Omaha System International Conferences

The Omaha System International Conference is held every two years as a venue for those in practice, education, research, and software development to exchange experiences. There is something for everyone involved with the Omaha System, from beginners to experts to everyone in between.

The next Omaha System International Conference is postponed until April 2022.

Past Conference: April 3-5, 2019 Omaha System International Conference (Eagan, Minnesota)

• April 3: Omaha System Basic Workshop Pre-Conference. Designed to introduce, describe, and practice the terms and definitions of the Omaha System with the focus on case studies.
• April 4-5: The Omaha System International Conference: A Key to Practice, Documentation, and Information Management. Offers opportunities for those in practice, education, research, and software development to discuss current and future use of the Omaha System in diverse settings. The host school will be the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, Austin, Texas. Good information, good networking, good food!

Registration and Details:

• View the 2019 flier with details about speakers, agenda, and more.
• Why attend? Read testimonials from attendees.
• This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Midwest Multistate Division, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
  Pre-Conference: 5.6 contact hours. Conference: 10.5 contact hours.
• The registration form asks for license numbers of all USA clinicians. Nurses, social workers, physicians, therapists, and all other health care providers who have current professional licenses in the USA need to provide their license number and the state where issued regardless if they wish to claim credit for attendance or not.

Location: Eagan, Minnesota is a suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul, just eight miles from the airport and Mall of America.

• Map of the conference/hotel locations plus airport shuttle information
• Conference site: Eagan Community Center
• Lodging: Marriott SpringHill Suites Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport/Eagan. Call 651-686-0600 to book and mention you are with the Omaha System International Conference.

Posters: Twenty-four posters were presented! Click here to see a list of the poster titles and authors. They offered a marvelous variety of Omaha System applications in research, education, practice, and informatics.

Awards: View details on the three award recipients who were selected for the Omaha System Excellence in Practice, Education, and Research Awards. The awards honor and recognize persons who have made meaningful contributions to the understanding and use of the Omaha System in practice, education, or research settings. The recipients were presented with a certificate and a $150 check.

Exhibitors: The following exhibitors were available at the conference. Click on the exhibitor names below to view their websites.

• Champ Software, Mankato, MN
• Health Connections Press, Omaha, NE
• Help4U Trading Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand
• Henry Street Consortium, Minneapolis, MN
• Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative (MNCCC), St. Paul, MN
• The Koble Group, Grand Forks, ND
• The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, Austin, TX

Drawing for Gift Cards: A drawing was held thanks to the following generous donors:

• 2-$50 gift cards: Champ Software, Inc.
• 1-$25 and 1-$50 gift cards: Health Connections Press
• 1-$50 gift card: Help4U Trading Limited
• 2 books: Henry Street Consortium
• 1-$25 gift card: Hue-MAN Partnership
• 2-$25 and 1-$50 gift cards: Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative
• 1-$50 gift card: The Koble Group
• 1-$25 gift card: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Community Nursing Centers

Omaha System Partnership Meeting and Recognition: This meeting was held Thursday, April 4, 6:30-8:00 PM at the Country Inn and Suites Meeting Room, 3035 Holiday Ln, Eagan, MN 55121. Included was an Omaha System Partnership 2017-2019 update. Awards and recognition were given to: Student Methodologist (BSN) - Hannah Brummund, Student Methodologist (MS) - Durga Prasad Sanugula, Student Methodologist (PhD) - Robin Austin, Early Career Methodologist - Selda Secginli, Senior Methodologist - Michelle A. Mathiason, and Community Partner - Bonnie Brueshoff. For more information, please contact Karen Monsen.

Planning Committee: Thanks to Lynn Choromanski, RN-BC, PhD; Jeana Holt, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, APNP; Karen E. Johnson, RN, PhD, FSAHM; Karen S. Martin, RN, MSN, FAAN; Karen A. Monsen, RN, PhD, FAMIA, FAAN.

Previous Omaha System International Conferences

Award Recipients

2019
Excellence in Practice: Kristin J. Erickson, MS, RN, APHN-BC
Excellence in Education: Daryl L. Canham, EdD, RN, BC-PHN/CHN
Excellence in Research: Karen A. Monsen, PhD, RN, FAMIA, FAAN

2017
Excellence in Practice: Gail Peterson, RN, BSN
Excellence in Education: Madeleine Kerr, PhD, RN
Excellence in Research: Frances Kam Yuet Wong, PhD, RN, FAAN, FHKAN

2015
Excellence in Practice: Nicole Koster, Physiotherapist, MS-Public Health
Excellence in Practice (posthumous): Judith G. Riemer, RN, PHN, CNS, MS
Excellence in Education (joint): Semra Erdogan, RN, PhD, and Selda
Secginli, RN, PhD
Excellence in Research: Sally P. Lundeen, RN, PhD, FAAN

2013
Excellence in Practice: Kathleen L. Dubbels, RN, BSN, RNC
Excellence in Education: Joseph T. Burley, RN, MNEd
Excellence in Research: Bonnie L. Westra, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI

2011
Excellence in Practice: Suzanne Plemmons, RN, MN, PHCNS-BC
Excellence in Education: Karen A. Monsen, RN, PhD
Excellence in Research: Kathryn H. Bowles, RN, PhD, FAAN

Reports of Past Conferences

2017 Omaha System International Conference Report

Location and Host School: The 2017 Conference and Pre-conference Workshop were held at the Eagan Community, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan, Minnesota on April 20-22, 2017. The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El Colleague of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado was the host school. Click here to review the conference PDF flier or to see conference photos. The book of handouts that was distributed at the Conference is indexed in CINAHL.

Awards: Three award recipients were selected. The awards recognized individuals who excel in Omaha System-related practice, education, and research. The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs representative presented the recipients with a certificate and a $150 check. Gail Peterson, RN, BSN received the Excellence in Practice Award; Madeleine Kerr, PhD, RN received the Excellence in Education Award; and Frances Kam Yuet Wong, PhD, RN, FAAN, FHKAN received the Excellence in Research Award. Please click here to read more about their accomplishments and contributions to the Omaha System.

Participants: Members of various disciplines registered from 15 states, Canada, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, The Netherlands, and Turkey. Many registered online. Twenty-three posters were displayed. Four groups exhibited. Four generous donors gave seven Mall of America gift certificates for a drawing. The speakers and planners were Eliezer L. Bose, Texas;  Kathryn H. Bowles, Pennsylvania; Nicole Brown, Minnesota; Lynn Choromanski, Minnesota; Kristin J. Erickson, Minnesota; Adriana Galvan, Minnesota; Jeana Holt, Wisconsin; Melissa Horning, Minnesota; Taiki Iwamoto, Japan; Barbara Joyce, Colorado; Madeleine J. Kerr, Minnesota; Nicola Marsden-Haug, Washington; Karen S. Martin, Nebraska; Jennie Mast, The Netherlands; Kari Miller, Minnesota; Karen A. Monsen, Minnesota; Igor Nestrasil, Czech Republic; Rhonda Perrin Oakes, Missouri; Suzanne Plemmons, Washington; J. Kay Poulsen, New Zealand; Scott Randall, Minnesota; Mary Reynolds-Keegan, Michigan; Trisha Smith, Kansas; Nicole K. Sowers, Minnesota; Katie M. Stanton, Minnesota; Patricia Trapp, Wisconsin; Frances KY Wong, Hong Kong, China.

Omaha System Partnership Meeting and Recognition: An Omaha System Partnership 2015-2017 update was held on Friday, April 21. The following received awards: Diane R. Thorson, MS, RN, PHN, Otter Tail County Public Health (Community Research Partner); Kathryn H. Bowles, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, University of Pennsylvania (Senior Methodologist); Melissa Horning Dehmer, PhD, RN, PHN (Early Career Methodologist); Grace Gao, DNP, RN, (Student Methodolgist – PhD); Sasank Maganti, B-Tech (Student Methodologist – MS); and Emily Lawrence, Taylor Maki, Ryan Schneider, Annika Stromme, and Elizabeth Weirich (Student Methodologists – Bachelor’s).

2015 Omaha System International Conference Report

Location and Host School: The 2015 Conference and Pre-conference Workshop were held at the Eagan Community, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan, Minnesota on April 16-18, 2015. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing was the host school. Click here to review the conference PDF flier or to see conference photos. The book of handouts that was distributed at the Conference is indexed in CINAHL.

Participants: Members of various disciplines registered from 20 states, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and The Netherlands. Many registered online. Twenty posters were displayed. Six groups exhibited. Six generous donors gave 12 Mall of America gift certificates for a drawing. The speakers and planners were Terese Blakeslee, Wisconsin;  Kathryn H. Bowles, Pennsylvania; Lynn Choromanski, Minnesota; Sheree East, New Zealand; Kim Edelman, Minnesota; Oscar Garza, Minnesota; Holly A. Graber, Wisconsin; Diane E. Holland, Minnesota; Kay R. Jansen, Wisconsin; Trina M. Joqunoori, Minnesota; Barbara Joyce, Colorado; Mark W. Jurkovich, Minnesota; Madeleine J. Kerr, Minnesota; Ann M. Kinney, Minnesota; Kathy Kujawa, Illinois; JG (Ard) Leferink, The Netherlands; Kathleen B. Malkin, Arizona; Karen S. Martin, Nebraska; Karen A. Monsen, Minnesota; Erin M. Moore, Ohio; Igor Nestrasil, Czech Republic; Erika Lozada Perezmitre, Mexico; Judith Peters, Minnesota; Tina Peters, Minnesota; Suzanne Plemmons, Washington; Rebekah Rud, Minnesota; Nancy J. Scheet, Nebraska; Suzanne Seely, Missouri; Nicole K. Sowers, Minnesota; Diane Thorson, Minnesota; Karen Utterback, Missouri; Sandra L. Walls, Michigan; John Whitington, Minnesota; Bev Zabler, Wisconsin.

2013 Omaha System International Conference Report

Location and Host School: The 2013 Conference and Pre-conference Workshop were held at the Eagan Community, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan, Minnesota on April 4-6, 2013. The University of Pennsylvania was the host school. Click here to review the conference PDF flier or to see conference photos. The book of handouts that was distributed at the Conference is indexed in CINAHL.

Awards: Three award recipients were selected. The awards recognized individuals who excel in Omaha System-related practice, education, and research. The University of Pennsylvania representative presented the recipients with a certificate and a $150 check. Kathleen L. Dubbels, RN, BSN, RNC received the Excellence in Practice Award; Joseph T. Burley, RN, MNEd received the Excellence in Education Award; and Bonnie L. Westra, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI received the Excellence in Research Award. Please click here to read more about their accomplishments and contributions to the Omaha System.

Participants: Members of various disciplines registered from 19 states, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, The Netherlands, and Turkey. Many registered online. Twenty-four posters were displayed. Six groups exhibited. Twelve generous donors gave Mall of America gift certificates for a drawing. The speakers and planners were Aysun Ardic, Turkey; Ingrid Attleson, Minnesota; Kathryn H. Bowles, Pennsylvania; Lynn Choromanski, Minnesota; Pamela J. Correll, Maine; Jos deBlok, The Netherlands; Sheree East, New Zealand; Kristen Edsall, Minnesota; Jason J. Fratzke, Minnesota; Lois Glanz, Iowa; Karen B. Hirschman, Pennsylvania; Alexandra Hopkins, Colorado; Ron Hutchins, Michigan; Edith Ruth Arizmendi Jaime, Mexico; Nicole Koster, The Netherlands; Beverly J. Larson, Wisconsin; Yingzia Luo, China; Arthur Manalac, California; Karen S. Martin, Nebraska; Karen A. Monsen, Minnesota; Cynthia K. O’Sullivan, Connecticut; Suzanne Plemmons, Washington; Lenore K. Resick, Pennsylvania; Judith G. Riemer, California; Gretchen Sampson, Wisconsin; Nancy J. Scheet, Nebraska; Greta Siegel, Minnesota; Nancy S. Smolar, Pennsylvania; Karen Utterback, Missouri; Bonnie L. Westra, Minnesota; Carolyn S. White, Kansas; Frances Kam Yuet Wong, China SAR.

Research Pre-Conference: The First International Conference on Research Methods for Standardized Terminologies was held on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at Dakota County Public Health Department, West St. Paul, Minnesota as a pre-conference to the Omaha System International Conference. It was sponsored by the Omaha System Partnership for Knowledge Discovery and Health Care Quality through the Center for Nursing Informatics, University of Minnesota School of Nursing.

2011 Omaha System International Conference Report

Location and Host School: The 2011 Conference and Pre-conference Workshop were held at the Eagan Community, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan, Minnesota on April 7-9, 2011. The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San Jose State University was the host school. Click here to review the conference PDF flier or see conference photos.

Awards: Three award recipients were selected for the first time. The awards recognized individuals who excel in Omaha System-related practice, education, and research. The San Jose State University School of Nursing presented the recipients with a certificate and a $150 check. Suzanne Plemmons, RN, MN, PHCNS-BC received the Excellence in Practice Award. Karen A. Monsen, RN, PhD received the Excellence in Education Award. Kathryn H. Bowles, RN, PhD, FAAN received the Excellence in Research Award. Read more about their accomplishments and contributions to the Omaha System here.

Participants: Members of various disciplines registered from 15 states, Canada, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and The Netherlands. Many registered online. Twenty posters were displayed. Seven groups exhibited, and seven generous donors gave Mall of America gift certificates for a drawing. The speakers and planners were Kathryn H. Bowles, Pennsylvania; Victoria L.S. Britson, Iowa; Daryl Canham, California; Phyllis M. Connolly, California; Pamela J. Correll, Maine; J.B.I. de Blok, The Netherlands; Marcia Dobrick, Wisconsin; Kathleen L. Dubbels, Minnesota; Sheree East, New Zealand; Oladimeji F. Farri, Minnesota; Kathleen M. Ford, Arizona; Karen S. Martin, Nebraska; Karen A. Monsen, Minnesota; Barbara A. Mork, Minnesota; Cynthia K. O’Sullivan, Connecticut; Suzanne Plemmons, Washington; Beverly K. Rhodes, Canada; Judith G. Riemer, California; Nancy J. Scheet, Nebraska; Nicole K. Sowers, Minnesota; Cheryl W. Thompson, Pennsylvania; Diane Thorson, Minnesota; Karen Utterback, Missouri; Bonnie L. Westra, Minnesota; Bev Zabler, Wisconsin; Yue Zhao, PR China.

2009 Omaha System International Conference Report

Location and Host School: The 2009 Conference and Pre-conference Workshop were held at the Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan, Minnesota on April 16-19, 2009. The University of Minnesota School of Nursing was the host school; the conference was part of their centennial celebration. Click here to review the conference PDF flier or see conference photos.

Participants: Members of various disciplines registered from 17 states, Estonia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and The Netherlands. Many registered online. Twenty-two posters were displayed. Six groups exhibited, and donated 5 Mall of America gift certificates for a drawing. The speakers and planners were Amy J. Barton, Colorado; Kathryn H. Bowles, Pennsylvania; Rosemary V. Chaudry, Ohio; Phyllis M. Connolly, California; Pamela J. Correll, Maine; Connie J. Delaney, Minnesota; Marcia Dobrick, Wisconsin; Kathleen M. Ford, Arizona; Jo Anne Grace, Colorado; Louis C. Henry, Jr., Minnesota; Jacqueline J. Hill, Louisiana; Carol J. Judkins, California; Madeleine J. Kerr, Minnesota; Lisa V. Klotzbach, Minnesota; Leslie M. Larsen, Wisconsin; Karen G. Lindberg, Minnesota; Karen S. Martin, Nebraska; Marylyn M. McEwen, Arizona; Karen A. Monsen, Minnesota; Judith G. Riemer, California; Charlotte E. Stepanian, Massachusetts; Jill E. Timm, Minnesota; Karen Utterback, Missouri; and Frances KY Wong, Hong Kong, China.

2007 Omaha System International Conference Report

Location and Host School: The 2007 Conference and Pre-conference Workshop were held at the Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan, Minnesota on April 12-14, 2007. The University of Minnesota School of Nursing was the host school. Click here to see conference photos.

Participants: Members of various disciplines registered from 16 states, New Zealand, and Wales. Seventeen posters were displayed; eleven groups exhibited. The speakers and planners were Amy J. Barton, Colorado; Nancy M. Benavides, Michigan; Kathryn H. Bowles, Pennsylvania; Phyllis M. Connolly, California; Connie J. Delaney, Minnesota; Linda Denison, Wisconsin; Constance J. Dreyer, Minnesota; Beth Furlong, Nebraska; Vicki D. Gines, Missouri; Nancy P. Hanrahan, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth A. Jones, Minnesota; Madeleine J. Kerr, Minnesota; Debra J. Konicek, Illinois; Leslie M. Larsen, Wisconsin; Maureen E. Leonardo, Pennsylvania; Karen Lindberg, Minnesota; Amy Lytton, Minnesota; Karen S. Martin, Nebraska; Karen A. Monsen, Minnesota; Trung Nguyen, Minnesota; Susan Pfeifer, Washington; Carol A. Romano, Maryland; Debra A. Solomon, Minnesota; Karen Utterback, Mississippi; Bonnie J. Westra, Minnesota; and Shona K. Wilson, New Zealand.

Online: Many participants registered online. Participants and others viewed the Breeze online presentation (audio recording with PowerPoint) for the rest of 2007 that was sponsored by CareFacts Information Systems, Inc., CHAMP Software, Inc., Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative, SNOMED® International, and the University of Minnesota.

2005 Omaha System International Conference Report

Location and Host School: The 2005 Conference and Pre-conference Workshop were held at the Woodlake Lutheran Church, Richfield, Minnesota on April 21-23, 2005. College of St. Catherine Department of Nursing was the host school. Click here to see conference photos.

Participants: Members of various disciplines registered from 21 states, Estonia, and Wales. Fourteen posters were displayed; seven groups exhibited. The speakers and planners were Mary Jo Baisch, Wisconsin; Amy J. Barton, Colorado; Kathryn H. Bowles, Pennsylvania; Susan J. Buelow, St. Paul, Minnesota; Jean R. Christensen, Wales; Ida Clark, Illinois; Phyllis M. Connolly, California; Pamela J. Correll, Maine; Constance J. Dreyer, Minnesota; Marcelline R. Harris, Minnesota; Mary Jo Holford, Illinois; Madeleine J. Kerr, Minnesota; Debra J. Konicek, Illinois; Leslie M. Larsen, Wisconsin; Karen S. Martin, Nebraska; Karen A. Monsen, Minnesota; Diane Pravikoff, California; Judith G. Riemer, California; Patricia M. Schoon, Minnesota; Heather Shlosser, Vermont; Alice Swan, Minnesota; and Thomas Williams, Wisconsin.

2003 Omaha System International Conference Report

Location and Host School: The 2003 Conference and Pre-conference Workshop were held at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Conference Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 24-26, 2003. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Nursing was the host school. Click here to see conference photos.

Participants: Members of various disciplines registered from 19 states, Canada, and Wales. The speakers and planners were Amy J. Barton, Colorado; Kathryn H. Bowles, Pennsylvania; Patricia A. Chiverton, New York; Dame June Clark, Wales; Marie J. Cowan, California; Constance J. Dreyer, Minnesota; Victoria L. Elfrink, Ohio; Linda Olson Keller, Minnesota; Debra J. Konicek, Illinois; Sally P. Lundeen, Wisconsin; Karen Dorman Marek, Missouri; Karen S. Martin, Nebraska; Kathy J. Mitchell, Virginia; Karen A. Monsen, Minnesota; Julie Pahlen, Minnesota; Beth B. Patterson, Maine; Lisa A. Plowfield, Delaware; Judith G. Riemer, California; Gretchen Sampson, Wisconsin; Doris J. Schoneman, Wisconsin; Susan J. Warner, Minnesota; Carol L. Weinhoff, Wisconsin; and Bonnie L. Westra, Minnesota.

2001 Omaha System International Conference Report

Location and Host School: The 2001 Conference and Pre-conference Workshop were held at Bethel College, St. Paul, Minnesota on March 22-24, 2001. Bethel College Nursing Department was the host school. Click here to see conference photos.

Participants: Participants represented practice, education, and research, and came from 21 states, New Zealand, Wales, and Japan. The speakers and planners were Linda K. Ament, Nebraska; Amy J. Barton, Colorado; Kathryn H. Bowles, Pennsylvania; Christine M. Broeker, Minnesota; Joseph T. Burley, Florida; Jean R. Christensen, Wales; Phyllis M. Connolly, California; Jean F. Coppola, New York; Rebecca W. Dahl, Arizona; Constance J. Dreyer, Minnesota; Victoria L. Elfrink, Ohio; Ann M. Jones, Minnesota; Nancy A. Keefe, Indiana; Sally P. Lundeen, Wisconsin; Karen S. Martin, Nebraska; Karen A. Monsen, Minnesota; Donna F. Neff, Ohio; Nancy J. Scheet, Nebraska; Helen L. Sloan, Louisiana; Debra A. Solomon, Minnesota; Andrea E. Sorensen, Minnesota; Ronna J. Steffen, Minnesota; Barbara A. Thomas, New York; Bonnie L. Westra, Minnesota; and Shona K. Wilson, New Zealand.