ONL's Annual Meeting

Nursing Leadership in 2024: Leading A Very Different Nursing Workforce

Leading nursing teams today is quite different than it was just a few years ago. In this keynote session, nursing leadership development expert and author Dr. Rose Sherman will discuss the latest nursing workplace and workforce trends and share successful leadership strategies to help nurse leaders meet today’s challenges and opportunities. This keynote will set the stage for the sessions to come later in our program with provocative ideas and insights about leading future nursing teams.

Rose O. Sherman, Ed.D, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Dr. Rose Sherman is nationally known for her innovative work helping current and future nurse leaders to develop their leadership skills. Rose is an emeritus professor at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University and currently serves as a faculty member in the Marian K Shaughnessy Nursing Leadership Academy at Case Western Reserve University. She received a BA in Political Science and BSN in Nursing from the University of Florida. Her Master’s Degree in Nursing is from the Catholic University of American, and she has a doctorate in nursing leadership from Columbia University in New York City. Before teaching, she spent 25 years in leadership roles with the Department of Veterans Affairs at five VA Medical Centers. She authors the popular nursing blog, www.emergingrnleader.com and is Editor in Chief of Nurse Leader. Dr. Sherman is also a Gallup certified strengths coach and author of two bestselling nursing leadership books, The Nuts and Bolts of Nursing Leadership: Your Toolkit for Success and The Nurse Leader Coach: Become the Boss No One Wants to Leave.

Nurse Manager Scope: A Data-Driven Approach to Re-Scoping Frontline Leader Span of Control to Mitigate Burnout and Strengthen Teams

Effective nurse managers have never been more critical to improving clinical nurse retention. Yet, evidence shows that nurse managers have excessive spans of control that contribute to overwork and work-related stress that makes it challenging for them to support their teams. In this session, The Health Management Academy's Vice President Anne Herleth will explore the variables that impact manager span-of-control and workload and offer action steps for re-scoping frontline leadership roles to drive improved workforce and patient outcomes.

Anne Herleth, MPH, MSW

Anne Herleth is Vice President, Member Insights at The Health Management Academy, a peer learning and research company that brings together Leading Health Systems and industry executives to collectively address the industry's biggest challenges and opportunities. Anne oversees multiple health system membership programs, including Nursing Catalyst—a national nursing innovation incubator among the nation’s leading health systems. As part of her role, Anne regularly presents on research and healthcare trends at industry events. Prior to joining The Academy, Anne was a research director at the Advisory Board and oversaw nursing and clinical operations research for health system members. She previously worked for a social sciences research firm in Rockville, MD and as a social worker in community-based clinics in St. Louis, MO. Anne holds a Master’s in Public Health and a Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband, daughter, and dog.

Exploring What We Know About Newly Licensed Nurses: Job Plans, Intent to Leave, and Resilience

Moderated by Dr. Rose Sherman, this panel of Deans and CNOs will discuss new research about newly licensed nurses' intent to stay and resilience. Panelists will explore new graduates' expectations of employers, the challenges of professional transition, and socialization in a teaming environment. The panel will also examine strategies for how academic practice partnerships can collaborate to help new graduate nurses be more confident, less stressed, and have a stronger professional identity.

Rose Sherman, Ed.D, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Moderator
Nursing leadership development expert and author

Traci Alberti, Ph.D., FNP-BC,
Associate Dean of Nursing, School of Nursing & Health Sciences, Merrimack College

Katherine Gregory, Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Dean, William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College

Joanne Fucile, DNP, RN, CRRN, NEA-BC
ACNO/VP Hospital Operations, Spaulding Cambridge

Kelly Haeckel, MSN, RN, CNML, NE-BC
Chief Nursing Officer and VP Patient Care Services, Middlesex Health

Strategic Leadership for the Future of Nursing: Care Teams, Virtual Nursing, and Total Care Delivery Strategy

By starting with the concept of total care delivery, nurse leaders at every organization can begin asking key questions to shape what the future of care delivery will look like at their organization. This session will help leaders think deeply about aligning practitioners and practice, explore future care models, and consider implications of technological integration and practice supports. Dr. Betty Jo Rocchio, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of 47-hospital health system Mercy, will share insights from the evolving strategy of total care delivery within her organization, including virtual nursing and workforce strategies that support flexibility and engagement. She will discuss a roadmap to guide strategy on future care delivery including actionable steps for the now, near future, and longer term. This is a must-see session for any leader on the journey of implementing virtual nursing.

Betty Jo Rocchio, DNP, RN, CRNA, CENP, EBP-C

Dr. Betty Jo Rocchio is Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Mercy, one of the 25 largest health systems in the U.S., with 47 hospitals and more than 10,000 nurses who serve millions of patients across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Previously, she held Mercy's chief nursing optimization officer role and before that served as vice president of perioperative services. Prior to joining Mercy, Betty Jo held several leadership positions in the Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio. These included chief nurse anesthetist, system director of surgical services, and vice president of nursing and chief nursing officer. She started her career in direct patient care as a registered nurse (RN) in the intensive care unit; returned to school to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and at the same time earned her master’s degree in health sciences at LaRoche College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and an associate's degree in business administration from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, Ohio, a certification in executive nurse practice (CENP) from American Organization for Nursing Leadership, and a doctorate in nursing practice (DNP) in the nurse executive track from The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.