Excelsior Alliance

AONL Foundation Launches Excelsior Alliance program

CHICAGO (June 29, 2018) - The AONL Foundation for Nursing Leadership Research and Education announced the launch of its Excelsior Alliance donor recognition program for health systems, hospitals, networks and other health care provider organizations, with the receipt of a $10,000 unrestricted gift from AtlantiCare, Atlantic City, N.J., a member of Geisinger, based in Danville, Pa. 

“The name Excelsior, which means “ever higher”, captures our aspirations for both the foundation’s agenda and this new recognition program,” said Deb Zimmermann, DNP, RN, vice chair of the foundation’s board of directors. “Such tangible unrestricted support from health systems, such as AtlantiCare and Geisinger, will help the Foundation aim ever higher toward fulfilling its distinct mission of shaping health care, through research and education that advance innovative and expert nursing leadership. We are hopeful many more health organizations will partner with the Foundation in this noble cause.”

“AtlantiCare and Geisinger are most proud to be charter members of the Excelsior Alliance, said  Lori Herndon, MBA, RN, president and CEO of AtlantiCare. “We are pleased to make this gift not only as a way to honor the tremendous leadership of AtlantiCare Chief Nursing Officer, Robyn Begley, DNP, RN,  who chairs the AONL Foundation, but as a very tangible expression of our continuing commitment to nursing leadership research and education.”

“Geisinger has a long and proud tradition of blazing the trail when it comes to nursing excellence and innovation,” said Geisinger Chief Nursing Officer and Executive Vice President Susan Robel, MHA, RN. “Last year we demonstrated that commitment with the creation of the Geisinger Nursing Institute. And this year we are honored to set the pace once again in helping to establish the Excelsior Alliance.”

“I am humbled and most appreciative of AtlantiCare and Geisinger’s generosity,” said Begley. “AONL Foundation board members are very excited about the potential for the Excelsior Alliance. We believe alliance membership will become the pre-eminent designation for health systems and health care organizations throughout the country that wish to publically signal their commitment to the advancement of our nursing leadership profession.”

The AONL Foundation’s vision is to be “the place where nurse leaders do their thinking.” Its current research agenda includes studies on the impact of the nurse manager’s job design and practice environment on achieving the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Quadruple Aim; understanding the influences on nurses to speak up or remain silent when patients are at risk; nursing leadership’s role in the acceptance of new technology; and exploring sustainable nursing workforce development.