One
Identify the educational session/conference you would like to attend.

1. Look for information that is relevant to your position and/or circumstances in your facility
2. The information you select should be outcomes based to help you and the organization grow - whether increasing productivity, cutting cost, or saving money.

EXAMPLE:
If your organization has a high rate of healthcare-acquired infections, search for an educational session that will help mitigate the problem. Focus on sessions that discuss infection control, CDC guidelines, etc.

Two
For the Annual Conference, identify the top 5-10 reasons how this educational event will add value to your organization.

EXAMPLE:
Gather the necessary knowledge to effectively manage staffing in your department. This can be of particular interest to your manager given all of the staffing and budget cuts that require you to do more with less.

Note: Be specific in providing examples the supervisor will identify as high value. Describe the reason(s) why you think this is a valuable investment for your career and the department. What are the key elements that would be most valuable to your supervisor?

Three
Anticipate questions. What are your supervisor's expectations of you and your department? How will attendance assist in meeting those expectations? How will your facility benefit from the knowledge gained?

Note: Set expectations for every session! This will assure you attend each educational session with a clear objective and purpose. What problems do you believe you may solve with the acquired knowledge?

Four
Schedule a 30 minute meeting with your supervisor and review the items above. Make sure that you are addressing the needs of the facility and your manager's.

Five
When you return, provide 3-5 new elements or best practices learned. Strategize how to implement them. Share your acquired knowledge with others in your department or facility.

Note: Share the knowledge in written form or over lunch and make sure that your supervisor knows about all you learned.

Six
Demonstrate the value and deliver results!