Education
Hilton Head Island, SC | November 13-15, 2026
Approved for up to 6 CEs by HSPA
The Southeast Councils of periOperative Registered Nurses conference has been approved for 6 CEs by HSPA. Approval code: OR Today 260605
Approved for up to 6 CEs by CBSPD
The Southeast Councils of periOperative Registered Nurses has been approved for 6 Contact Hours by CBSPD.
Approved for up to 10 CE credits
OR Today has been approved and is licensed to be a Continuing Education Provider with the State of California Board of Registered Nursing; License No. CEP 16623.
Approved for 6 CE credits
Southeast Councils Annual Conference is approved for 6 CE credits by the Association of Surgical Technologists, Inc. for continuing education for the Certified Surgical Technologist, Certified Surgical First Assistant, and Associate members of AST. This recognition does not imply that AST approves or endorses any product or products that are included in presentations.
Saturday, November 14
8:30-9:30 am
The Power of Legacy and Advocacy: Advancing Excellence, Inspiring the Future
Our legacy and advocacy is at the heart of perioperative nursing. Nurses find a calling to speak, act, and lead in ways that protect patients, support colleagues, and strengthen our profession. Our legacy celebrates the courage and commitment of nurses who transform challenges into opportunities for progress. From ensuring safe surgical environments to mentoring the next generation of leaders, perioperative nurses continue to raise the standard of excellence through every action of advocacy.
These two power presenters will honor those who lead with purpose and passion and show how to continue advancing excellence and inspiring the future of surgical care.
9:45-10:45 am
Morning Keynote: Quantum Caring Leadership in the OR: Visionary Leader to System Architect
Visionary perioperative leaders are no longer defined by what they manage, but by what they design. Quantum Caring Leadership (QCL) offers a discipline-specific nursing leadership framework integrating Caring Science, quantum leadership, and complexity science to guide how leaders shape culture, teams, and system design. In perioperative environments where precision, trust, resilience, and human dignity must coexist, traditional leadership models grounded primarily in hierarchy, efficiency, and control are increasingly insufficient for modern surgical ecosystems.
11 am-12 pm
Balancing Technology with Human Judgment: AI & Safety
As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in perioperative practice, nurses face a challenge that is both practical and ethical: knowing when to trust the technology and when to trust themselves. This session explores the intersection of AI, patient safety, and human judgment — examining how clinicians can maintain moral agency and ethical accountability in environments where algorithmic tools increasingly influence clinical decisions. Through discussion and interactive exercises, participants will examine real-world tensions between data-driven systems and the irreplaceable role of human judgment in keeping patients safe.
2-3 pm
Afternoon Keynote:
Beyond the Mask: Professional Citizen
The nursing profession has long enjoyed positive recognition for safe, high-quality, compassionate care across various healthcare settings, selfless contributions to society, and, according to Gallup, being the most trusted profession. Both historical and social mandates position nurses and our profession to generate positive social change during a time when it is needed. This session will identify strategic actions and exemplars of professional citizenship by nurses that have made a difference beyond the mask.
Sunday, November 15
10-11 am
The Healthy OR
Perioperative professionals are uniquely positioned to reshape the culture to better support the health, engagement, and retention of OR employees. This session explores how together we can reshape the culture to foster psychological safety, strengthen teamwork, and promote healthier work environments. The audience will examine common cultural barriers in surgical environments—including hierarchical communication, workload pressures, and normalization of stress—and identify practical strategies to create more supportive and resilient perioperative teams. Through leadership-driven approaches, attendees will learn how to assess the health of their OR culture and implement sustainable changes that benefit all team members, and patient outcomes.
11:30 am-
12:30 pm
Closing Keynote:
Professionalism, True North and Finding the Human Connection
In a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, staying grounded in professionalism and human connection is more important than ever. This session explores how perioperative leaders can navigate innovation—including AI—while upholding ethical standards, fostering psychological safety, and strengthening team cohesion.