BCEN Learn Live Destin
Join your fellow emergency and critical care nurses in Destin, Florida October 13–15, 2025 for a nurse-led, nurse-driven continuing education event hosted by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing!
With 14+ accredited CEs offered in TED Talk-style clinical sessions, nursing networking events, and wellness and relaxation activities, you’ll learn and earn from the brightest minds in emergency nursing — all along the beautiful white sand beaches of the Emerald Coast!

Continuing Education

Earn 14+ CEs
Continuing education is the key to staying current with best practices in nursing. Earn accredited CE contact hours and and take home actionable knowledge you can use your next shift.
SESSION AGENDA
Incredible Speakers
Our conferences feature a spectacular lineup of subject matter experts who will reignite your passion for nursing, with fast-paced clinical sessions all conveniently located in the same conference hall.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Pre-Conference Workshops
SMART – Stress Management and Resiliency Training Monday, October 13, 1-5PM $100 | 3.5 CEs
The health of our nurses is perhaps the most important consideration for delivering excellent patient care. Achieving optimal outcomes for the patient and family requires nurses to function at the highest level of health, both physically and psychologically. Unfortunately, the ANA's Health Risk Appraisal report found that 82% of nurses believe they're at a significant level of risk for illness due to workplace stress. How can we help? Employers can create a healthy workplace and promote interventions that contribute to nurses' personal health, ultimately helping to retain nurses in the profession. The SMART Program will give attendees an opportunity to better understand what stress is and how to explore the elicitation of the relaxation response. It will also address lifestyle enhancements as well as additional well-being resources for nurses and any other individuals who are interested in overall well-being.
Facilitator: Kristen Gilmore MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, NE-BC, NC-BC
Space is limited to the first 30 registrations, so don't wait to get your tickets!

Pediatric Pitfalls Monday, October 13, 1-5PM $100 | 3.5 CEs
Caring for a critically ill child can sometimes cause anxiety and fear, even in the most seasoned of medical professionals. Children have many of the same diseases and conditions as adults, yet the assessment and management principles will differ in some areas and be quite similar in others. This session will review the essential components of a rapid pediatric assessment, along with some “just like adults” treatment tips. Through the use of real-life case studies, hands-on scenarios, and highly interactive game shows, attendees will come away better able to provide care for crashing kids.
Facilitator: Scott DeBoer MSN, RN, CPEN, EMT-P
Space is limited to the first 65 registrations, so don't wait to get your tickets!
Conference Agenda
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Monday, October 13
Click any session title for more details.
12-5 PM Attendee & Exhibitor Check In 1-5 PM Pre-Conference Workshops – Registration and fee required.
• SMART: Stress Management and Resiliency Training (Kristen Gilmore)
• Pediatric Pitfalls (Scott DeBoer)6-7:30 PM BCEN 45th Anniversary Throwback Party! – Guest passes available.
80s-Themed Welcome Reception -
Tuesday, October 14
Click any session title for more details.
Attendee Check In Open 6:30 AM – 4:30 PM
7:30-9 AM BCEN Celebration Breakfast
What 80s Pop Culture Teaches Us About Leaving A Legacy (Keynote Speaker Chris Clews)9-9:30 AM Energy Break/Exhibit Hall/Wellness Lounge 9:30-10 AM Up for the Challenge: A Pediatric Case Study (Sean Elwell) 10-10:30 AM Pediatric Trauma Care & Considerations Beyond the Trauma Bay Resuscitation (Amanda Felder) 10:30-11 AM Peds Pain: Fallacies, Facts & Future (Scott DeBoer) 11:00-11:45 AM A Tragic Day, A New Life: The Repsher Story (Dave & Amanda Repsher) 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM Attendee Luncheon/Exhibit Hall/Wellness Lounge 12:30-1 PM ABGs Made Easy (Mark Boswell) 1-1:30 PM Tele- Emergency Care and the Emergency Room Nurse (Ashley Lunkenheimer) 1:30-2 PM HALO Training: Rethinking In-Person Education for Emergency Nurses (Adam Vilander) 2-2:30 PM Emerging Leaders in the Emergency Department (Kathryn Kasen) 2:30-3 PM Energy Break/Exhibit Hall/Wellness Lounge 3-3:30 PM RISE: A Psychological First Aid Program for Distressed Healthcare Workers (Kristen Gilmore) 3:30-4:15 PM Gamification Meets Certification (Hollye Briggs) 4:15-4:30 PM Closing Remarks -
Wednesday, October 15
Click any session title for more details.
7:30-8:30 AM Breakfast
When Two Worlds Collide: Ryan’s Story (Carol Tulley)8:30-9 AM Energy Break/Exhibit Hall/Wellness Lounge 9-9:30 AM Not Just Another Fall: Rethinking Trauma Principles for the Aging Patient (Jamin Rankin) 9:30-10 AM Hypothermia in Trauma: Prevention is Priority (Kristi Bonny) 10-10:30 AM Helping New Nurses Succeed in the Pediatric Emergency Room (Caitlin Chapman) 10:30-10:45 AM Energy Break/Exhibit Hall/Wellness Lounge 10:45-11:15 AM More Than Skin Deep: Understanding the Complex Nature of Burn Injuries (Emily Snyder) 11:15-11:45 PM Trauma-Informed Care: Not All Wounds Are Visible (Capt. Angela M. Leonardo) 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM Attendee Luncheon/Exhibit Hall/Wellness Lounge 12:30-1 PM Does it Matter if the Head of the Bed is Up or Down? (Michael Gooch) 1-1:30 PM To Pace or Not to Pace? That is the Question (Ryan Dale) 1:30-2 PM The Night Everything Went Wrong: Navigating IMC, an Emergency Landing, and Critical Patient Care (Clair Barnett) 2-2:30 PM Energy Break/Wellness Lounge 2:30-3 PM When Lightning Strikes: Emergency Care for Lightning Injuries (Michael Zonak) 3-3:30 PM Response to Opioid Overdoses (Greg Cain) 3:30-4:15 PM Failing Forward: How Mistakes Can Be Some of Our Greatest Mentors (Rebecca Geyer) 4:15-4:30 PM Closing Remarks 4:30 PM Blind Date Book Exchange Pickup -
Thursday, October 16
Click any session title for more details.
10 AM Group Outing – Registration and fee required. Guest passes available.
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Event Benefits
🎓 Earn 14+ accredited nursing CE contact hours in 30-minute, interactive sessions.
🤝 Meet other nurses at fun networking mixers, invigorating attendee outings, and onsite recreational activities.
💆♀️ Relax and unwind in the Nurse Wellness Lounge with massage chairs and self-care freebies.
🍴 Enjoy delicious breakfast, lunch, snacks and refreshments each day of the conference.
Ticket Pricing Deadlines | Pricing* |
---|---|
Flash Sale Tickets May 1 – 4, 2025 | $379 |
Early Bird Tickets May 5 – July 31, 2025 | $399 |
General Admission Tickets August 1 – September 12, 2025 | $449 |
Last-Minute Tickets September 13 – onsite | $499 |
*BCEN volunteers receive an additional $25 off automatically applied at checkout.
Check out past BCEN Learn Live events & hear from attendees!
BCEN Learn Live Highlights
Attendee Testimonial
Exhibitor Testimonial
See You in Destin!
BCEN Learn Live will be held at the
Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center,
1250 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE,
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.
Receive a discounted rate at one of two hotels nearby:
Four Points by Sheraton Destin-Fort Walton Beach
1325 Miracle Strip Parkway SE,
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Discounted rate of $159–219 through BCEN’s exclusive booking link:
Hilton Garden Inn Ft. Walton Beach
1297 Miracle Strip Parkway SE,
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Discounted rate of $180–299 through BCEN’s exclusive booking link:
Group Activities
Participate in two new group activities, open to conference attendees and guests! Sign up to be part of the adventures when you purchase your conference ticket.

Gulfarium Marine Adventure
Thursday, Oct. 16 at 10 AM
Experience the magic of Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park! This exclusive group outing includes admission, exciting shows, a private animal greeting/training demonstration, and 30 minutes in the immersive Living Sea Aquarium. Make the most of your Florida escape by extending your trip and enjoying an unforgettable wildlife encounter!

Blind Date Book Exchange
Step into a literary adventure! Drop off your book donation by noon on October 15, then return after General Session concludes to browse mystery selections—no covers, no authors, just intriguing three-sentence descriptions to spark curiosity. Free to participate, this is your chance to take home a surprise read, relax on the beach, and embrace the magic of never judging a book by its cover!
Need employer support?
Destin Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities
BCEN Learn Live offers a variety of opportunities to share your message with our attendees to fit your organization’s unique needs and budget. Visit the Sponsor & Exhibitor page for details.