Upcoming Programs

Exceptional professional learning builds an engaged and resilient nursing workforce and helps nurse leaders at stages of their leadership journey succeed in their roles.

Invest in yourself, your team, and your organization by participating in our interactive professional development programs led by esteemed faculty and distinguished thought leaders.

Click here to download our Winter/Spring 2026 Programs At-a-Glance

Navigating Conflict With Clarity and Confidence
Tuesday, April 14th, 2026, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey

Nurse leaders at all levels need the skills and know-how to navigate conflict with clarity and confidence. In this interactive program, conflict management expert Randy Keirn will equip nurse leaders with a step-by-step framework for managing and resolving conflict effectively and sustainably. Participants will leave with the ability to transform conflict situations into opportunities for improvement, increased accountability, and enhanced team performance.

ONL Leadership Catalyst
Wednesday and Thursday, April 29th and 30th, 2026, at the Conference Center at Waltham Woods in Waltham, Massachhusetts
For nurse leaders with two or more years of formal leadership experience

This two-day, in-person program offers immersive leadership development for nurse leaders with two or more years of formal leadership experience. Participants will deepen their strategic leadership capacity, gain insights about their leadership practice, and refine their leadership purpose to reflect their values. Upon completing the program, nurse leaders will be equipped with strategies for leading diverse and multi-generational teams, strategically navigating complex relationships, and strengthening teams by enhancing resilience, purpose, and replenishment.

Participants can expect two full days of engaging content, insightful discussions, and collaborative activities led by renowned faculty with extensive experience in healthcare leadership. Nurse leaders will also benefit from building meaningful connections face-to-face with their cohort of fellow nurse leaders from New England; program faculty; and ONL leaders during the workshops and networking sessions. These valuable relationships will provide a supportive professional network to whom participants can turn as fellow leaders. 

Succeeding in Difficult Conversations: Strategies for Nurse Leaders
Wednesday, May 13th, 2026, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey

Difficult conversations are part of every leadership role, and feeling confident in challenging conversations takes practice. In this interactive workshop, Dr. Crystal Lawson will offer practical tools to empower nurse leaders to succeed in executing difficult conversations, reduce anxiety about giving feedback, and gain confidence in managing performance while also demonstrating respect.

Staying Power: Building a Culture of Retention in the New World of Work
Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey

More than half of all nurses now leave their organizations within their first two years of employment. Generation Z nurses have different ideas about work and will quickly leave organizations if their needs are not met. Turnover is costly, disruptive to teams, and impacts the quality and safety of nursing care. To effectively retain nurses in this new world of work, leaders need to build a culture with staying power. During this workshop, Dr. Rose Sherman will share actionable, forward-thinking recruitment and retention strategies to promote well-being, engagement, career advancement, and a sense of belonging among the current and next-generation nursing workforce.

2026 ONL Annual Meeting
Thursday and Friday, June 4th and 5th, 2026 at the Newport Marriott Hotel and Spa
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey

Join us for learning, community, and inspiration at ONL's 2026 Annual Meeting: a dynamic, interactive conference that will take a deep dive into some of the profession’s most complex opportunities and share ideas and strategies to help nurse leaders meet this moment and lead for tomorrow. Our 2026 Annual Meeting will offer an unparalleled opportunity for nurse leaders at all levels to connect, collaborate, and learn. Nurse leaders in all roles across both academic and practice settings including clinical leaders, nurse managers and directors, nursing executives, and others are invited to attend to gain valuable perspectives and actionable strategies for leading nursing teams.

Applying for AONL Fellow Designation
Tuesday, June 16th, 2026, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET via Zoom

Are you considering applying for Fellow Designation in the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)? Attend this ONL Member Roundtable learn more about the process and get assistance with your application from experienced ONL colleagues who have firsthand knowledge of the application process and tremendous insight to share. ONL Member Roundtables are no-cost professional learning opportunities open exclusively to ONL Members. Members, please login to your MyONL account to register for this session.

The Inverted Pyramid: Leading Teams of Novice Nurses
Wednesday, June 17th, 2026, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey

Nursing faces a structural crisis in many healthcare settings as patient acuity has risen, and staff experience has declined. Historically, a solid base of veteran "expert" nurses supported a small group of novices. Today, the model has flipped into an inverted pyramid. Most frontline nurses in acute care environments are novice clinicians, supported by a shrinking minority of experienced clinicians.

Today's "inverted pyramid" nursing workforce—in which there are more novice nurses than experienced clinicians—means nurse leaders need different strategies to ensure safety and quality care on their units. This interactive workshop provides leaders with concrete strategies to manage patient care and coach clinically inexperienced teams. Participants will learn how to rebuild systems of safety to ensure quality care in an environment where experienced nurses are rare and at a premium.

Leading Change: Why Leaders Struggle, and How to Flip the Script
Wednesday, June 24th, 2026, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey

Leading change isn’t for the faint of heart—and in today’s healthcare landscape, those who hesitate risk getting left behind. Many leaders find themselves caught between big ideas and real-world barriers, unsure how to move forward.

Nurse leaders are responsible for maintaining ongoing operations and care while also translating organizational strategy into action—that's hard. This energizing, interactive session will explore why change feels so hard and share practical, actionable strategies for how nurse leaders can turn hesitation into momentum—and ideas into impact.