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 Fall 2026 Programs At-a-Glance
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Staying Power: Building a Culture of Retention in the New World of Work
Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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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.
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Succeeding in Difficult Conversations: Strategies for Nurse Leaders
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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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.
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Fall '26 Leadership Lunch Series
Fridays: Nov. 20, and Dec. 18, 2026, 12:00-1:30 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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ONL's Leadership Lunch Series is a four-part, interactive, live educational program in which nurse leaders and nursing teams learn and gain inspiration from our remarkable faculty lineup who share diverse perspectives ranging from big-picture thinking to tactical, actionable strategies. During each session, participants spend 90 minutes hearing from a different nationally-recognized distinguished thought leader via Zoom, with protected time to enjoy their lunch!
This program offers something for everyone at all levels of leadership and is a great way for organizations to invest in their nursing teams. When viewed as a team, this program serves as a jumping off point for internal discussion of the ideas shared and collaboration on application and strategies for implementation.
Remaining Fall 2026 Leadership Lunch Series sessions include:
- Nov. 20: Roots of Inequity: Leveraging Nursing History to Shape Contemporary Equitable Practice, Ashley Graham-Perel, Ed.D., RN, NPD-BC, MEDSURG-BC, CNE, FAAN
- Dec. 18: Dealing with Joy Interrupters: A Human-Centered Approach, Kay Kennedy, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ
Prorated pricing is available for those who wish to participate in the remaining sessions of this season's Leadership Lunch Series. Please contact [email protected] to inquire.
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Building a Culture of Accountability: Creating Shared Commitments that Strengthen Teams
Thursday, December 3, 2026, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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Strong team cultures don't happen by accident—and they don't sustain themselves during times of constant change. As nurse leaders navigate turnover, varying levels of experience, and continual onboarding of new team members, creating and sustaining a cohesive culture built on shared expectations, accountability, and teamwork has become more important—and more challenging—than ever.
Building a culture of accountability requires more than holding people responsible for outcomes. It begins with establishing shared expectations, defining team norms, and creating a sense of ownership and belonging. When leaders intentionally cultivate these foundations, accountability becomes part of the team's culture rather than something imposed from the top. This interactive session will equip nurse leaders with practical tools and proven strategies for building engaged, accountable teams that communicate openly, support one another, and consistently deliver exceptional care.
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ONL 2026 Winter Quarterly Meeting
Friday, December 11, 8:30 AM-2:45 PM ET at the Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center, Framingham, MA
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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Mark your calendar to join us for this informative, inspirational, and interactive program at which you and your team will gain expert perspectives, actionable strategies, and valuable resources while connecting and collaborating with fellow nurse leaders! Highlights will include:
- KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: The Future of Nursing in the Age of AI: Leading the Transformation of Care, Justin Bala-Hampton, DNP, MPH, MHA, APRN, NEA-BC, FNYAM
- PANEL DISCUSSION: The Nursing Leadership Advantage: How Nursing Prepares Leaders for the Highest Levels of Healthcare, Maria Ducharme, DNP, RN and Kevin Whitney, DNP, RN
- ONL Business Meeting
- Poster Presentations
This program offers something for nurses at all levels of leadership, from nurses leading change at the bedside to those leading health systems. It also offers terrific team bonding and shared learning for nursing teams.
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Winter/Spring '27 Leadership Lunch Series
Fridays: Jan. 22, Feb. 19, Mar. 19, and Apr. 16, 2027, 12:00-1:30 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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ONL's Leadership Lunch Series is a four-part, interactive, live educational program in which nurse leaders and nursing teams learn and gain inspiration from our remarkable faculty lineup who share diverse perspectives ranging from big-picture thinking to tactical, actionable strategies. During each session, participants spend 90 minutes hearing from a different nationally-recognized distinguished thought leader via Zoom, with protected time to enjoy their lunch.
This program offers something for everyone at all levels of leadership and is a great way for organizations to invest in their nursing teams. When viewed as a team, this program serves as a jumping off point for internal discussion of the ideas shared and collaboration on application and strategies for implementation.
Session topics and speakers soon to be announced.
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Leading Change: Why Leaders Struggle, and How to Flip the Script
Wednesday, January 27, 2027, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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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.
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The Nuts and Bolts of Nursing Leadership
Tuesday, February 2, 2027, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM ET via Zoom For Nurse Managers & Directors
Wednesday, February 10, 2027, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM ET via Zoom For Charge Nurses, Emerging Leaders, Team Leads & Clinical Leaders
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This highly-rated program offers fantastic foundational leadership training for nurse leaders newly in a leadership role.
Nurses are often promoted into leadership roles with little or no training in the leadership, management, and communication skills needed to succeed. This one-day, interactive program is designed to equip new leaders with the key skills and strategies needed to be successful: transitioning into a leadership role; communication and collaboration, including power and authority; resource management; and managing staff performance.
This program is offered on two different dates, with each customized to bring focus and examples that are designed for the specified target audience.
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Spring Quarterly Meeting
Friday, March 5, 2027, 8:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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ONL Members and not-yet-members alike are invited to join us for ONL's Spring Quarterly Meeting. This interactive, half-day virtual event is designed for nurses at all levels. Topics and speakers will be announced shortly.
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The Inverted Pyramid: Leading Teams of Novice Nurses
Thursday, March 11, 2027, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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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.
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Essential Leadership Skills for Charge Nurses
Wednesday, March 24, 2027, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM ET via Zoom
For current and aspiring charge nurses
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Led by Dr. Crystal Lawson, this interactive virtual program equips and empowers new and aspiring charge nurses with the essential leadership skills needed to be effective and successful across key aspects of the charge nurse role, including promoting quality outcomes, cultivating a healthy work environment, and fostering teamwork. Participants gain practical tools and strategies that can be put to use immediately on their unit.
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Elevating Your Executive Presence and Influence
Wednesday, March 31, 2027, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
Nurse managers and directors with at least one full year of experience in a formal leadership role
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Experienced leaders will tell you that getting results is not just about what you do, but how you go about doing it. Led by Dr. Dan Weberg, this interactive workshop will help nurse leaders enhance their executive presence and professional influence. Whether taking on a new role, working across departments, leading change, or building engagement, this session will prepare nurse leaders for higher-level leadership success in an increasingly complex, networked environment.
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Succeeding in Difficult Conversations: Strategies for Nurse Leaders
Thursday, May 20, 2027, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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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.
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2027 ONL Annual Meeting
Thursday and Friday, June 17 and 18, 2027 at the Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods, NH
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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Join us for learning, community, and inspiration at ONL's 2027 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 2027 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.
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Stay tuned for updates about future programs!
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