The 2020 Call for Abstracts
37th Annual Nursing & Health Care History Conference
 
Chester, England
September 10-12, 2020

Due to COVID-19, the 37th Annual Conference has been canceled.

The American Association for the History of Nursing and host University of Chester, United Kingdom are co-sponsoring the Association's 37th annual conference to be held in Chester, England. The conference provides a forum for researchers interested in sharing new research that addresses events, issues, and topics in any area of nursing and healthcare history, broadly construed to encompass the history of nursing, global nursing history, nursing practice, healthcare institutions, caring, illness, healing work and public health. Submissions pertaining to all areas and regions of the world are welcome. Papers and posters that expand the horizons of nursing and healthcare history and engage related fields such as women's labor, technology, economic history, and race and gender studies are encouraged.


 Guidelines for Submission

  • Individual Paper or Poster: A one-page abstract of a completed study will be accepted by email. Presentations are 20 minutes long with 10 minutes for questions. Abstracts must include: (1) Overview of the topic, including the problem identified, the major actors, their interests and the historical period, (2) the historiographical literature on the topic, contextualizing your story within the key texts and approaches in the field; how is your work different? What is its contribution? (3) Methods, including primary sources, and perspective. (4) Summary and Implications -- including your conclusion and the significance of your findings (5) If applicable, identify how your paper contributes to a more inclusive history of nursing or health care. 
  • Each section of the abstract should be clearly identified with these specific headers.
  • Panel: A panel consists of 3-5 persons addressing a common topic. Panels need to submit an abstract describing the overall topic with each presenter also submitting an abstract using the above guidelines. Each abstract will be judged on its own merits. Panels are 90 minutes in length. Abstracts should follow the same format requirements as papers/posters (see above).
  • Thematic Proposals: The organizer should submit a one-page abstract giving a short, clear statement of the purpose of the presentation. These presentations are intended not for original scholarship, but to address topics of broad interest such as new themes in historiography, teaching, research methods, and advocacy. Though limited to 90 minutes, they can include several speakers with a flexible format.

Abstract preparation: Submit a one-page Word document file which must fit one side of one 8.5" x 11" paper. Margins must be one and one-half inches on the left, and one inch on the right, top, and bottom. Center the title in upper case, and single space the body using 12-point Times (New Roman) font. 

Submit two copies of your abstract; one must include the title, author's name(s), credentials, institutional affiliation, phone/fax and email. If more than one author is listed, indicate who is acting as the contact person. Indicate whether a paper, poster, panel or thematic presentation is sought. The second copy of the abstract should include only the title and mode of presentation with no other identifying information.

By submitting an abstract, you also give permission to the AAHN to use the work for educational purposes only. This includes, but is not limited to, inclusion in the conference program, posting to the AAHN website before and/or after the conference, and use of excerpts or themes for conference marketing efforts.

Submission deadline: Abstracts must arrive on or before February 29, 2020. Abstract results will be communicated to all submitters by April 1, 2020.

Submit to: [email protected]

**Individuals are not required to be AAHN members at the time of submitting an abstract, but if accepted, you must join AAHN before registering for and presenting at the conference.


TIPS ON ABSTRACT PREPARATION

Source: From Study to Abstract: The Art of Describing the Essence of a Study.
Panel Presentation at 35th Annual AAHN Research Conference, September 13-15, 2018.
Panel: Barbara Brodie, Wanda Hiestand, Judith Stanley, JoAnn Widerquist; Patricia D'Antonio, moderator.

  • Follow directions provided in the Call for Abstracts!
  • The abstract must be well written; the clarity of the writing mirrors your thinking.
  • Create an attractive, catchy title that captures the essence of the study.
  • Choose verbs carefully; aim for passionate phrases using concise language.
  • Write a good introductory paragraph which situates the study historically.
  • Provide some concrete details of the study to entice the reader to want to learn more.
  • List primary sources.
  • Historical research emphasizes conclusions.
  • Interweave research into today.
  • Have colleagues read the abstract before submission.

The Abstract Review Committee of AAHN uses a score sheet that emphasizes:

  • Clarity and focus
  • Manageable for presentation
  • Relevance for nursing history
  • Richness, complexity and depth of analysis
  • Appropriateness of sources regarding interpretations
  • Adequacy of abstract
  • Originality of idea 

American Association for the History of Nursing