Event Safety & COVID-19
ARN is constantly monitoring the state of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following COVID-19 safety protocols have been put in place to ensure a safe meeting experience for everyone.
ARN Rehabilitation Nursing Conference COVID-19 Safety Protocols
Current protocols for those participating in in-person meeting components in Providence, RI, include:
- All attendees are required to befully vaccinated and will be asked to show proof of vaccination to enter the event space.
- Masks are required for all indoor events and activities.
- COVID-19 testing options will be available near the meeting venue and hotels.
Vaccination Requirement
The most effective way to ensure the safety of all attendees is for them to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of full vaccination is required for all in-person meeting attendees, exhibitors, and staff.
Please note:
- Only vaccines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO) will be accepted.
- A person is considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
- ARN will contract with a third-party vendor to manage the verification process on-site. More detailed information will be available in the coming weeks.
Masks
Masks are required for all indoor events and activities.
According to the CDC, infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. To reduce their risk of becoming infected with the Delta variant and potentially spreading it to others, CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people wear a mask in public indoor settings if they are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
On-site COVID-19 Testing
Resources near the meeting venue and hotels will be identified for attendees to obtain a rapid test for those who experience symptoms on-site and for those who must show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test in order to board their return flight. Please note:
- Attendees who have a positive COVID test result are encouraged to share their results with ARN staff.
- Should ARN learn of a confirmed COVID case during and/or after the conference, attendees will be notified via an email.
These protocols are accurate as of September 10, 2021. ARN will continue to monitor the ongoing situation and make updates to this page when additional information becomes available. If you have questions or concerns, please contact ARN Member Services at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 800.229.7530.
Rhode Island Convention Center & Hotel COVID-19 Precautions
ARN is working closely with the Rhode Island Convention Center on safety logistics, including enhanced cleaning and sanitation standards and placement of hand sanitizer stations.
ARN’s host hotels also have heightened COVID-19 safety precautions in place. Please use the following links to learn more:
Rehab Nurses, Better Together
We at ARN know this has been a challenging year for many, and especially for rehab nurses. Rehab nurses need and deserve a break from the added daily challenges and stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. We sincerely hope and believe that ARN’s 2021 Rehabilitation Nursing Conference can offer that opportunity to invest in professional development, get inspired, and connect with fellow rehab nurses and industry members.
Many ARN members have expressed a real desire to be at the conference in Providence for the kind of support, encouragement, and rejuvenation we now know is difficult to achieve through a screen. If that is you, please join us by registering for the hybrid meeting option. Many other ARN members have shared that travel restrictions, personal safety concerns, or an increased workload due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases has put traveling to conference out of reach. If that is you, please join us by registering for the virtual meeting option, which will also include chances to learn, connect, and grow.
Whatever format you choose, we look forward to gathering hundreds of rehab nurses from around the country this November. Always remember: Rehab nurses make the world a better place!
