FTNN 2025 Conference Guide

Creating Your Podium Presentation
or Poster

"One Heart, Many Hands"

Everything you need to go from idea to submission — step by step, with tips from the nurses who've done it.

October 13–14, 2025 Chicago, IL Nurses, APPs, Social Workers & Allied Health
Podium Deadline
April 1, 2025
11:59 PM Central Time
Poster Deadline
April 13, 2025
11:59 PM Central Time
Original Session Recording

Creating a Podium Presentation or Poster for FTNN Conference

Chris Rambos  ·  Katie Francis  ·  Allie Wayne

0:00 --:--

Why Submit?

Real voices from your FTNN community

Submitting to the FTNN is the best way to present — you're surrounded by friendly faces who share your excitement and look at you as an expert.
KF
Katie Francis
Founding President, FTNN · SSM Cardinal Glennon
Every time I've presented at FTNN it's been really fun. Talk about something near and dear to your heart — your expertise and enthusiasm shine through.
AW
Allie Wayne
Education Chair, FTNN · Children's Mercy KC
Whether you're at a large fetal center or a small one, what you have to share is always valuable. Your community is here to cheer you on.
CR
Chris Rambos
Conference Chair, FTNN

Choosing Your Topic & Title

You don't need a completed study — you just need something worth sharing

What Counts as a Topic?
It doesn't have to be formal research

Many nurses hesitate because they think they need a fully published research project. You don't. Valid topics include:

  • Recurring themes or challenges you notice in daily practice
  • Knowledge gaps you've identified — including questions still being explored
  • Programs or protocols your center has implemented
  • A project still in progress — preliminary findings are welcome
  • Something you want to learn about that others are likely also wondering
Pro tip: A question you have at your institution is usually a question others have too — and that sparks the best dialogue at conference.

Fetal centers are newer and all look different. Whether you're at a large academic center or a small community program, your perspective is uniquely valuable.

Crafting Your Title
Clear, catchy, and aligned with the conference theme

Your title can come at the start of your process or after your content is mapped out — both approaches work.

  • Be descriptive: Attendees should be able to tell what the topic is from the title alone so they know if it's relevant to them.
  • Be creative: A catchy title helps your submission stand out and match the tone of the conference.
  • Use the theme: This year's theme is "One Heart, Many Hands." Tying your title to it — even subtly — shows cohesion.
Use your tools: Poll colleagues ("Which title sounds more interesting?"), ask FTNN members, or try AI tools like ChatGPT to generate options. Then choose the one that feels right.

Research & Learning Objectives

How to gather evidence and define what attendees will walk away knowing

Conducting a Literature Search
Where to look and what to prioritize

Start broad, then narrow down to what's most relevant to your question.

  • Hospital library: If your institution is connected to a medical school, you likely have access to a library that can pull nearly any published article.
  • Google Scholar: Free and accessible — often enough to find abstracts and key citations even without full access.
  • Peer review matters: Prioritize peer-reviewed articles, but know that in a newer field like fetal care, not everything will be peer-reviewed.
  • Recency: For contact hour applications, aim for articles published within the last 5 years. Foundational seminal articles may be older.
Parallel fields: Can't find enough fetal-specific literature? Look to parallel roles — oncology nurse navigators, palliative care, social work, and pediatric specialties often have directly applicable research.
Writing Learning Objectives
3–5 required for the contact hour application

Learning objectives define what your audience will be able to do or know after your talk. They are required for the FTNN contact hour application.

  • Start with action verbs: Identify, Describe, Explain, Apply, Demonstrate
  • Each objective should map to a core theme or section of your presentation
  • Use them as a structural anchor — build your content around meeting each one

Structuring Your Talk

From brain dump to polished outline

The Brain Dump Method
Start messy, edit ruthlessly
  1. Write down everything you want to say — don't filter yet. Let it be messy.
  2. Identify your 3–5 core themes. These become your section headers or major slide groups.
  3. Pair each theme to a learning objective. If content doesn't serve an objective, consider cutting it.
  4. Pare down based on your time slot. Be realistic about how much you can say well.
  5. Step away, then come back with fresh eyes. You'll see what's essential and what's noise.
Beginning, middle, end: Think of your talk as a story. Set up the problem, explore the evidence or experience, then close by bringing it back to your learning objectives.
Managing Your Time
Fitting your content to your slot

Once you've mapped your themes, time-box your content. Each section should fit naturally within your allotted slot — don't assume you can cover more than you actually can.

  • Practice your talk aloud and time it — not just mentally rehearse it
  • Build in pauses: for audience questions, transitions, and breathing room
  • If you're going over, cut content rather than rushing delivery
  • Submit slides to the conference organizer early — they'll appreciate the lead time and you'll benefit from their feedback
Type-A or shoot-from-the-hip: Whatever your style, just know that if you're more improvisational, organizers prefer getting your slides before the last minute. Do what works for you — then get it in early.

Designing Your Slides

Visual storytelling that holds attention

Less Text, More Impact
Design principles for adult learners
  • Set your template first: Choose fonts, colors, and layout before building content. Fixing inconsistency later is time-consuming and frustrating.
  • One theme per slide: Each slide should represent a single idea or message.
  • Visuals over words: Use graphs, illustrations, or photos to complement your spoken words — not duplicate them.
  • More words = less read: Especially on posters. If you have strong graphics, let them do the work.
Notes are your friend: Write everything you want to say in the notes panel. Practice until you no longer need to read them. Never read directly from your notes during the presentation.
Engagement & Interactivity
Polls, videos, animations — keep them engaged

Adult learners retain information better when they interact with it — not just listen to it.

  • Live polls: Ask a question at the start to set up the problem, or mid-presentation to check understanding.
  • Short video clips: A 30-second patient story or procedural clip can say more than 3 slides.
  • Animations: Simple transitions guide attention and help sequence complex information.
  • QR codes (especially on posters): Link to a full presentation, your team's site, or supplemental resources to make it interactive.
Budget your time: Building one thoughtful slide can take 15–30 minutes. Don't underestimate the process — allow plenty of time, then step away and come back with fresh eyes.

Managing Nerves

Everyone gets nervous. Here's how to work through it.

Before You Present
Practice strategies that actually work
  • Practice out loud — a lot: Read your notes so many times they become memory. Then soften it into natural speech.
  • Practice for people: Your dog, your spouse, a colleague, the board. Real practice sessions with others are especially helpful.
  • Schedule a group run-through: If several colleagues are presenting, block an hour, run through each other's presentations, and give feedback.
  • Know your passion: If you lose your place, your passion for the subject will carry you through. You can't forget what you care about.
Ask for a mentor: Reach out to ftnnboard@gmail.com — a board member will listen to your practice run and give feedback.
While You're Presenting
Mindset and in-the-moment techniques
  • Speak from the heart: Your expertise and enthusiasm shine through when you talk about something you genuinely care about.
  • Acknowledge your nerves: There's nothing wrong with being vulnerable. When a recent presenter admitted she was nervous, the whole room responded with encouragement. FTNN people root for each other.
  • Remember your audience: Everyone in that room shares your excitement about fetal care. They're there to learn from you — not judge you.
  • Take a breath: If you lose your place, a slow deep breath reads as confident pacing, not panic.

Submission Requirements

What's needed on the form — podium and poster

Podium Presentation

Due Apr 1
  • Title
  • Background & purpose
  • Aim / purpose statement
  • Methods
  • Results / findings
  • 3–5 learning objectives
  • References

Poster Presentation

Due Apr 13
  • Title
  • Background & purpose
  • Aim / purpose statement
  • Methods
  • Results / findings
  • 3–5 learning objectives
  • References
Submission tip: The forms are short. Draft your abstract in a Word doc first, then copy and paste into the submission form on the FTNN website.

You're Not Alone in This

FTNN has resources and people ready to help you from abstract to applause.

Get a Mentor

A board member will guide you through the process. Email ftnnboard@gmail.com to be matched.

Practice with Peers

Schedule a group run-through with colleagues at your institution — especially if multiple people are presenting.

See Past Posters

Visit fetaltherapynursenetwork.org, scroll to the bottom of the homepage, and find the 2025 conference poster archive.

Submit Your Abstract

Find the form on the FTNN website. Podium by April 1 · Poster by April 13.

Fetal Therapy Nurse Network  ·  Annual Conference  ·  Chicago, October 13–14, 2025  ·  "One Heart, Many Hands"

Katie Francis

Founding President, FTNN · SSM Cardinal Glennon · 17 years in fetal nursing

"Submitting to or presenting to the FTNN is the best way to present, because you are surrounded by friendly faces who all share your excitement about what you do. They look at you as an expert and genuinely want to learn what you have to say."

"I find presenting pretty intimidating myself — and I ask myself the same questions you do. But when I present to FTNN, it is just like talking with a group of friends."

On picking a topic:

"I try to identify themes that I see reoccurring in my daily work, and identify what the learning need is and the gaps in practice. That drives where I go from there."

"I've personally presented on research that we haven't even completed yet — just highlights from a qualitative project in progress. You'll be amazed at how much you can get from a project that's not totally complete. And the feedback you receive helps build on it."

On imposter syndrome:

"Put that imposter syndrome off to the side. We all have it. But we all work so hard in our fields and we deserve to show off what we know."

"When I present, I think about how I judge others while they're presenting — and I'm usually not judging. I'm just happy to learn from them. Try to remember that."

Allie Wayne

Education Chair, FTNN · Children's Mercy KC · 9 years in fetal health & palliative care

"Every time I've presented to FTNN, it's actually been really fun and I have felt really supported. When you talk about something near and dear to your heart, your expertise and enthusiasm shines through."

On the research process:

"I start with a lit search using our hospital's electronic database. For contact hours, you want references published within the last five years, and a minimum of two for every 30 minutes you're speaking."

"When fetal-specific literature is limited, try parallel fields. I recently looked up oncology nurse navigators to find research relevant to our role. Sometimes the best insights come from adjacent specialties."

On what counts as a presentation:

"Research is an intimidating word. But it doesn't have to be a big, formal published study. A lot of times it's just identifying what you're doing in daily practice, what's working well, what could use improvement, or something you want to learn."

"There are many times where I felt like I was going to pass out — and you just keep talking and get through it. Sometimes presentations go better than others, and I survived, and everyone was still really supportive. We're all continuing to learn."

Chris Rambos

Conference Chair, FTNN

"We are trying to increase the number of submissions — both posters and podium presentations. I know many of you may be thinking: what would I have to contribute? But I know that from California to Boston to Texas to Canada, many of you probably have presentations ready."

"Whether you're in a smaller fetal center or a large academic program — don't be intimidated. What you have to share is always valuable regardless of what kind of center you're at."

On the conference theme:

"This year's theme is One Heart, Many Hands. When I say that out loud, I think of the interdisciplinary nature of what we do — all the different people it takes to make an impact for patients. That's a pretty broad range. So even if you're not sure if your topic applies, submit and we can talk through it."

On titles:

"As conference chair, it's always helpful when I can tell — and the audience can tell — what the topic is from the title alone. But depending on your audience, have some fun with it too."

Topic Inspiration Checklist

Questions to spark your submission idea

Work through these prompts. You may already have your topic.

  • What's a recurring challenge you notice in your practice?
  • What does your center do that you haven't seen discussed at conference before?
  • What would you Google if you had 20 uninterrupted minutes at work?
  • Is there a protocol or process improvement your team has put in place that others might benefit from?
  • Is there a patient experience or care gap that moved you — something others need to know about?
  • Is there a project underway — even incomplete — with early takeaways worth sharing?
  • What connects to this year's theme: "One Heart, Many Hands"?
Still stuck? Ask a colleague: "If you were going to hear one presentation from our department, what would you want it to be about?" Their answer is often your topic.

Contact Hour Requirements

What the nursing CE application expects

3–5Learning objectives required
2+References per 30 min of talk
≤5 yrsReference recency (generally)

Learning objectives

Each objective describes what an attendee will be able to do or know after your talk. Use measurable action verbs:

  • Knowledge: Identify, Define, Describe, List
  • Comprehension: Explain, Summarize, Discuss
  • Application: Apply, Demonstrate, Use, Implement

References

For a 30-minute talk you need at least 2 references. More is fine — and usually necessary. Prioritize:

  • Peer-reviewed journals published within the last 5 years
  • Seminal articles may be older but should be identified as foundational
  • Parallel fields (oncology nursing, palliative care, social work) are acceptable when fetal-specific literature is sparse
Note: The fetal therapy field is newer — sometimes there won't be much literature on your specific topic. It's okay to widen your search and acknowledge the limitation in your presentation.

On Imposter Syndrome

A note from the FTNN board

Almost every presenter — including the nurses who've been doing this for years — asks themselves the same questions you're asking right now.

"What do I have to contribute?"
"Is my project ready?"
"Am I qualified to present?"

These feelings are normal. They don't mean the answer to any of those questions is no.

What your audience actually thinks:

When Katie watches someone present, she isn't judging them. She's just happy to learn from them. That's true for nearly everyone in the room.

When a recent presenter admitted she was nervous on Teams, the entire audience responded with hearts and encouragement. That's the FTNN culture.

What "qualified" actually means here:

You work in fetal care. That makes you an expert to this audience — whether you're at a large academic center or a two-person team at a community hospital. Your experience, your questions, your observations have value. The people in that room see it, even when you can't.

Remember: You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to share what you know, what you're learning, or what you're wondering about. That's enough.

Podium Presentation Tips

Deadline: April 1, 2025 · 11:59 PM Central

What the submission form needs:

  • Title — clear and ideally tied to the conference theme
  • Background — why does this topic matter? What's the problem or gap?
  • Aim / Purpose — what will your talk accomplish?
  • Methods — how did you gather your information or conduct your project?
  • Results — what did you find or learn? Preliminary results are fine.
  • 3–5 Learning Objectives — what will attendees know or be able to do after?
  • References — minimum 2 per 30 minutes, within last 5 years generally

Podium-specific tips:

  • Build your slides to support your voice — not replace it
  • Practice until you don't need to read from your notes
  • Budget 15–30 minutes per slide to build it thoughtfully
  • Use polls, video clips, and animations to engage adult learners
  • Get your slides to the organizer early — they appreciate it
Deadline: Wednesday, April 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM Central Time. The form is on the FTNN website.

Poster Presentation Tips

Deadline: April 13, 2025 · 11:59 PM Central

Why posters are a great starting point:

Poster presentations are lower-pressure — you're having individual conversations with attendees rather than presenting to the whole room. It's a great way to dip your toes in while still highlighting great work.

Poster design principles:

  • Use your institution's template — most hospitals have a preferred format. Ask colleagues who've done posters before what worked for them.
  • Fewer words, stronger visuals — the more text on a poster, the less people read it. Prioritize graphs, illustrations, and images.
  • Use QR codes creatively — link to your full presentation, your team's site, or supplemental resources to make it interactive.
  • Edit ruthlessly — space is limited. Each element should earn its place.

See examples:

Visit fetaltherapynursenetwork.org, scroll to the bottom of the homepage, and find the 2025 conference archive. Posters from last year are available as reference.

Deadline: Monday, April 13, 2025 at 11:59 PM Central Time.