Our Policies: Ensuring a Positive Experience

DRESS CODE: 

• ANCC encourages attendees to wear clothing appropriate for a business and professional setting. 

AGE REQUIREMENT: 

•  No one under the age of 18 may attend the 2026 Magnet & Pathway Conference or any conference-related events. Additionally, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) shall not be held liable or responsible for any illness or injury that may result from the presence, of anyone under the age of 18, at any conference or conference-related events. Individuals who are responsible for registering others are asked to share the age attendance limitation with those participants, prior to completing the registration process. 

RECORDING PROHIBITED: 

• The recording and/or transmission of the conference and any related events, in any format, is strictly prohibited.  
• All individuals and/or entities are strictly prohibited from electronically recording or broadcasting any conference events without prior written consent from the ANCC.

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES: 

• Press representatives must register and receive a Press Pass and photo/recording permission from ANCC. 

SEATING: 

• Seating at all conference sessions/events is available on a first-come, first served basis. 

INFORMATION DISCLAIMER: 

• Information presented in conference sessions, presentations and posters does not represent the views or standards of the American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Nurses Foundation or any of its subsidiaries. 

TRAVEL EXPENSES: 

• ANCC cannot be held liable for non-refundable airline tickets or hotel room deposits. 

• ANCC shall not be liable for any penalties or fare increases. 

"NO SHOWS": 

• In the event the attendee is a “no-show,” the attendee is responsible for all fees and penalties in connection with being a “no-show.” 

LOST & FOUND: 

• ANCC is not responsible for lost items or returning those lost items to the attendee. However, attendees can check with the on-site Conference Office to see whether any lost and found items have been turned in. 

ALLERGIES: 

• ANCC does not claim to be allergen free. We encourage all meeting participants to take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure to allergens. 

At this time, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) will not require documentation of vaccination for COVID-19 during the 2026 Magnet & Pathway Conference. ANCC will continue to monitor public health guidance regarding large gatherings and will comply with relevant Chicago, IL. laws as related to COVID-19 or other communicable illnesses during the conference. By attending the 2026 Magnet & Pathway Conference, participants, staff, and vendors agree to comply with any laws regarding COVID- 19, or other communicable illnesses that in in effect at the time. This policy may be updated at any time in advance of or during the conference as, and at the sole discretion of ANCC as new information becomes available.

ANCC recommends that conference participants, staff, and vendors consider wearing masks to prevent possible exposure to COVID -19, or other communicable illnesses.

International attendees who need a letter of invitation must first be registered and have paid for the conference prior to requesting the letter. Once payment is made, please reach out to meetings@ana.org. 

If an attendee chooses to wear a costume, and at ANCC’s sole discretion, wearers of costumes that are considered vulgar or offensive, those that include any type of simulated weapon to include but not limited to knives, swords, firearms; costumes representing any political candidate, message or party, costumes of a geopolitical nature; costumes of sexual or graphic nature will be asked to leave. Additionally, costumes cannot pose a trip or fall hazard to the wearer or other participants.

• Masks that cover the face or around the eyes are prohibited
• No political or religious costumes
• No costumes that are offensive based on race, gender, or other protected classes
• No “Black Face”
• No costumes that are revealing or exaggerate body parts
• No Costumes that depict stereotypes

In consideration of my participation in the 2026 Magnet & Pathway Conference, I irrevocably grant to ANCC permission to interview and take photographs/video footage of me. I hereby give ANCC permission to record, edit, transcribe, duplicate, and distribute, using any and all sound and visual media, including the internet, my interview, image, and the like. Further, I give to ANCC and its affiliates, employees, contractors, and assigns permission to use any and all such photographs and/or videos in which I have participated, and any reproductions thereof, as well as my name quotations from my verbal interview in whole or in part, in any manner it may deem proper, for any purpose, including without limitation commercial purposes. I understand and agree that I will not receive any compensation for use of photos and/or videos bearing my image. I have the right to decline being photographed or recorded before any photographs or recording is done and acknowledge that I must immediately notify BOTH the photographer and/or videographer AND conference staff if I am photographed or recorded after I have declined.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) values the participation of each attendee and desires for everyone to have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. All attendees are expected to show respect for and courtesy to other attendees, speakers and guests. All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of different backgrounds and opinion. All attendees for any events associated with the 2026 Magnet & Pathway Conference are solely responsible for their words and actions.
ANCC will not tolerate harassment, unacceptable behavior, or disruption of the 2026 Magnet & Pathway Conference of any kind, including, but not limited to, harassment based on ethnicity, religion, disability, physical appearance, gender, or sexual orientation. This policy applies to all participants and attendees of all ANCC events. ANCC, at its sole discretion, will determine whether behavior is harassing or unacceptable. By way of example, harassing or unacceptable behavior may include, without limitation, offensive gestures, posters, banners or social media posts, offensive or disruptive verbal or written comments, deliberate intimidation, and disruption of talks, speeches or presentations, or other events. Other forms of unacceptable or harassing behavior include, but are not limited to the following:
•    Intimidating, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, indecent, or demeaning speech or actions
•    Discussion of opposing viewpoints through personal attacks directed toward speakers, staff, or other attendees
•    Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following others 
•    Threatening or interrupting speakers, presenters, or others 
•    Direct or indirect abuse or derision in chats or on social media
•    Substance abuse that impacts on the right of other attendees to participate in or to focus on the business being discussed
•    Possession of weapons of any kind, notwithstanding local laws that may permit them
•    The display of offensive posters or banners, as determined by ANCC
•    Protests in any form, or unauthorized speeches or attempts to record the speakers or presenters that disrupt any part of the 2026 Magnet & Pathway Conference or associated events

Attendees who are asked to cease harassing or other unacceptable behavior are expected to comply immediately.  Failure to comply may serve as grounds for removal from the premises in whole or in part and may result in referral to local authorities. When notified of individuals engaging in harassing or unacceptable behavior, ANCC, at its sole discretion, may take any action it deems appropriate, ranging from a warning to expulsion from current and/or future ANCC meetings, assemblies, and events. Decisions to ban individuals from future events is at the sole discretion of ANCC.

If you are being harassed,  observe or overhear someone else being harassed or  being subjected to offensive or unacceptable behavior, or if you have any other concerns regarding the behavior or comments of other individuals, please contact onsite security personnel, or the meeting organizer by email at meetings@ana.org.

I agree and acknowledge that my participation in the 2026 Magnet & Pathway Conference and any related events and activities is voluntary and intentional; I fully accept responsibility for any and all injuries or illness that occur as a result of my participation in conference events and activities. I release ANCC, and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents, employees, volunteers, contractors, and representatives, from any and all liability resulting from my voluntary participation in the 2026 Magnet & Pathway Conference, whether directly or indirectly caused by ANCC. I further agree that I will indemnify ANCC from any and all liability resulting from my voluntary participation in the 2026 Magnet & Pathway Conference and related events.

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF CANCELLATIONS: 11:59 P.M. EDT ON September 15, 2026

• Cancellations must be submitted in writing to ancc@mcievents.com and should include the registration ID number and registrant name(s). Cancellations are not accepted by phone.

• All full conference (in person) cancellations are subject to a $200 administrative fee per registrant.

• Virtual and on-demand registration is nonrefundable.

• Tickets to additional events/meetings, and preconference events are nonrefundable.

• Donations are nonrefundable.

• Full conference cancellations notice received on or before September 15, 2026 will receive a refund less the $200 administrative fee.

• *No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after September 15, 2026.

• Promotions/discounts are not retroactive and cannot be applied to previously purchased individual or group registrations. Limit one exclusive offer/discount code per registration.

• Refunds are not issued for no-shows.

• Refunds for canceled registrations that have been approved are processed within four to six weeks after the close of the conference.

• Due to processing costs, only overpayments in excess of $35 will be considered for refunds. Please ensure that payments include the correct dollar amount to avoid overpayment.

• ANCC reserves the right to cancel or postpone any or all conference activities due to circumstances beyond the reasonable control of ANCC, which includes, without limitation, computer-related attacks, hacking, earthquakes, governmental regulation, fire, flood, labor difficulties, civil disorder, public health crisis, acts of terrorism, or acts of God (“Force Majeure Events”). In the event the Magnet/Pathway conference is canceled due to Force Majeure Events, ANCC reserves the right to either retain the entire registration fee and credit it toward a future ANCC event or reimburse the registrant after deducting costs already incurred by ANCC, which could not be recovered from third parties.

*Dates are subject to change. After September 1, 2026, regular registration fees will apply, and registrations will be accepted pending space availability only.