Nurses Expo Conference – Friday, April 24, 2026
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We are delighted to be bringing you our 44 th Nurses Expo Conference on April 24, 2026! Once again, we will have two keynotes, several breakout sessions, awards, scholarships, and great exhibitors and sponsors! We also will be offering five volunteer grants for those who would like
to help with Expo and attend for free.
Registration to attend Nurses Expo 2026 will open in January 2026.
However, Awards, the Call for Abstracts, and Scholarships are open now – see each section below for more information. We also will have great sponsorship opportunities for Nurses Expo 2026.
We already have several Sponsors for Nurses Expo 2026! We are proud to partner with all of them and look forward to more joining us.
For those of you interested in being a Sponsor this year, click on our prospectus above for detailed information on opportunities and/or go to our Sponsorship section for more information and to access our registration page.
Thank you to all of our Nurses Expo Sponsors!
We could not provide this conference without your support.
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
Stateline Nurses Network & the Nurses Expo Planning Committee have chosen Winnebago County CASA as our highlighted charity for this conference. Click their logo to see more about this worthy cause.
NURSES EXPO 2026 REGISTRATION
NURSES EXPO 2026
Nurses Expo 2026
NURSES EXPO 2026 REGISTRATION
Nurses Expo is one of Illinois’ longest-running nursing educational and networking events with over 40 years of community history! This year, Nurses Expo will be held at BMO CENTER, 300 Elm Street, Rockford, Illinois. We are excited to share this year’s theme: “Empowering Our Future” which truly embodies the spirit of nursing moving forward.
ATTENDEES
We welcome nurses from all practice settings and experience levels (including nursing students) to join us. You’ll be able to visit exhibitor booths from major healthcare employers, colleges, and other national, regional and local businesses; network with friends and colleagues; receive a swag bag full of goodies; participate in raffle drawings; and much more!
SPEAKERS
On our schedule this year, we will have 2 keynote presentations, as well as three breakout sessions with a choice of three speakers per session from which to choose. Program topics for the breakout sessions cover a variety of topics and span all areas of nursing. Click the buttons below to learn more about each speaker and presentation, and to view the agenda schedule.
REGISTRATION OPTIONS
Please indicate your 1st , 2nd , and 3rd choices of breakout sessions on your registration form. We will always try and accommodate your first choices—the sooner you register the better your chances, so register early!
Options to register include:
1. Online registration
2. Mail-in registration: download the registration flyer, complete the form, and submit with check or money order payment
3. Group discount registration (for 5 or more NURSE attendees): Contact statelinenurses2013.com
Call for Poster Abstracts,
Poster Presenter Student Grant
Stateline Nurses Network and the Nurses Expo Committee invite you to submit an abstract and present a poster at our annual Nurses Expo. The purpose of the poster session is to recognize nursing Innovations, Evidence-Based Practice projects (EBP), Research that reflects the diversity of nursing in clinical practice, administration, and education, and, Practice Improvement Projects, including simulation projects, projects completed or completing at work to improve patient care, lessons learned, successful changes to processes in the nursing field. This opportunity is open to all nurses and nursing students.
All presenters must register and attend Nurses Expo so they may answer any questions from Nurses Expo attendees.
We are WAIVING THE FEE FOR THE MAIN PRESENTER TO ATTEND NURSES EXPO. Anyone else on the team who wishes to attend will still need to pay the registration fee.
Other Student Discounts:
ALL other undergraduate students who are accepted to present a poster may download the Undergraduate Student Poster Presenter Grant and attend for free (see below link). Other students who are on the team who wish to attend Nurses Expo are eligible for a discount – contact Patty Hall, our administrative assistant, at statelinenurses2013@gmail.com for details.
Click the buttons below to download the Call for Poster Abstracts and Poster Presenter Undergraduate Student Grant applications, complete the forms within the fillable PDF and follow the included instructions to make your submission.
Deadline to Submit: Friday, March 27, 2026
SNN 2026 Volunteer Grant
We have a great opportunity for nurses and nursing students to get involved with AND attend Nurses Expo free of charge!
Up to 5 Volunteer Grants will be offered to worthy recipients. In exchange for FREE attendance, we ask for help for a few hours the day before and all day during Expo. All volunteers will be guided by experienced Committee members, and will be able to experience the Expo, listen to speakers, and receive CEUs (Volunteers who are not yet licensed will not need or receive CEUs). Please complete the form and return it to us to be considered.
Deadline to Submit: Friday, March 27, 2026
Awards & Scholarships
Let's grow together
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Scholarships
Stateline Nurses Network Awards
Honor a fellow nurse or nursing supporter!
In accordance with SNN’s mission to advance the profession of nursing, SNN seeks nominations for awards. These awards are presented at Nurses Expo. Personal letters of congratulations will be mailed to all winners.
Every year, Stateline Nurses Network honors our area nurses as a way to say, “THANK YOU; we value everything you do and for being the backbone of our community”. Every year we also honor and thank a supporter of the nursing profession.
Help Stateline Nurses Network choose this year’s award winners. Submit your nominations today!
- Distinguished Advocate for Nursing Award: is for an individual, group, agency, or institution that has promoted and/or supported nurses, the nursing profession, or the specific missions of nursing.
- Excellence in Nursing Award: is for an outstanding nurse who has demonstrated excellence in practice and in their contribution to the community outside of work.
Nomination deadline: Friday, March 27, 2026
Find more information below and apply through our website!
Additionally, you can view previous winners with the button below.
Distinguished Advocate for Nursing Award
The Distinguished Advocate for Nursing Award is for an individual (nurse or non-nurse), group, agency, or institution that has/have promoted and or supported nurses, the nursing profession, or the specific missions of nursing.
It is important that you use your best evidence to discuss why you believe your nominee should receive this honor. The committee will use only the information written by you regarding the nominee.
OR
Excellence in Nursing Award
The Excellence in Nursing Award is for an outstanding nurse who has demonstrated excellence in practice. Previous winners are eligible for re-nomination provided they are being nominated for accomplishments made after their past award. The Candidate must:
- Be professionally active
- Demonstrate ethical integrity, which includes behaviors such as fairness, honesty, etc.
- Demonstrate competency and/or leadership in nursing
- Have provided a contribution to the practice of nursing
- Demonstrate a positive attitude about nursing
OR
SNN Nursing Scholarships
The Stateline Nurses Network is pleased to announce the availability of four scholarship awards. The members of the Stateline Nurses Network wish to recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence in both academic and clinical performance.
Applicants should reside or attend school in Northern Illinois or Southern Wisconsin.
Monetary awards in the amount of $1,000.00 will be presented to selected applicants who demonstrate potential for excellence in professional nursing practice in the following categories:
- Pre-Licensure student – RN or LPN (must be enrolled in at least the 2nd term of clinical courses)
- Bachelor of Science degree completion
- Master of Science degree completion
- Doctor of Nursing programs
Deadline to Submit: Friday, March 27, 2026
Exhibitors & Sponsors
The Nurses Expo 2026 Planning Committee is pleased to invite you and your organization to join us by participating in the Stateline Nurses Network Expo 2026 and reach hundreds of talented nurses and nursing executives from across Illinois and Wisconsin. We are excited to have an in-person conference on Friday, April 24, 2026 at a NEW LOCATION:
BMO Center
398-300 Elm Street
Rockford, IL 61101
Attendees of our Nurses Expo include nursing students, LPN’s and RN’s as well as nursing educators and administrators. The mission of the Stateline Nurses Network and the goals of the Nurses Expo are aligned to create an event that allows nursing professionals to expand their network, gain knowledge and grow professionally. We are proud to say that we are the longest running Nursing Symposium in the state of Illinois. Each year we seek out outstanding local, regional and national speakers so that we can present thought provoking topics, and issues relevant and timely to the current healthcare delivery model. In addition, Stateline Nurses Network offers thousands of dollars in scholarships to nursing students in these disciplines.
We are seeking sponsorship from organizations, such as yours, to help us maintain the quality and affordability of our Expo. And you, in turn, will receive recognition as a sponsor, one on one interaction with Expo attendees that can generate innumerable leads, as well as exposure through advertising; all of which is as detailed on our sponsorship registration page.
We have some exciting ways and opportunities to be a part of our Expo including Gold, Silver, and Bronze Sponsorships; Keynote and Speaker Sponsorships; Breakfast, Lunch and Snack Table Sponsorships; Branded Swag Bag Sponsorship; Passport Sponsorship; Photobooth Sponsorship, and others including NEW THIS YEAR – PLATINUM SPONSOR.
This year’s Nurses Expo promises to be an event where your organization can support the future of nursing and provide your products and solutions that will impact the nursing industry in their facilities and beyond. We look forward to having you join us at Stateline Nurses Expo 2026!
Click the link below for our sponsorship registration form. If you have any questions, please contact us at statelinenurses2013@gmail.com