2025 CNA Instructor Conference

EmpowerED: Embracing Innovation in CNA Education

We are thrilled to announced the 2025 CNA Instructor Conference has expanded to 1.5 days!

This year's conference is all about embracing innovation and fostering change in CNA education. Together, we’ll challenge traditional methods, share best practices and discover new approaches to unlock the potential of our students. Don't miss this opportunity to rejuvenate your teaching and make a lasting impact on your students' success!

• Registration is required. Walk-ins will not be permitted.
• Registration fee: $269.
• Registration deadline: Thursday, March 27 by 4 p.m. is the last day to register and pay.
• Cancellation deadline: Cancellations received by Thursday, March 27 at 4 p.m. will be eligible for a refund. No refunds will be issued after this date. Cancellation requests must be emailed to Continuing.Education@llcc.edu.

Register for CNA Conference

Date

• Thursday, April 10 & Friday, April 11, 2025
• Meet-and-greet: Thursday, April 10, 2025

Location

Northfield Inn, Suites and Conference Center, Springfield, IL
3280 Northfield Dr, Springfield, IL 62702

Hotel Information

If you are not local to the Springfield area and wish to stay overnight, rooms are available for a conference rate of $107/night on a first-come, first-served basis. All room reservations must be made by March 26.

• Northfield Inn, Suites and Conference Center, Springfield, IL 3280 Northfield, Dr., Springfield, IL 62702, 217-523-7900
• Ramada by Wyndham Springfield North, 3281 Northfield Dr. Springfield, IL 62702, 217-523-4000

Questions for our experts

If you have questions you would like to ask our panel of experts (IDPH, Education Coordinators, SIU-C Testing, or CNAEA) please submit your questions in advance via the online form. Questions will be collected and given to our presenters so they can provide a thorough and accurate answer. Thanks for your cooperation. 

Submit a Question

Agenda

Thursday, April 10

Friday, April 11

 9.5 CEUs

About the presenter

Matt Miller is a blogger, author, speaker and educator with more than 10 years of classroom experience. Miller is the author of six books, including "Ditch That Textbook," and has won awards for his teaching and writing. Miller is a Google Certified Innovator and Microsoft in Education Expert. He was named a 2023-24 Top 100 Influencer in EdTech by EdTech Digest. His "Ditch That Textbook" blog encourages tens of thousands of educators in more than 100 countries to use technology and creative ideas in teaching. You can email Matt at matt@DitchThatTextbook.com or follow him on X at @jmattmiller.

Concurrent Session One (8-8:50 a.m.)

1. Moving from PowerPoints to real life; How hands-on activities can be used to promote critical thinking and knowledge retention with Katherine Mullins & Christina Haag

Over the last few semesters we've looked for ways to make our materials more hands-on, in an attempt to assist in promoting critical thinking and knowledge retention. We've implemented numerous new hands-on scenarios and activities, but in particular, two of these activities have proven to be invaluable for our students. The first is an immersive "dementia experience", in which we mimic some of the symptoms of dementia while the student attempts to complete five simple tasks. This activity is utilized to help provide a better understanding of the sensory stimulation and struggles that may be hindering communication with the dementia resident. This activity also allows us to talk about specific barriers we may have seen in the clinical environment, why they might be happening, and how to overcome them. The second hands on activity is an escape room that focuses on compliance and emergency topics that were covered early in the semester. By the end of the semester, our students have often forgotten much of the first few chapters. We have devised an escape room, where they must work as a team to answer a series of clues based on this information, and "escape" to graduate from their CNA course. The addition of both activities has shown marked improvement on their knowledge retention for their final exam, and in how they critically think through patient situations we encounter in clinical. Even better, both were low cost to implement. 

Learning Objectives: Foster the use of student lead learning, in the escape room, to promote retention of key concepts.  Understand how hands-on activities/scenarios can be utilized to bring the challenges of dementia to life for the student and provide a chance to assess their critical thinking in action. Gain several budget friendly ideas on how you can provide hands-on learning, even when you have limited resources. 

     2. Spirituality and Health: Empowering the Future of Nursing with Pam Di Vito-Thomas

The ANA Code of Ethics Provision 5 indicates that nurses must be able to allow their wellness in all three facets of being physical, mental, and spiritual to enhance self-care and provide evidence-based practice (EBP) outcomes for patient-centered care. Notably, understandings of religion and spirituality are increasingly important to delineate the multiple pathways for EBP interventions for psychological and physiological health which spirituality may influence. In essence, developing a broader knowledge of spirituality and self-care may serve new ways of thinking about the dimensions of being, relating, and doing (Holt, 2027).

Learning Objectives: Identify new dimensions of being, relating, and doing that impact spirituality and self-care (Holt, 2027).  Reflect on strategies to teach CNAs students on self-care and spiritual practice. Pledge your personal self-care and spiritual practice to empower the future of nursing.  

     3. Guided Networking 1

Networking can be one of the most valuable aspects of any conference, but it can also feel overwhelming without the right approach. This guided networking session will provide you with the tools, strategies, and structure to build meaningful connections with fellow attendee. Facilitators will lead small group discussions and networking activities designed to break the ice and spark authentic conversations.

Learning Objectives: Attendees will explore and share practical methods for fostering student engagement, motivation, and retention in CNA programs, ensuring students stay connected and succeed in their learning journey. Participants will share and discuss solutions for overcoming challenges unique to CNA instruction, including addressing varying student skill levels, managing clinical settings, and adapting to changing industry standards.

Concurrent Session Two (9-9:50 a.m.)

1. Effective Transition to Professional Practice: Soft Skills Development with Tammi Davis 

Research indicates that healthcare workers who are new to the industry report feelings of overwhelm when facing real world practice along with diminished confidence and perceptions of not being supported in the workplace. This is especially true with individuals entering the field as Certified Nursing Assistants. This proposal will address issues related to the importance of interpersonal or "soft skills" development needed for effective transition into healthcare practice. 

Learning Objectives: Apply knowledge of the soft skills components needed for successful transition into professional practice such as: Professional Accountability, Effective Collaboration, Time and Task Management. 

     2. Working with LGBTQ+ Students in Higher Education with Irene Mulvey

When it comes to educational climates, students who identify as being a part of the LGBTQ+ population need specific support measures to be successful. This session will review stigmatizing events that contributed to gay and trans persons feeling unaccepted and out of place in society, and review interventions that faculty can implement to support these students.

Learning Objectives: Identify and discuss significant milestones in LGBTQ+ history, such as the Stonewall Riots, the declassification of homosexuality as a mental illness, and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights on campuses, and their relevance to today's educational environment. Define and explain key terms related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (e.g., LGBTQ+, cisgender, transgender, non-binary, queer, etc.). Learn effective strategies for supporting LGBTQ+ students, such as using inclusive language, respecting gender identities and pronouns, fostering safe spaces, and providing mental health resources.

     3. Guided Networking 2 moderated by Andrea France

Networking can be one of the most valuable aspects of any conference, but it can also feel overwhelming without the right approach. This guided networking session will provide you with the tools, strategies, and structure to build meaningful connections with fellow attendee. Facilitators will lead small group discussions and networking activities designed to break the ice and spark authentic conversations. 

Learning Objectives: Attendees will explore and share practical methods for fostering student engagement, motivation, and retention in CNA programs, ensuring students stay connected and succeed in their learning journey. Participants will share and discuss solutions for overcoming challenges unique to CNA instruction, including addressing varying student skill levels, managing clinical settings, and adapting to changing industry standards.

Concurrent Session Three (10-10:50 a.m.)

1. Refreshing Teaching Practices with Creative Assessment Strategies with Carrie Jarosinski

As the healthcare landscape evolves, so too must the approaches to training nursing assistants (CNAs). This session invites CNA instructors to embrace innovation in their teaching practices by exploring creative, practical, and student-centered strategies for assessment and learning. By integrating innovative assessment methods in the classroom, lab, and clinical settings, educators can foster a compassionate, engaged, and empowered workforce. Through a series of interactive discussions and activities, participants will explore new ways to assess student learning that go beyond traditional exams and quizzes. The session will provide immediate, actionable strategies that promote active student engagement, autonomy, and creativity. In addition, instructors will learn how to design and redesign assessments that encourage critical thinking, real-world application, and personal reflection, which are essential for building not only clinical competency but also compassion in future nursing assistants. This presentation will also provide opportunities for instructors to reflect on their current practices, gain inspiration for adapting innovative assessments to their unique teaching contexts, and leave with a variety of strategies that can be applied right away. 

Learning Objectives: Incorporate Active and Creative Learning Strategies - Participants will be able to design and implement innovative teaching strategies that encourage CNA students to actively engage in their own learning process, fostering both critical thinking and hands-on skill development.  Design Meaningful, Real-World Assessments - Instructors will learn how to create assessments that promoting problem-solving, compassion, and patient-centered care while measuring both technical and soft skills.  Foster Student Autonomy and Reflection - Participants will gain practical tools to help CNA students take ownership of their learning through opportunities for creativity, leading to greater student satisfaction and improved outcomes in clinical practice. 

     2. Loss of Independence-A Student Empathy Exercise with Lori Steele & Mandie Miller

Caring and having empathy are the cornerstone of nursing/healthcare. Teaching empathy to our students can be challenging as students aren’t always able to “walk a mile in their shoes” when we begin discussing why residents act the way they do in nursing homes or hospitals. Modeling behaviors is one of the most successful tactics for teaching skills in our Health Occupations programs and is an essential first step in teaching empathy. In the spirit of active learning, this hands-on workshop will provide you with an eye-opening exercise to initiate the “feelings” of empathy. The loss of independence activity will assist students in experiencing some patient/resident emotions, feelings, and thoughts. 

Learning Objectives: Understand the Role of Empathy in CNA Training: Participants will learn how the loss of independence activity can help CNA students better understand the feelings and needs of residents/patients. Experience and Reflect on Empathy: Participants will engage in the hands-on activity to personally experience the emotions and challenges residents may face, fostering a deeper understanding of empathy in caregiving. Integrate Empathy Activities into CNA Training: Participants will develop strategies to effectively use empathy-building exercises in their CNA classrooms to enhance student understanding and compassionate care practices.

     3. Guided Networking 3

Networking can be one of the most valuable aspects of any conference, but it can also feel overwhelming without the right approach. This guided networking session will provide you with the tools, strategies, and structure to build meaningful connections with fellow attendee. Facilitators will lead small group discussions and networking activities designed to break the ice and spark authentic conversations.

Learning Objectives: Attendees will explore and share practical methods for fostering student engagement, motivation, and retention in CNA programs, ensuring students stay connected and succeed in their learning journey. Participants will share and discuss solutions for overcoming challenges unique to CNA instruction, including addressing varying student skill levels, managing clinical settings, and adapting to changing industry standards.