ABOUT OPANA'S CONFERENCE

The Ontario PeriAnesthesia Nurses Association is dedicated to the education of all of Ontario's perianesthesia nurses.  With this as their mission, OPANA continues to sponsor annual conferences, held in October every year since 1985. 

October was chosen as the time of year for the conferences since it follows the month when routine schedules return to normal:  September is the month for returning to school and work after months of nice weather and vacations.  October is early enough that it doesn't interfere with the hectic preparations for Christmas, and the conference is always planned after Thanksgiving and well before Hallowe'en.  October is cool enough to be comfortable, even if we risk the chance of rain.  The scenery is beautiful with the fall colours.

OPANA's conference brochure always references the season with the fall colours displayed throughout the brochure.  The brochure is mailed at the beginning of the summer each year to give perianesthesia nurses enough time to plan ahead, adjust their work schedules in order to be able to attend the conference.  Many hospitals prepare nurse's schedules up to 14 weeks in advance, so plenty of advanced notice for the conference is required in order to request days off for this weekend in October. 

An early bird rate for registration offers the organized registrant the opportunity of a significant savings.  Deadline for Early Bird Registration is August 31, 2008. Registration fees include:  2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 snacks, as well as a reduced rate for hotel rooms and two full days of interesting and relevant presentations. 

A hospitality suite is hosted by OPANA every Friday evening of the conference weekend.  Pre-registration is available at this event, one ticket for an alcoholic beverage and hot and cold snacks are supplied.  There is a cash bar and plenty of music and conversation with your peers.  Please join us to meet the OPANA volunteers who make this event possible.

Sponsors and exhibitors line the hallways mainly on the Saturday of every weekend offering the attendees the opportunity to learn about the latest equipment, supplies and technology available for use in their practice.  Vendors offer the conference attendees the ability to purchase many items:  books, clothing, Sigvaris support hose, and others.  OPANA's own Conference Committee organizes a looooong Silent Auction Table for the auction of special gifts and baskets.  OPANA's Board of Directors sells OPANA Wear (a line of clothing with the OPANA logo), OPANA pins, and other OPANA souvenir items.  There is always a 50/50 raffle ticket draw and many other activities.

Poster presentations are encouraged.  If you have recently, or if you will soon, produce a poster, please present it at the OPANA conference, entirely free!  We encourage displaying all of your work and will provide the space and poster board (please see "Call for Submissions of Abstracts for Oral or Poster Presentations" available to the left of this page for more details). 

At each conference, all attendees are given a "conference portfolio", a bag with the OPANA logo, and a variety of surprise items in each bag.  The conference brochure is complete with a "door prize" ticket, and draws are held throughout the two days for many prizes.

All in all, the conference is sure to be a great weekend every year.  This year's conference was held at the Sheraton Centre Hotel, Queen Street, Toronto on October 18, 19, 2008, in the Dominion Ballroom, second floor.  

Update:  As of May, 2008, OPANA's Conference has been given the name, "Inspirations", meaning a weekend full of motivational ideas and leading edge information.  Inspirations also refers to the A and B in ABC:  Airway and Breathing, the PeriAnesthesia Nurse's primary concerns in PeriAnesthesia nursing.

Reminder:  There will be no fall conference in 2009.  Plan on attending the National Conference hosted by OPANA in May, 2009.  Please use the link, "2009 National Conference Hotel Information" for more information.