Children’s hospital builds stronger leadership pipeline using AONL program

In an AONL podcast, nursing leaders at Connecticut Children’s, Hartford, describe how they leveraged AONL’s Transition to Nurse Manager Practice program to strengthen leadership development, succession planning and workforce retention. Marge Julian, DNP, RN, associate CNO, and Kristin Kozlowski, MSN, RN, senior manager of nursing excellence and Magnet, say including 105 experienced leaders in the six-month, in-person program was pivotal to the program’s success because it promoted relationship-building and mentorship opportunities. Following an assessment of the novice leaders’ competencies, Connecticut Children’s prioritized developing their business skills and finance management and relationship management and communication skills. Novice leaders who still work clinically, gave the program particularly high ratings. Post-assessment results found a significant increase in competency domains, translating into improved patient and family outcomes.