Building Your APNA Annual Conference Poster Presentation

Top Tips:

• As you build your poster, remember that it must include: title, authors, disclosure, learning outcome, 3 references, and citations for external content/images.
• Carefully review the guidelines for copyright and permissions: When in doubt, get permission!
• Be current, evidence-based, objective, and recovery-oriented with your content.

Your Content

• Present current, clinically relevant, evidenced-based content to meet your educational outcome.
  • Include case studies and examples where applicable.
  • Content must not be promotional or advertise specific products or services.
    • e.g. Use the generic names of medications instead of brand names, or refer to the type of device rather than a product name.
• Provide a balanced view of the topic and be objective when reporting research.
  • Disclose off-label use or use of medications/products where applicable.
  • Discuss the safety and adverse effects of any medications/products presented.
  • Discuss new applications or potential changes to the FDA status.
• Support assertions and clinical studies, theories, models, etc. with references.
  • Presenters are responsible for accurate and complete references.
  • References should be evidence-based and from within the last 5 years.

Your Language

As a presenter, you have a critical opportunity to counter stigma and bias through the use of person-first, recovery-focused language. Here are examples of simple and practical ways to reframe the conversation:

Resources

• APA General Principles for Reducing Bias
• Recovery-Oriented Language Guide
• Guidelines on Inclusive Language & Images in Scholarly Communication

Your Poster

• Recommended Poster Size: 3′ x 5′, 3.5′ x 5′, or 4′ x 5′
  • This allows space on the board for posting business cards, abstracts, & references for people to take with them.
  • Posters will be on 4 feet tall x 6 feet wide boards
• You must include on your poster:
  • Title and authors
  • Disclosure(s), including any off-label uses of medications
    • If you have none, use this text: “The author has no financial relationships to disclose.”
  • One learning outcome
  •  3 scientific references from within the last five years
    • Additional references can be uploaded as a file or made available via QR code
  • Citations for all images (graphs, charts, pictures, etc.), videos, etc. and evidence-based content
    • Remember to obtain permission for live and online use and upload these permissions with your program materials

Poster Examples

Here are two examples of past APNA poster presentations that you can use as models:
Poster Example 1
Poster Example 2

Poster Creation Resources

You’re not required to use these or any other template(s) for your poster.

• Poster Templates in PowerPoint
• Free Poster Presentation Templates: Includes the size for which the template is designed (for example, 42” Tall x 60” Wide, which is a great size for our boards).
  • Remember to cite this site if you use a template!
• Guide for Poster Creation

Poster Review

When you submit your poster with your program materials, it will be reviewed by an APNA nurse educator to ensure that it meets requirements for ANCC nursing continuing professional development contact hours. Keep in mind that any posters that contain images/content without appropriate permissions or citations will not be included in poster judging or in the online poster gallery.

Printing Your Poster

• Print your poster at a professional printer beforehand and bring it with you
  • Travel tubes can be purchased to transport the poster on an airplane. If you use one, make plans for storage once your poster is set up – there is no storage available in the poster hall.
  • Your poster will be attached to the board with push pins, so do not print on foam board or anything too thick for the pins to get through to attach the poster to the board.
• Pushpins are provided with the poster boards in the poster hall
• There are no tables or chairs in the poster area, so additional display items (e.g. handouts or business cards) should be hung on the board itself.

See a full breakdown of what to expect at the conference

Permissions & Copyright

• Obtain permission to reproduce any copyrighted materials such as graphs, charts, logos (including hospital or university logos), screenshots, cartoons, audio, movie clips, etc.
  • University or hospital logos may not appear on your poster without documentation of the university’s/hospital’s permission. Obtain permission by contacting your marketing department (emails are fine!). You will also need permission from the university/hospital if you include a photo of the grounds or buildings.
  • If you are using a photo of people, you will need to provide written permission from each individual in the photo for it to be used.
• Obtain permission for both the live and online use.
  • If partial permission is obtained, indicate for which format permission has been provided.
  • If permission is not provided to APNA, the poster will not be included in poster judging and not posted in the online poster gallery.
• Cite sources on your poster and upload copies of correspondence granting permission for use.
  • Permissions must be uploaded by the Program Materials Deadline of August 4.
  • If permission was obtained via email, simply copy & paste the correspondence into a word document and upload it with your program materials.