 Defining and analyzing a problem
 Collecting the data
 Staffing possible solutions
 Testing these solutions
 Making conclusions recommendations
Advantages
1. Provides an opportunity to exchange of information and extent opinion about
nursing care.
2. Provides opportunities for student to bring the gap between the theory and
practice
3. Students can develop critical thinking and clinical making decision skills.
Limitations

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  It requires well planning and it takes time to conduct conference
 Students should be familiar with the patient
 Patient cooperation necessary
 Student requires pre reading and general information regarding the topic
and patient.
 Requires highly talented faculty
 Active student participation cannot obtained at all times
2) Team conference
Definition
Team conferences at which various members of the health team meet to
review their findings about patient to develop a combined plan of care or to
review the patient progress.
Features
 During the day after the patients have receives their morning care the
team members sit down together in conference.
 This team approach implies a sharing of knowledge among faculty as well
as students.
 One team can then relieve for another.
 If well planned and conducted the conference requires no more than half
or three fourths of an hour.
 Informality is maintained with each team member contributing freely
 The head nurse helps a new team leader in planning and conducting the
conference but she does not take it.
Three parts of conference
 Reports by each team member on her patients
 Planning care for new patients and changing plans as needed for others
 Planning next day assignment

Team members
 Nurses aides

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  Practical nurses
 Student nurses
Functions of team members
 Members are encouraged to ask questions of one another in order that all
may be fully informed relative to each patients symptoms, prognosis, the
results of care, and suggestions for meeting the patients needs.
 Each team member knows for which patients she is to have full
responsibility.
 Assignments for the following day are made in relation to the condition of
the patients and the time required for their care.
 Any parts of the care which will be given by some one, the way these
activities are to be made.
 The other members of the team prepare patients for the morning meal.
 Each members care for her own patients and those of the leader are
divided among other members.
Functions of the team leader
 He makes changes in the plan for patient care during conference
 Major changes and new plans are written later when there is time to
organize them properly.
 The team leader gives whatever assistance the nurse needs receives and
approves the plan.
 Some team leaders assign themselves the talking of morning
temperatures.
 This gives a chance to converse with each patient.
Advantages
1. The abilities of each staff members are more likely to be recognized and
fully utilized.
2. Cooperation and coordination among team members raises, staff morale
and generally improves the functioning of the staff as whole.
3. Increased availability of professional nursing.

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Disadvantages
 It varies a great deal of cooperation and communication from all staff.
 Some efficiency is lost due to these demands for increased interaction
among staff members.
 More staff members deliver care to each unit, potentially leading to
fragmented care.
3) Individual conference
An individual conference involve two people while a group conference includes
more than two individuals.
4) Group conference
Group conference includes more than two individuals; the group should be
small enough to permit each member to participate.
Personnel who attend group conference
- entire staff nurse (practical) and aides
- New students
- Conference conducted by student nurse, staff nurse, the head nurse
Functions
 Specific points in the nursing care of individuals patients.
 The head nurse should encourage the questions
 Reports of patient with detail history
 Plan for nursing care of patient should be discussed briefly
 New hospitalized or ward routines should be carefully explained before
they are instituted.
Suitable time and place of conference
 Group conference may held at any period of the day.
 Scheduled for the same hour of the day, once a week, 3 times a weak or
daily.
 Plan immediately following report of the head nurse.
Advantages

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  Provides opportunity to exchange of information and expect opinion about
nursing care.
 Develop critical skill and decision making skill.
 Satisfying both staff and patients as well.
 Increases abilities each staff.
Disadvantages
 Chairs are essential
 Patient may overhear discussion
 Some people are difficulty to stand for long time.
Phases of conference
i) Opening phase
ii) Working phase
iii) Closing phase
i) Opining phase
It is the first two minutes of the conference; the task is here to make a
commitment to work of a problem.
ii) Closing phase
The task of the working phase is to arrive at a consensus on problem
identification and problem.
iii) Closing phase
Once the group has worked through problem solving and has decided on
solutions, the next phase is closure.
Content of conference
o Nursing management of patients with particular disease
o Common errors likely to be committed by students in clinical area.
o Any deficiencies noted in the nursing care delivery by students in the
clinical area.
o Updating procedures
o Patient care implications while administrating drugs
o Cost effective use of supplies and equipments

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 o Infection control
o Proper waste disposal
o Ward routines
o Interpersonal relationship with patients
o Interpersonal relationship with other team members.
o Ethical and legal issues related to nursing care.
Organization of conference
A conference consists of twenty or thirty participants to thousands
participants in one meeting. The conferences are organized periodically or
annually. In the conference of the meet in members of the organization and
experts of related fields are accordingly.
The conference, dates, days, time and place is finalize before and
communicated to the participants accordingly.
A conference is or organized in three stages
i.) First stage
ii) Second stage
iii) Third stage
First stage
At the first stage the beginning of the meeting of a conference the
participants are registrated according to the schedule.
 Chief gust does the inauguration and keynote of the conference is given
by the president.
 The activities of the conference are organized under direction of the
president.
 The large group is divided into small groups to discuss the different
aspects of problem or theme of the conference.
 The groups meet in different rooms to discuss specific aspect.
Second stage

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 At the second stage group activities are organized. The convener of the
group organizes and conducts the group discussions. The schedule of the group
is designed by the convener.
 The papers are presented on theme of work assigned to the group.
 To concerns of the group present their report of the subtask assigned to
them.
 The members of conference are provided to react and comment on the
reports of the conveners.
 The relevant idea and practical suggestion are given place in the report.
 The reports of the conveners yield the outcome of the conference.
 A schedule for meeting about next conference is prepared at these stats.
Executive members are selected voting.
 The results of conference are published in new executive committee.
 At the end of vote of thanks is given for the participants for making the
conference successful.
 The members of the group place their point of view on the theme.
 The papers are followed by group discussion.
 The convener organizes the ideas presented by the members.
 The convener prepares a report of his group discussion on the presented
papers ideas and point of views of the members of the group.
Third stage
At the third stage all the groups assemble in conference hall where it is
inaugurated. It is known as valedictory function of the conference, it is prescribed
by president of the organization.
5. Initial conferences
Planned conferences should be held at regular intervals while the student
is on the ward the first being held toward the end of the first weak or not later
than beginning of the second week of the student experience.
Functions

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  Time and place for the conference convenient for both the head nurse
situation are arranged.
 To prepare for the conference the head nurse receives the notes on all
preceding conferences.
Advantages
 Student many times can suggest a solution to her own problems.
 Increased mutual confidence between staff and student.

Disadvantages
 Should be held in particular atmosphere
 Head nurse should formulate specific goals.
Faculty role
 Being supportive of sharing information
 Being flexible yet keeping the discussion focused and moving in a
meaningful way.
 Encourage the active participation of students by posing ideas, providing
clues and lend statements.
 Providing feedback in a non-threatening way
 Felicitating group process
Summary
Conference programme may be used in internal or external training. The
main types of conferences are nursing care conferences, team conferences,
individual, group and initial conferences. These are having various functions.
Conclusion
Conferences are used for giving instruction or exchanging ideas
information. Though this conference may problems comes to conclude or solved.
Bibliography
 Jean Barrett (2002) “ward management and teaching” konark
publishers(p), Newdelhi, Pp:357-4019, 257-259

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  Harold koontz (1990)”Essentials of management” 5 th edition, library of
congress cataloging publication data, Newyork, Pp: 279-281
 Basavanthappa (2005) “Nurse eucaton” 1 st education, Jaypee publications
New Delhi, Page No: 308-396.
 Rose O.Lippincott “Jurnal of Nursing Administration” J.B Lippincott
company, November 11, 1990, Vol:20, PP:43-46
 T.M Marrelu”The Nurse Managers Survival Guide” 2 nd edition, 1997,
Mosby company, New Delhi, PP:127-130
Net reference: http://technology, Vaa. Alaska.Edu/AV/conferencingcom retrieved
on 1/05/2008 through www.google.com

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