Organization of Nurse Leaders

06/16/2026

There's still time to register for next week's program on 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁!

Nurse leaders are responsible for maintaining ongoing operations and care while also translating organizational strategy into action—that's hard. Led by Dr. Crystal Lawson DNP, RN, CENP and Dr. Dan Weberg, PhD, MHI, RN, FAAN, this energizing, interactive session will explore why change feels so hard and share practical, actionable strategies for how nurse leaders can turn hesitation into momentum—and ideas into impact.

📅 Wednesday, June 24th, 9:30 am -12:00 pm ET via Zoom
🎓 2.5 Contact Hours
➡️ https://www.oonl.org/leading-change-june-2026

05/27/2026

Today’s nursing workforce is changing, and nurse leaders need new strategies to support teams where novice nurses now make up the majority of frontline staff and experienced clinicians are rare and at a premium.

Join ONL and Dr. Rose Sherman on June 17 for The Inverted Pyramid: Leading Teams of Novice Nurses, an interactive virtual program exploring practical approaches to rebuilding systems of safety, coaching inexperienced teams, and ensuring quality patient care in today’s evolving clinical environment.

📅 Wednesday, June 17, 2026
⏰ 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET
💻 Virtual via Zoom
🎓 2.5 Contact Hours available

Space is limited, so register today: http://oonl.org/inverted-pyramid-june-2026

05/06/2026

Happy Nurses Week!

On behalf of the ONL Board of Directors, it is our honor to recognize and celebrate you and all our ONL members during Nurses Week.

Each of you exemplifies transformational leadership—guiding your teams and organizations with vision, strength, and deep expertise during a time when nursing leadership has never been more critical. Your commitment to advancing practice, supporting your workforce, and driving innovation continues to elevate the profession across New England.

You bring our mission to life every day—empowering nurse leaders to solve the challenges of today and seize the opportunities of tomorrow. Through your leadership, collaboration, and unwavering focus on excellence, you are shaping stronger systems of care and improving outcomes for the communities we serve.

Together, you are building our vision—a thriving community of nurse leaders, championing excellence and advancing health. I am continually inspired by the impact you make and the leadership you demonstrate

Thank you for your dedication, your resilience, and your commitment to leading with purpose.

With deep appreciation,
Kelly

Kelly Haeckel MSN, RN, NE-BC
President, 2025-2026

04/21/2026

𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗡𝗟 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗿. 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 "𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸". During this interactive virtual program, Dr. Sherman will share actionable, forward-thinking recruitment and retention strategies to promote well-being, engagement, career advancement, and a sense of belonging among the current and next-generation nursing workforce.

This program is 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀 of leadership, and both ONL Members and not-yet-members are welcome to attend! For more information or to register, visit: https://www.oonl.org/staying-power-may-2026

04/14/2026

𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲.

Join ONL and Dr. Crystal Lawson for our upcoming virtual program, 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, on May 13th to gain practical tools for 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆, 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 with confidence, and 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 conversations with clarity and respect.

Designed for nurse leaders at all levels, this interactive session will provide actionable strategies you can immediately apply to strengthen communication, reduce anxiety around challenging conversations, and support stronger team dynamics.

If you are looking to grow your leadership impact, this is a valuable opportunity to strengthen a critical skill set.

Learn more and register:https://www.oonl.org/assets/docs/meetings/DifficultConversations/2026May/ONL-Succeeding-in-Difficult-Conversations-May-2026.pdf

03/31/2026

Please join us in celebrating ONL members Patricia Noga and Monica Tucker-Schwartz who have been inducted as Fellows of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)!

This prestigious honor recognizes their sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping health care. We are incredibly proud to have Pat and Monica as part of the ONL community and to see their contributions recognized at the national level.

We also extend our congratulations to the entire 2026 Class of Fellows. Please join us in celebrating this outstanding achievement!

03/31/2026

Conflict is an inevitable part of nursing leadership. How leaders navigate it can shape team performance, culture, and patient outcomes.

ONL’s upcoming program, 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, is designed to equip nurse leaders at all levels with practical tools to address conflict effectively and sustainably. Led by conflict management expert Randy Keirn, CSP, EFO, MPA, BSN, RN, EMT-P of Healthy Workforce Institute, this interactive session introduces a structured, repeatable framework for turning conflict into an opportunity for accountability, growth, and stronger team dynamics.

Join us on April 14th to gain strategies to:
* Identify and address the root causes of conflict
* Communicate clear expectations aligned with organizational goals
* Strengthen accountability and drive meaningful behavioral change

If you are looking to strengthen your leadership impact and build healthier, higher-performing teams, this program offers actionable insights you can immediately apply.

Learn more and register:https://www.oonl.org/assets/docs/NavigatingConflict/2026April/ONL-Navigating-Conflict-with-Clarity-and-Confidence-April-2026.pdf

03/19/2026

In Massachusetts, legislation aimed at addressing unacceptable violence in healthcare workplaces is awaiting a vote in the Senate. This legislation is the result of years of collaborative work between hospitals, unions, and professional organizations, and passage of these worker protections has never been more critical.

Thanks to our colleagues at Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association for their leadership on this important legislation!

Rising concerns about violence in hospitals and emergency departments has led doctors and nurses to demand stronger legal protections for health care workers — and tougher penalties for those who assault them.

03/19/2026

𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Every day, nurses demonstrate the ability to think systemically, navigate complexity, build trust, and keep patients and families at the center of decision-making. These are not only clinical skills. They are leadership skills that health care organizations need now more than ever.

As the demands on health systems continue to grow, the experience and perspective nurses bring to leadership roles are essential to improving quality, strengthening workforce culture, and guiding organizations through change. Nurses are not just part of the leadership pipeline. They are already leading at every level.

This recent article from Vizient, Inc, "The future CEO may already be in scrubs - Why nurse leaders belong in the C-suite," captures this idea well and highlights why developing nurse leaders is critical to the future of health care. We couldn't agree more!

Read the article:
https://www.vizientinc.com/insights/all/2026/the-future-ceo-may-already-be-in-scrubs?utm_source=socialadvocacy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialadvocacy&blaid=8426902

Nurse leaders are uniquely equipped for enterprise leadership. Explore how health systems can build a stronger CEO pipeline by elevating nurses with financial acumen, strategic fluency and governance experience.

03/05/2026

When preceptors successfully deliver a good onboarding experience for new hires, they directly impact retention, build trust within the nursing team, and elevate nursing practice.

Join ONL and Dr. Crystal Lawson for our upcoming 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟳𝘁𝗵, which will 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Participants will gain insight and ideas for more effectively passing on their knowledge to new hires, creating a welcoming team culture, and promoting safe practice. This interactive virtual workshop complements preceptor development that happens within organizations.

Learn more and register:https://www.oonl.org/assets/docs/PreceptorCourse/2026April/ONL-Preparing-Preceptors-for-Success-April-2026.pdf