Voice of Nursing Leadership

AONL’s bi-monthly member-only magazine informs members about the best practices in nursing leadership across the continuum of care. Its themed issues delve into topics vital to nurse leaders at every level, helping them understand the dynamics in public policy and care delivery shaping professional nursing practice. Members also will learn about upcoming programs and the activities of AONL’s affiliates.

January 2026 Issue: Academic-Practice Partnerships

The January issue of Voice of Nursing Leadership focuses on academic-practice partnerships. Learn about the pillars for successful academic-practice partnerships from nurse execs at in Tennessee, along with how to structure programs to encourage undergraduate nurses to transition to successful practice. Read about the newly released APP playbook, created by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and AONL. This issue includes a Q & A with the first director of academic-practice integration and partnership for Emory University and Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. In addition, learn how a rural medical center partnered with a college to ease the way for non-nursing employees interested in becoming nurses.

Featured Articles

Innovation Without Walls: Transforming Rural Nursing Education Through Partnership

Jan. 2026 | AONL Member Only

Academic-practice partnerships (APPs) have long been recognized as a powerful means of connecting higher education with the evolving needs of health care systems. These partnerships enable the co-creation of educational models that directly address workforce shortages, promote practice readiness and support evidence-based patient care.
✎ Authors Jeff Hudson-Covolo, Shevonne Scott, Abdel Raheem Yosef

Innovation: Academic-Practice Integration and Partnership Role Q & A

Jan. 2026 | AONL Member Only

Academic and practice nurse executives are equally challenged with designing innovative, contemporary models of service delivery. Ideally, when universities and health care practice leaders collaborate as partners, our newest nurses entering professional practice receive extensive support and are well-positioned for success.

✎ Authors: Carrie McDermott, Noreen Bernard

Hot Topics | End-of-Life Committee Optimizes Patient Care, Staff Wellness

Jan. 2026 | AONL Member Only

Yale New Haven Hospital’s End-of-Life (EOL) Committee has been instrumental in optimizing end-of-life care and increasing bereavement support for families while protecting and supporting staff well-being. Its innovative initiatives and interventions provide a scalable model for other specialties and organizations seeking to optimize EOL care. This article details the committee’s operation and myriad benefits.
✎ Authors Jessica Giza, Catherine Coates, Jennifer Ghidini, Jennifer Menillo, Allison Pinney, Patrizia Schaefer, Arielle Thompson

Working Behind the Scenes: Ensuring Medical Practice Continuity

Nov. 2025 | AONL Member Only

Nurse executives often work behind the scenes to ensure the health and stability of their organizations. This article details one example of this work, when hospital executives managed the continuation of medical services in an emergency department (ED)...
✎ Authors Donna J. Hefner, Jeffery Hudson-Covolo

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Member-Only Monthly Issues

Leadership Practices
Nov 2025

High-Reliability Organizations
Sept 2025

Voice of the President

Leadership Practices

November 2025

As I write this final column as AONL president, I am filled with gratitude. Over the past four years...

✎ Author Deborah Zimmermann

High-Reliability Organizations

Septemebr 2025

In the face of growing complexity, constant change, and remarkable possibility in health care, one truth stands firm...

✎ Author Deborah Zimmermann

Articles Open to Nonmembers

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Voice of Nursing Leadership^TM is published bi-monthly by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association. Voice of Nursing Leadership^TM is published for AONL members only and is not available for subscription. All opinions expressed in Voice of Nursing Leadership^TM are those of the authors and not necessarily those of AONL or the institution with which the authors are affiliated, unless expressly stated. Naming of products or services does not constitute an endorsement by AONL. © 2021 AONL. All rights reserved. Voice of Nursing Leadership^TM may be reproduced only by permission. Send reprint requests and all other inquiries to the editor.