The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) brings together thousands of nurses and other healthcare professionals who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families during its National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI, #NTI2026), with the theme “On Purpose.”
For more than 50 years, NTI has been the premier conference for acute, critical and progressive care nursing education. The conference is being held May 17-20 at the San Diego Convention Center, with the nearby Marriott Marquis & Marina hotel also hosting official events.
AACN President Rebekah Marsh, BSN, RN, CCRN, is a clinical nurse educator for acute care/telemetry at Harborview Medical Center, UW Medicine, Seattle, affiliated with the University of Washington.
“Attending NTI is often a spark for connection, collaboration and growth, with an impact far beyond the conference agenda,” Marsh said. “As the largest segment of the healthcare workforce, nurses have the power to inspire a shift in culture and build the healthcare system we envision, driven by the needs of patients and families where acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. Together, we are moving forward ‘On Purpose’ and building the future for our profession and our patients.”
The NTI experience offers nearly 50 clinical practice and professional development topics, allowing attendees to hone their skills while learning and networking with leading experts in critical care and colleagues from across the country.
NTI learning opportunities offer the following formats:
- Educational Sessions: More than 200 sessions are offered during the conference and available on-demand through Oct. 31. Sessions are 60, 75 or 150 minutes and offer CE contact hours.
- SuperSessions: Large sessions for all attendees, featuring motivational keynote speakers and AACN leaders, discuss professional success, current and future trends, and/or national and global issues.
- Pharmacotherapeutic Content: Activities with pharmacotherapeutic credit help APRNs fulfill their educational requirements for licensure and certification renewals. Pharmacotherapeutic credit is designated based on the time dedicated to pharmacotherapeutic content within the activity.
- Posters: Digital posters on Evidence-Based Solutions and Research, Beacon Award for Excellence Journey, AACN Chapter Best Practices and CSI Academy Innovations are offered during the conference and after the conference through Oct. 31.
- Sunrise/Sunset Sessions: These sessions are sponsored by exhibitors and cover acute, progressive and critical care topics. Sessions are 60 minutes long. CERPs are available.
- ExpoEd Education: Exhibitors provide sessions covering acute, progressive and critical care topics. Sessions are 30 minutes, and CERPs are available.
NTI includes the Critical Care Exposition, the largest and most comprehensive trade show expressly for acute, progressive and critical care nurses. More than 300 exhibits spread over 200,000 square feet encompass cutting-edge healthcare equipment, devices, supplies and career opportunities.
Following the in-person conference, AACN will offer NTI Virtual, June 15-17, an online experience with SuperSessions, 48 facilitator-led educational sessions with live Q&A, meaningful networking opportunities, and 200 on-demand sessions through Oct. 31.
For NTI 2026, participants can earn up to 37.75 CE contact hours, which are calculated on a 60-minute hour and determined by the number of learning activities a registered NTI participant completes. Learners must view/read the entire learning activity and complete the associated evaluation, as well as the program evaluation, to be awarded CE contact hours or CERP credit. No partial hours or credit will be awarded.
The complete conference program with all educational sessions and special events offered in San Diego is available online at www.aacn.org/nti.
About the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition: Established in 1974, AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI) represents the world’s largest educational conference and trade show for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families. Bedside nurses, nurse educators, nurse managers, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners attend NTI.
About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: For more than 55 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. AACN is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with more than 134,000 members and over 170 chapters in the United States.
