Voice of the President | May 2026
Leadership in nursing is expressed at every level of our profession, from the bedside to the boardroom, across clinical care, academia, public health, industry, government and beyond. What unites us is a shared commitment to grow, to lead with purpose and to prepare ourselves and others for the evolving demands of health care. Career development is not a single moment or milestone, it is a lifelong journey that helps each of us discover our potential and strengthen our impact.
Thinking back to the early days of my career, I am heartened by the transformation that has occurred to elevate leadership training to a strategic imperative. I assumed my first leadership position informally when, as a charge nurse at a community hospital in Jamaica, the matron asked me to “go to the OR and help us figure out what we need to do to make the place work better.” My new role didn’t even come with a job title, but it proved pivotal in shaping the rest of my career.
We didn’t use the term “career development” back then, but the matron was a remarkable mentor and taught me how to make tough decisions, engage teams, build physician relationships and keep patient safety at the center of every action. Those early lessons became the foundation for every role that followed. Later, as I transitioned into a new culture and more complex leadership environments, I recognized the clinical expertise alone was not enough. I needed more formal preparation, academic advancement, leadership training and the guidance of a trusted coach to help me navigate each new role.
Career development is not a single moment or milestone, it is a lifelong journey that helps each of us discover our potential and strengthen our impact.
Over time, I witnessed the power of organizational investment in leadership. Our health system expanded development programs for emerging leaders, managers, directors and vice presidents, and launched a nursing academy. Our leadership also invested in fellowship programs, mentorships and leadership transitions. These programs have opened doors for countless nurses, including me, and demonstrated how structured development can transform careers, strengthen teams and elevate patient care.
Despite the gains and opportunities for career development, a persistent underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities in senior nursing roles remains. This reality shaped my dissertation research, which explored how nurse leaders from minority groups achieved success despite systematic barriers. Their stories revealed critical success factors, including intentional organizational investment, leadership support, mentorship, peer support and recognition.
This issue features innovative approaches to career development, demonstrating its importance in supporting professional growth, building workforce stability and improving patient care. Noreen Bernard examines the role of nurse executive residency programs in preparing nurse leaders to successfully serve in C-suite positions. Such programs reveal how structured learning, executive coaching and strategically aligned capstone projects can bridge the gap between clinical expertise and administrative responsibility, ultimately elevating the influence of nurse executives across the profession.
Christina Llanez and Yamile Reyes discuss the transformational impact of a competency-based nurse manager development program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. The program, grounded in the AONL Nurse Manager Competencies, showed consistent improvement in communication, relationship management and human resource leadership. Nurse managers who have completed the program report increased confidence and ability to navigate difficult situations.
Every nurse has an individual career path, and every career development program should offer flexibility and help nurses realize their long-term objectives. The Nursing Roadmap program at the University of Maryland Medical System provides a developmental framework outlining how nurses can advance from orientation through experienced practice and into leadership roles. Casey Embert and colleagues emphasize how the program creates transparency in leadership advancement opportunities and supports long-term retention and engagement objectives.
Few nurses have made the leap from clinical practice to chief executive officer. Christine Shuster shares the challenges and rewards she’s experienced in her role as president and CEO of Emerson Health, highlighting the importance of mentorship and taking risks to grow professionally. Laureen Driscoll, chief executive at Providence’s South Division, echoes those sentiments, and highlights the unique expertise and compassion nurse leaders bring to executive roles. Donna Hefner, CEO at Sierra View Medical Center, reminds us that leadership is not about being liked, but earning respect by acting with integrity.
In this issue, we also celebrate the achievements of our colleagues who were honored at the AONL annual conference, including AONL CEO Emeritus Robyn Begley, recipient of the AONL Lifetime Achievement Award. I want to acknowledge Robyn for her profound influence on my career. Her mentorship, friendship and willingness to open doors reconnected me deeply with AONL and created opportunities I could not have foreseen. I know I am not alone in this gratitude.
As I consider what I have learned along the way, a few truths stand out. Career development never ends. Each leadership transition requires new ways of thinking, making continual learning critical. A good first step is to find trusted colleagues who can provide guidance and honest feedback. Finally, we must continue to influence diversity in nursing leadership which will help enhance inclusive, respectful environments where all nurses feel a sense of belonging and are encouraged to grow.
AONL has a mission to transform health care through influential leadership. Preparing leaders at every level — from a variety of backgrounds — is central to that mission. I hope this issue inspires you to reflect on your own journey, invest in your development and support the growth of those who will lead alongside you.