All sessions, meals, and breaks will be held at the Wyndham Garden State College, and all times are listed in Eastern Standard Time (ET).
Conference includes the following meals/snacks:
- light refreshments during breaks
- lunch on November 13 and 14
- evening reception with hors d’oeuvres and beverages on November 13
Continental breakfast is available for hotel guests on November 14.
Special Dementia Live Experience
Concurrent session available on Thursday or Friday. Indicate your interest during registration. Capacity is limited.
Registered participants will be assigned a 30-minute time slot. Once your session has ended, please rejoin the main plenary.
In this high-impact Dementia Live experience, you will be immersed into life with dementia, resulting in a deeper understanding of what it’s like to live with a cognitive impairment and sensory change. You will be empowered to build new bridges of communication. Dementia Live is experiential learning that simulates cognitive and sensory impairment, giving participants a real-life simulation of what it must be like to live with dementia. Through the hands-on learning experience participants gain greater awareness and understanding of the constant struggles affecting persons with dementia as they go about their daily lives.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
|
8:00–8:45 a.m. |
Registration, Check-in, and Conference Opening |
|
9:00–10:00 a.m. |
What You Need to Know – NATCEP Update Get the latest state and federal updates on Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Programs (NATCEP) in Pennsylvania. Rebecca Conway, State Coordinator at the PA Department of Education, will share key changes that impact curriculum, clinical instruction, compliance, and nursing practice. A must-attend session for both new and experienced instructors who want to stay informed and prepared. |
|
10:00–10:30 a.m. |
Break |
|
10:30–11:45 a.m. |
Mastering the Process: Navigating Credentia for Nurse Aide Testing Success Get a step-by-step walkthrough of the Credentia testing platform with Client Relationship Director Brenda Scafiro. Learn how to manage and support your nurse aide students through every stage of the testing process. This session will show you how to:
Ideal for both new users and those looking to boost their confidence with the system. |
|
11:45 a.m.–noon |
Exhibitor Showcase and Break |
|
Noon–1:00 p.m. |
Networking Lunch Join us for a relaxed and engaging networking lunch—a perfect opportunity to connect with fellow nurse aide instructors, share insights, and build new professional relationships. Whether you’re looking to exchange ideas, discuss challenges, or simply enjoy a meal with like-minded educators, this informal session is designed to foster collaboration and community. Grab a plate, take a seat, and enjoy meaningful conversation with colleagues from across the state. Great ideas often start over lunch! |
|
1:00–2:15 p.m. |
Helping Students Succeed: Insights into the Skills Portion of the Nurse Aide Exam Gain practical tips and data-driven insights to help your students succeed on the skills portion of the Nurse Aide Assessment Test. Brenda Scafiro will share the most commonly missed skills, common student challenges, and strategies to boost confidence and performance. You’ll learn how to:
Perfect for both new and experienced instructors focused on student success and certification readiness. |
|
2:20–3:20 p.m. |
Connecting with Compassion: Using Validation Therapy in Dementia Care Learn how Validation Therapy can help caregivers connect more meaningfully with individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. This session introduces key principles—like empathy, active listening, and emotional affirmation—and shows how to incorporate them into nurse aide training. You’ll learn how to teach students to:
Walk away with practical tools to help your students make a real difference in dementia care. |
|
3:20–3:30 p.m. |
Break |
|
3:30–4:30 p.m. |
OLTL Updates and Open Discussion Hear the latest updates from the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) on programs and services impacting long-term care in Pennsylvania. This session will also include an open discussion on test administration practices, giving you a chance to share challenges, ask questions, and explore solutions. Ideal for nurse aide instructors, program coordinators, and administrators looking to strengthen assessment practices and stay current with statewide changes. |
|
5:30–7:30 p.m. |
Centerpieces and Snacks: Creative Networking Happy Hour Unwind and connect with fellow nurse aide instructors at this fun, hands-on happy hour! Enjoy step-by-step instructions for creating a seasonal centerpiece, tasty hors d’oeuvres, and refreshing drinks in a relaxed, festive setting. All materials are provided—no experience needed! Whether you’re a crafting pro or a total beginner, this is the perfect way to wrap up the day, share laughs, and build new connections. |
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
|
7:00–8:00 a.m |
Continental Breakfast (hotel guests only) |
|
8:00–9:00 a.m |
Breakout Session 1a GROUP A Teach It Tomorrow: High-Impact Strategies for the Nurse Aide Classroom Get ready-to-use teaching strategies that spark engagement, boost retention, and build skill mastery in the nurse aide classroom. Walk away with tools you can implement immediately—perfect for both new and experienced instructors. or GROUP B Using Next-Gen Virtual Reality and AI to Train Health Care Workers and Improve ESL Student Outcomes Explore how cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and gamification are revolutionizing health care training—especially for non-native English speakers entering the caregiving field. This session introduces Vizulingo, a mobile-first, story-driven training platform developed in partnership with former NASA engineers, designed to accelerate the development of job-specific skills for home care aides, LPNs, and RNs. Learn how this scalable and culturally responsive solution helps bridge workforce gaps, enhance language and communication skills, and better prepare a diverse health care workforce for real-world challenges. Nurse aide instructors will walk away with insights on how immersive learning tools can increase engagement, accessibility, and job readiness across their training programs. |
|
9:00–9:05 a.m. |
Session Group Room Swap Switch rooms to attend the opposite topic during breakout session 1b. |
|
9:05–10:15 a.m |
Breakout Session 1b GROUP A Using Next-Gen Virtual Reality and AI to Train Health Care Workers and Improve ESL Student Outcomes Explore how cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and gamification are revolutionizing health care training—especially for non-native English speakers entering the caregiving field. This session introduces Vizulingo, a mobile-first, story-driven training platform developed in partnership with former NASA engineers, designed to accelerate the development of job-specific skills for home care aides, LPNs, and RNs. Learn how this scalable and culturally responsive solution helps bridge workforce gaps, enhance language and communication skills, and better prepare a diverse health care workforce for real-world challenges. Nurse aide instructors will walk away with insights on how immersive learning tools can increase engagement, accessibility, and job readiness across their training programs. or GROUP B Teach It Tomorrow: High-Impact Strategies for the Nurse Aide Classroom Get ready-to-use teaching strategies that spark engagement, boost retention, and build skill mastery in the nurse aide classroom. Walk away with tools you can implement immediately—perfect for both new and experienced instructors. |
|
10:15–10:30 a.m |
Break |
|
10:30–11:30 a.m. |
Breakout Session 2a GROUP A Bringing Skills to Life: Enhancing CNA Training with Virtual Reality Explore how virtual reality for nurse aides (VRNA) is transforming CNA training. This session introduces an easy-to-use VR headset with immersive modules that build foundational skills, track student progress, and boost job-readiness through real-time feedback. See how VR can elevate your training program and engage today’s learners. or GROUP B Strategies for Nurse Educators: CNA Simulations That Build Confidence and Critical Thinking Discover how CNA Simulations, a web-based clinical learning platform, can help your CNA students build the confidence and critical thinking they need before stepping into real clinicals. In this interactive session, you’ll explore ready-to-implement strategies that make your job easier and your students better prepared. Used by programs across the country, CNA Simulations offer story-based, decision-driven learning that mirrors real care situations—no VR headsets, no IT setup, and fully compatible with Chromebooks, laptops, and mobile phones. Students face critical-thinking challenges, receive real-time feedback from a nurse instructor character, document care delivered in a simulated EHR, and practice clinical skills such as catheter care, perineal care, bed-to-wheelchair transfers, and more on older adult characters with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and more. |
|
11:30–11:35 a.m. |
Session Group Room Swap Switch rooms to attend the opposite topic during breakout session 2b. |
|
11:35 a.m.–12:35 p.m. |
Breakout Session 2b GROUP A Strategies for Nurse Educators: CNA Simulations That Build Confidence and Critical Thinking Discover how CNA Simulations, a web-based clinical learning platform, can help your CNA students build the confidence and critical thinking they need before stepping into real clinicals. In this interactive session, you’ll explore ready-to-implement strategies that make your job easier and your students better prepared. Used by programs across the country, CNA Simulations offer story-based, decision-driven learning that mirrors real care situations—no VR headsets, no IT setup, and fully compatible with Chromebooks, laptops, and mobile phones. Students face critical-thinking challenges, receive real-time feedback from a nurse instructor character, document care delivered in a simulated EHR, and practice clinical skills such as catheter care, perineal care, bed-to-wheelchair transfers, and more on older adult characters with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and more. or GROUP B Bringing Skills to Life: Enhancing CNA Training with Virtual Reality Explore how virtual reality for nurse aides (VRNA) is transforming CNA training. This session introduces an easy-to-use VR headset with immersive modules that build foundational skills, track student progress, and boost job-readiness through real-time feedback. See how VR can elevate your training program and engage today’s learners. |
|
12:45 p.m. |
Lunch and Ending Keynote Caring for People Affected by Dementia: Tech and Senior Care Can Work Together Discover how technology can enhance—rather than replace—compassionate dementia care. This keynote explores tools that support communication, safety, memory, and daily routines in long-term care, while emphasizing the importance of human connection and dignity. Learn how to integrate smart devices, virtual reality, and monitoring tools in ethical, person-centered ways. Real-world examples, implementation tips, and classroom-ready ideas for nurse aide instructors will be shared. |
While reasonable efforts will be made to adhere to the advertised package, Penn State Conferences and Institutes reserves the right to substitute speakers and/or seminar content.