Dietitian’s picks: The best of the best at the ASPEN nutrition science and practice conference

Congratulations! Your bags are packed and you’re headed to Las Vegas for ASPEN’s Nutrition Science and Practice Conference. The schedule is packed with cutting-edge research, hands-on training sessions, and CEUs galore! Here are some “don’t miss” events you must check out!

Monday, January 22, 2018

If you’re at the conference on Day 1, set your alarm clock early and get yourself to one of the daylong sessions beginning at 7 a.m. If you are a nutrition support beginner, head to the “Nutrition Support Fundamentals Course.” This will give you a great overview on all things nutrition support. If you are preparing for the CNSC exam, look no further.

However, if you are a more seasoned pro, choose instead the “Parenteral Nutrition Order Writing Workshop.” Here, you will be working in small groups and practice writing orders for sample patients.

✔ Hands-On training

✔ Interactive

✔ CEUs offered

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

For the early-risers, start your morning with a free breakfast and discuss blood glucose management with the “Metabolic Management of Enteral Nutrition in the ICU” presentation. The presentation is led by two of the premier nutrition support leaders who literally wrote the book (well, guidelines) on nutrition support for the critically ill. If you’d rather sleep in, make sure to attend the “Adult Nutrition Focused Physical Assessment” training. It’s a come-and-go type of training with various stations where you can learn how to incorporate this vital tool into your daily assessments.

Want to throw a wild card into your program? Check out “Enhancing Recovery After Surgery: Advancing Nutrition Care.” The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols have been gaining steam across the nation, and you won’t believe the impact that nutrition has on patient outcomes. Or maybe you will.

✔ Free food!

✔ Learn from premier experts

✔ Hands-On training

✔ Interactive

✔ CEUs offered

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

If you are a pediatric practitioner, Wednesday has some excellent presentations, including “Expert Crossfire on the Safe and Appropriate Use of Parenteral Nutrition in Critically Ill Adults and Children,” “Lipids for Little Ones,” and “Graduation Day: Facilitating a Successful Transition for Patients with Pediatric Onset Chronic Conditions (POCC) from Adolescent to Adult Care.”

For all practitioners, one of the most exciting presentations just might be the Center Stage Presentation entitled, “Advancements in Lipid Emulsions: The Emergence of Smoflipid®.” For the true nutrition support enthusiasts, this is a BIG deal, as Smoflipid® is the first blended lipid emulsion available in the United States. Until now, all IV fat emulsions were soy-based, which could be problematic for some patients.

However, Smoflipid® blends soybean oil with medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil. Find out how this hybrid product may alter your patients’ outcomes. Later in the day, don’t miss “Addressing Malnutrition in the Acute Care Setting: Innovative Practices” presentation to up your game when it comes to your malnourished patients.

✔ Free food!

✔ CEUs offered

✔ Pediatric-friendly

✔ Introduction of new products

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Still pumped up about the Smoflipid®? Thursday’s schedule has more lipid-related presentations, including, “Improving Patient Outcomes in Parenteral Nutrition: The Role of Lipid Emulsions” and “Alternative Lipids in Parenteral Nutrition—Learning from International Experiences.”

If your organization struggles with providing adequate nutrition to your ICU patients, make sure to check out “Lean Body Mass Preservation in the Critically Ill.” Finish out the day with “Bedside Tools to Assess Body Composition and Muscle Function” as the perfect complement to your newly acquired nutrition-focused physical exam skills.

✔ Free food!

✔ CEUs offered

✔ Specialist-friendly (Pediatric, GI, Oncology, Informatics, and Critical Care)

To see the full schedule for ASPEN’s Nutrition Science and Practice Conference, click here. Did you know you can also earn 19 CEU credits by attending virtually?

Dietitians On Demand is a nationwide staffing and recruiting company for registered dietitians, specializing in short-term, temporary and permanent-hire positions in acute care, long term care and food service positions. We’re dedicated to dietitians and helping them enhance their practice and excel in the workplace. Check out our job openings, request your coverage, or visit our store today!