Voice of the President | March 2026
In times of disaster, whether natural or man-made, nurses are consistently at the forefront of response efforts. Their clinical expertise, calm and ability to lead through uncertainty make them indispensable in managing a crisis. As threats continue to evolve — from pandemics and climate-related events to cybersecurity breaches and supply chain disruptions — the role of nurse leadership in disaster response and emergency preparedness has become more critical than ever.
My understanding of emergency preparedness was shaped early in my leadership journey and reinforced repeatedly over the years. My first exposure came in 1988 as a nurse manager at a community hospital in Jamaica, preparing for and leading through a Category 4 hurricane. Since then, I have navigated and led through public health threats such Ebola and COVID-19, dangerous weather, infrastructure failures, cybersecurity and supply chain disruptions. I have learned that effective response is built over time through planning, training, clear designation of roles, strong communication and trust. A resilient system allows leaders and front-line teams to focus on what they do best: caring for patients, communities and each other under extraordinary circumstances.
The strength of nurse leaders lies not only in their clinical expertise but also in their ability to coordinate, communicate and innovate during times of uncertainty ... Nurse leaders play a critical role in building the systems that make sure effective responses are possible.
A well-defined hospital incident command system is essential in being able to respond when the need arises. This edition of the Voice includes excellent examples of how nurse leaders have guided their teams through emergencies — lessons that can be adapted to organizations and communities of all sizes.
Adam Meier discusses the benefits of placing chief nursing officers in incident commander roles during times of crisis, relying on their experience with professional governance and decision-making expertise. Drawing on his experience as incident commander during a severe Midwest snowstorm, Meier shares that incident command does not have to be purely hierarchical. Instead, when paired with the tenants of professional governance, it becomes an effective framework that promotes cross-departmental partnerships and ensures patient-first decision-making.
Carol Mention examines an urban academic health center’s response to the devastating 2025 Los Angeles wildfires by providing a coordinated systems-based approach across preparedness, response and recovery. As climate-related disasters increasingly disrupt health care delivery, this article demonstrates the importance of integrating environmental intelligence, clinical operations and clear governance. Such integration strengthens system resilience. Throughout the wildfires and their aftermath, nurse leaders played a critical role in monitoring environmental conditions and maintaining continuity of care to protect patients, staff and community health.
Cybersecurity threats are increasingly common and may have serious implications for patient care and safety. Tammy Williams and her colleagues share lessons learned from a recent ransomware attack that disrupted access to electronic medical records and critical clinical systems. Through rapid activation of an incident command system, strong nursing leadership and interprofessional teamwork, the organization maintained patient safety by swiftly transitioning to paper-based workflows and redeploying staff to support clinical operations. Their article provides valuable insight into addressing this growing threat to our health care delivery system.
When flooding from Hurricane Helene disrupted production and distribution of intravenous (IV) and peritoneal dialysis solutions, nursing leaders at Providence Health and Services based in Renton, Wash., coordinated a swift response to mitigate disruptions in patient care. Renee Rassilyer-Bomers and her co-authors highlight how local and system-level hospital incident command systems drove coordinated action. Nurse leaders partnered with front-line teams to redesign care pathways, prioritize surgical cases, reduce waste and safely challenge long standing practices around IV fluid use. Their experience demonstrates that trust, collaboration and informed decision making can build resilience and support sustainable practice change, even during times of crisis.
In an interview, David Marshall speaks about his leadership experience with the Disaster Medical Assistance Team, part of the National Disaster Medical System within the Department of Health and Human Services. Marshall emphasizes how nurses bring essential systems thinking, adaptability and operational discipline to disaster response. He encourages nurse leaders to prepare through incident command training and local volunteer opportunities, highlighting that purpose-driven service strengthens disaster response as well as everyday leadership.
Across these examples, one thing is clear: The strength of nurse leaders lies not only in their clinical expertise but also in their ability to coordinate, communicate and innovate during times of uncertainty. Whether responding to a natural disaster, a public health crisis or a cyberattack, nurse leaders translate strategy into action. They ensure patient safety, maintain operational continuity and guide their teams through high-pressure situations with skill and confidence.
Nurse leaders play a critical role in building the systems that make sure effective responses are possible. From developing and leading hospital incident command systems, to tracking real-time environmental threats, nurse leaders prepare their teams for the unexpected.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the donors listed in the 2025 AONL Foundation Honor Roll. Their generous financial support enables us to provide resources that create opportunities to bridge science and practice, shaping the future of nursing leadership. This support allows us to continue to work toward our vision of a healthier tomorrow advanced through nursing leadership. Thank you for your support.
As we continue to face evolving threats, the examples in this edition serve as a reminder that nurse leaders are essential in maintaining resilient health care systems. Through collaboration, innovation and purposeful leadership, we can guide our teams and organizations through crisis, emerging stronger, more connected and better prepared for the challenges ahead.