NCANS Annual Convention 2025

Join us in Wilmington, NC, for the NCANS 2025 Annual Convention and chart your course to a successful nursing career! Set along North Carolina’s scenic coast, this event brings together nursing students and professionals from across the state to dive into essential topics like new grad resilience, navigating burnout, and building confidence in clinical practice. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and set sail toward a thriving future in nursing! The NCANS Annual Convention is a great way to network with fellow students, exhibitors, and potential future employers. A half-day NCLEX Review is offered, a Pharmacology Made Easy session, as well as presentations on a variety of topics relevant to you. This annual event is a great way to network and learn! It also will host an exhibit hall and offer uninterrupted time for networking! YOU are the Future!

Location: Hotel Ballast

301 N Water Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Date: February 21 -23, 2025

Theme: Navigating the Shift from Classroom to Clinical Practice

Early bird pricing closes January 26th, 2025 at 11:59 PM!

View the Offical Convention Schedule

Paper Registration Form

Cost

Early Bird Regular

NSNA member $120 $137

Non-NSNA member $168 $189

Faculty $126 $137

** Please note that these prices are for event registration and does not include hotel pricing **

Stay

Attendees have the option of staying at the Hilton Ballast. If they choose to do so, they should book their stay online at this link or call (1-800-HILTONS). Attendees may also choose to stay at alternative places in the nearby area. This is up to the individual to find. NCANS is not responsible for booking any locations to stay. Parking is not included with the hotel but there is parking available for a fee at the hotel and in the surrounding areas.

Book a room at Hilton Ballast

Food

Light snacks at the night 1 networking event, day 2 breakfast and lunch, and day 3 breakfast will be included with your registration cost. Wilmington has many wonderful nearby restaurants for other meals!

*If you have allergies, please send us an email after you register!

Dress

Night one: Cruise wear—> The dress code for our cruise-themed networking reception is "vacation chic" — think breezy jumpsuits, sundresses, resort-style outfits, Hawaiian shirts, linen pants, or casual polos!

Day two: Business Professional -> classic pieces like tailored suits, dress shirts, and ties and conservative dresses, skirts, or pantsuits. Gender-neutral options often incorporate structured blazers and neutral-colored slacks or skirts that align with a formal business dress code

Day three: School spirit -> Represent your school by wearing their gear!

Meet Our Speakers

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Meet Our Speakers 〰️

Randy Hamm, DNP, RN, CCRN

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Randy Hamm is the Executive Director of Nursing and Practice at Barton College, bringing over 20 years of expertise in nursing and emergency care. A dedicated leader and educator, he has earned recognition for his scholarly contributions, clinical leadership, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals.
View a full bio of Dr. Hamm here
Dr. Hamm will speak on his experiences transitioning from classroom to practice and provide some insight as to what may be of benefit to new nurses
Bonnie Hamrick, MSH, BSN, RN, PMH-BC, CNML

Speaker
Bonnie Hamrick is a highly experienced nurse with over 21 years in healthcare, specializing in psychiatric mental health and certified in both Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing and Nurse Management Leadership. She is passionate about fostering resilience in high-stress environments, with accomplishments including published research on aggression screening tools to reduce workplace violence.
View a full bio of Bonnie Hamrick here
Bonnie Hamrick will speak on “Resilence and the New Graduate Nurse”
Sara Griffith, PhD, MSN, RN, NE-BC

Speaker
Dr. Sara Griffith serves as the Chief Nursing Officer for the North Carolina Board of Nursing, leveraging 24 years of experience as a registered nurse with expertise in cardiac surgery and cardiology. As a leader in nursing regulation, she oversees departments such as Investigations, Education, and Strategic Planning, while also editing The Bulletin and managing the Board’s social media to advance patient safety and professional education.
View a full bio of Dr. Griffith here
Dr. Griffith will speak on “Friend, Foe, or Partner: Understanding the Role of the Board of Nursing”
Dr. Lisa M. Foster, DNP, RN, NPD-BC

Speaker
Dr. Lisa Foster is a distinguished registered nurse with over 38 years of experience in nursing and more than 20 years dedicated to nursing education. A board-certified Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPD-BC), she is passionate about lifelong learning, professional development, and fostering community involvement among nurses.
View a full bio of Dr. Foster here
Dr. Foster will speak on “Generational Diversity in the Workplace”
Jody Cherniak, MSN, MBA-HCM, RN, VHA-CM

Speaker
Ms. Cherniak has been the Durham VA RN Transition to Practice Program Coordinator since 2019 and brings over 30 years of experience in nurse professional development, acute care, and ICU nursing. She facilitates staff learning events, mentors nurses, coordinates programs, and speaks at national conferences on topics for nursing educators.
View a full bio of Ms. Cherniak here
Ms. Cherniak will speak on “Vital Signs of Success: Landing your first nursing job”
Madison Lane, RN

New Grad Panel Member— ER
Madison Lane, RN, began her nursing journey at Catawba Valley Community College, earning her ADN in 2024 and now pursuing her BSN at Appalachian State University, with graduation anticipated in July 2025. As the former President of CVCC's ANS chapter and current Vice President of NCANS, she is dedicated to fostering strong connections between NCANS and local chapters while making a meaningful impact in emergency medicine.
Julia Chan, BSN, RN

New Grad Panel Member— Research
Julia Chan, BSN, RN, graduated in May of 2024 from the Pennsylvania State University. During her nursing school career, she served on the nominations and elections committee for the student nurses association of Pennsylvania (SNAP); and served as the Breakthrough to Nursing Director for the National Student Nurses’ Association and was the first student representative to the ANA commission against racism. She is currently a special advisor to the NCANS board and works as a nurse on Duke’s Early Phase Research Unit. In the fall, she’ll be attending Duke for a Masters in Population Health Sciences.
Alexis Ross, BSN, RN

New Grad Panel Member— NICU
Alexis Ross graduated with her BSN from North Carolina Central University and served as SNA president for her nursing department. She was involved with SNA at both the state and national level, serving as NCANS breakthrough to nursing chair and NSNA resolutions committee member. She is currently a Neonatal ICU nurse at UNC Health and prospective PhD student, passionate about research and social determinants of health.
Caroline Roseman, BSN, RN

New Grad Panel Member— CICU
Caroline Roseman is a Registered Nurse in the Cardiac ICU at UNC Medical Center and a recent graduate of UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Nursing, where she held multiple leadership roles, including president of NCANS and her school's nursing chapter. Passionate about mentoring and advancing critical care, she plans to pursue CCRN certification, participate in unit committees, and precept future nurses.
View a full bio of Caroline Roseman here