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2026 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) is now accepting abstracts for the 2026 Health Policy Conference:

Digital Health: Community, Promise, Responsibility

Conference to be held October 8-10, 2026 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC.

Abstract submissions will open February 17, 2026. The deadline to submit an abstract is April 3, 2026 at 11:59pm ET.

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Conference Purpose

 

Abstract Content

The Academy invites authors to submit abstracts that inform the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy, practice, and science as specified in the 2025-2026 Policy Priorites to Advance Health Equity: Increase Accessibility to All Forms of Health Care, Protect the Health and Well-Being of Communities, and Modernize and Innovate the Health Care System.

Submission Fee and Registration

There is a one-time, non-refundable fee of $55 per abstract submitted. There is no additional presentation fee if your abstract(s) is accepted. Online payment of the submission fee is due upon submission of the abstract and no later than April 3, 2026. If the payment is not received, the abstract will not be reviewed.

Presenters will also be required to register for the conference online in order to present their abstract(s). Registration rates for the 2026 Health Policy Conference are listed below. Registration will open in early Spring 2026. Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) is included in the cost of registration.

  • Early Bird Registration Rates -- Open Through July*:
    • $1,025 for Fellows of the Academy
    • $1,225 for Non-Members
    • $625 for Students
    • $975 for New Fellows**
    • $975 for Emeritus Fellows
  • Regular Registration Rates -- Open July through Late September*:
    • $1,225 for Fellows of the Academy
    • $1,425 for Non-Members
    • $625 for Students
    • $975 for New Fellow Inductees**
    • $975 for Emeritus Fellows

*Exact dates to be determined.

**2026 Fellow Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in June.

Submission Process

Abstracts must be submitted electronically via the online abstract submission portal. To submit an abstract, first create a guest account on the Academy’s website or log in to an existing account. Once you create your account, you will be directed to a confirmation page where you will click “Submit an Abstract” and this will log you in via single-sign-on to the abstract submission portal.

Review and Selection

The 2026 Abstract Review Committee will select abstracts based on scores and recommendations from peer reviewers. Review criteria will be based on each abstract type's criteria and rated on a 5-point scale: 5=Exceptional, 4=Excellent, 3=Good, 2=Fair, 1=Not acceptable.

Timeline

Abstract submissions are due on April 3, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. All abstracts submitted by that deadline will be considered final. Selection decisions will be announced in late May.

If you do not receive notification of your selection decision by June 5, 2026, please check your spam folder and/or contact the Academy's Learning Engagement Manager, Miranda Harris, at mharris@aannet.org. 

Information for Submitting Abstracts

  • You do not have to be a Fellow of the Academy to submit an abstract.
  • All accepted submissions will be presented as E-Posters.
  • Submissions should be original work and may not have been presented or submitted to another national or international conference unless specific permission has been granted by the Abstract Review Chairs.
  • Five types of abstracts (research, historical research, evidence based, quality improvement, or implementation and evaluation) will be accepted for poster presentation (described below).
  • Projects should have complete data by the time of presentation.
  • Tables, graphs, and charts are not permitted in the abstract.
  • The title should be brief and reflect abstract content; standard abbreviations may be used.
  • Review criteria are specific to each abstract type and reflect an evaluation of how clearly and effectively authors address the abstract components (listed under each type described below). Authors are responsible for including the appropriate abstract components for the specific type of abstract submitted. 
  • Authors will designate the abstract type during the submission process to facilitate the use of appropriate review criteria by abstract reviewers.
  • The American Academy of Nursing developed guiding principles and professional expectations for the use of AI in applications. Applicants are required to read the document, "Guiding Principles and Professional Expectations for the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Applications and Nominations," and confirm that they understand its contents in order to submit their abstract.

Types of Abstracts Accepted

Research Abstract (must not exceed 250 words)

The format of the research abstract must include the following components:

  • Purpose: The overall purpose, research question, or study hypothesis and theoretical rationale.
  • Methods: The study or project design and methods (sample, procedures, measures, and data analysis).
  • Results: The study or project findings or products.
  • Conclusions: The overall impact of findings and relevance to nursing or health care.
  • Policy implications: Describe how the findings influence or potentially influence health policy.

Historical Research Abstract (must not exceed 250 words)

The format of the historical research abstract must include the following components:

  • Purpose: The overall purpose and research questions should be identified.
  • Significance: The background and significance to health policy today should be identified and described.
  • Methods: Primary sources and the framework should be described.
  • Results: The study findings should be outlined.
  • Conclusions/Policy implications: Describe how the historical evidence relates to policy issues today.

*** For purposes of Academy abstract submission, historical research is defined as the systematic investigation of past people/events/occurrences to generate new knowledge or validate existing knowledge. The subset of case studies that focus with past events would be considered historical research.

Evidence Based Practice Abstract (must not exceed 250 words)

The format of the Evidence Based Practice (EBP) abstract must include the following components:

  • Purpose: The overall purpose of the project and EBP model used.
  • Practice Change: The proposed practice change and rationale.
  • Strength of the Evidence: The strength of the evidence guiding the proposed change in practice.
  • Implementation Strategies: The strategies used to implement the practice change.
  • Stakeholders: A description of the stakeholders influenced by and participating in the change in practice.
  • Evaluation: A description of the evaluation strategies used to assess the impact of the change in practice.

Quality Improvement Abstract (must not exceed 250 words)

The format of the Quality Improvement (QI) abstract must include the following components as defined by the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE) Guidelines:

  • Background: Briefly describe the problem, with justification.
  • Purpose: Describe the goals/objectives of the project.
  • Design: Describe the project design.
  • Setting: Describe the institution(s) and, if appropriate, type of units participating in the project.
  • Patients/Providers: Describe the number and type of patients or providers (intervention target sample) and eligibility criteria.
  • Implementation: Describe critical aspects/components of the improvement process.
  • Measurements: Describe the measurements assessed.
  • Results: Describe the findings ensuring their consistency with the study goals.
  • Limitations: Discuss the limitations of the methods.
  • Conclusions: Briefly describe the implications of the findings.

Implementation and Evaluation Abstract (must not exceed 250 words)
The format of the Implementation and Evaluation abstract must include the following components:

  • Overview: Briefly describe the policy or program implemented and/or evaluated.
  • Methods: Identify implementation and/or evaluation frameworks used and describe the methods of evaluation (where applicable; participants, data sources, procedures, measures, and data collection methods used).
  • Results: Describe the findings and products. 
  • Conclusions: Briefly describe the next steps and change recommendations for process, policy, or program improvement.
  • Policy and Nursing Implications: Describe the implications of implementation and/or evaluation findings on nursing practice and health policy.

 

For More Information

For any questions, please contact the Academy's Learning Engagement Manager, Miranda Harris, at mharris@aannet.org.

You are also encouraged to visit the Academy’s website for additional information as the conference approaches.

We look forward to reading your abstracts and seeing you at the 2026 Health Policy Conference!

 

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