eNews Leadership Updates | September 4, 2026
As we approach the end of summer and many students return to the classroom, including those of you advancing your own professional development, I hope you had an opportunity to recharge and spend time on your own well-being. Balancing the many demands of leadership can be challenging, and as nurse leaders, we are often more focused on caring for others than caring for ourselves. I encourage you to carve out even a small amount of time for activities that restore and energize you. Prioritizing your well-being is not selfish; it is essential to sustaining your ability to lead and care for others. As a nurse leader, I continually remind myself of this as well.
Last month I encouraged you to cast your vote for the leaders who would represent you on the board for the upcoming year, and help to shape AONL’s strategic direction, and you did just that. As a result, you elected three new regional directors and one at-large board member. Congratulations to our new AONL Board Members and thank you for your willingness to serve!
The next step in the election process is identifying appointed board members, which I am thrilled to announce that process begins today. Please see the story below for details on the expertise and experience being sought for these appointed Board positions. If the qualifications align with your leadership background, I encourage you to consider serving. Appointed directors bring unique perspectives and specialized expertise that strengthen and complement the work of AONL's elected Board members. Once the appointed directors are selected and approved, the 2027 Board election process will be complete.
The AONL Board and staff need your help to advance our strategic plan and achieve our goals. On September 23, AONL will launch its annual call for volunteers to serve on Member-Led Groups (MLGs). MLGs provide a meaningful opportunity for members to contribute their skills, expertise, and perspectives to advance nursing leadership and improve healthcare for all. By volunteering, you can help shape AONL initiatives, support the profession, and make a lasting impact on the future of healthcare.
As an AONL member, I served on committees and volunteered whenever I could. These experiences provided valuable opportunities for learning, professional growth, and networking, while also allowing me to give back to both the organization and the nursing leadership profession.
You are the heartbeat of this organization, and I welcome your thoughts and contributions. Know that you are a member of the premier nursing leadership organization in the United States. AONL is only as strong as we are together.
In closing, I would like to recognize our nursing colleagues and leaders who continue to serve their communities under extraordinary circumstances, including wildfires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, infectious disease outbreaks and armed conflicts. Your resilience, compassion and unwavering commitment to providing care in the most challenging environments are deeply appreciated. Our thoughts are with each of you as you continue this essential work.
Ena Williams, PhD, RN, CENP, FAAN
President, AONL Board of Directors
Email: aonl@aha.org