Making a Poster Presentation

The difference between poster and oral presentations is that with a poster presentation, the poster does most of the 'talking' about your project. That is, the material presented conveys the essence of your message. However, that does not mean that you can abandon the poster during the designated time. You have to 'stand-by-your-poster'! Your task as the presenter is to answer questions and provide further details; to bask in praise or suffer difficult questions; and to convince others that what you have done is excellent and worthwhile. A poster presentation should guide each viewer through the basics of the study or project, freeing the presenter to focus on discussion of essential elements of the work. Decisions about poster format and design contribute to efficient and accurate transfer of information using this medium.

A scientific poster is a communication tool that combines a verbal presentation with a visual aid. They are given to a small group of people, are limited in time and range of view, and are informal and interactive. Posters should look as professional as your professional research or project. Poster size specifications will differ for each presentation venue; always plan to use the space well. Incorporating good basic graphic design principles, using good quality art materials and papers, and the use of color as an organizing tool will contribute to the professional approach of this scientific communication. The average interaction time for a poster presentation is 10-15 minutes. You must use visual short-cuts and plan your verbal presentation carefully to do posters well.

Important characteristics for posters to have:
clear scientific value;
viewer-friendly lay-out, i.e., it has a hierarchical organization (“easy to follow sequence”), contains minimal text, has conveniently arranged and understandable graphs, and avoids (where possible) mathematical formulations.
“It takes intelligence, even brilliance, to condense and focus information into a clear, simple presentation that will be read and remembered. Ignorance and arrogance are shown in a crowded, complicated, hard-to-read poster." Mary Helen Briscoe

Poster Guidelines

Succinct title
Background (review of literature, need for project)
Purpose
Project description/methodology and context (sample, setting, etc.)
Outcomes
Implications for nursing
Recommendations

Here are two templates I have shared with nurses in the Orange County region over the past several years. I found the first template (for a rectangular poster made on Powerpoint for professional reproduction) on the internet several years ago, and did not gain permission to publish it. This template allows someone to make a poster for use on a bulletin board surface (attached with tacks or velcro) or for reproduction on foamcore board. The trifold template (you need MS PowerPoint to view) is a modification of the first template that allows someone to reproduce a poster and tack it on a 3x5' tri-fold poster board (for table top display).