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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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
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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.
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Applying for AONL Fellow Designation
Tuesday, June 16th, 2026, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET via Zoom
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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.
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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
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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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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
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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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Fall '26 Leadership Lunch Series
Fridays: Sept. 18th, Oct. 16th, Nov. 20th, and Dec. 18th, 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.
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The Nuts and Bolts of Nursing Leadership
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM ET via Zoom For Nurse Managers & Directors
Wednesday, September 30th, 2026, 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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Fall Quarterly Meeting
Friday, September 25th, 2026, 8:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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Join us for ONL's Fall Quarterly Meeting for an informative, inspirational, and interactive program you and your team will not want to miss! You'll gain expert perspectives, actionable strategies, and valuable resources from our keynote speakers while connecting and collaborating with fellow nurse leaders.
Topic and speakers soon to be announced.
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Survival Skills for the Modern Nurse Leader
Wednesday, October 14th, 2026, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse leaders at every stage of their leadership journey
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Today's nurse leaders face unprecedented demands on their time and attention. They are expected to support frontline teams, manage daily operational challenges, contribute to organizational strategy, and drive change—all while maintaining their own well-being and modeling balance for their team. It's easy to feel stretched thin and stuck in a cycle of constant reaction.
In this practical and engaging session, psychologist and habit coach Dr. Carol Perlman will share actionable strategies to help nurse leaders navigate competing priorities, increase productivity, and create sustainable habits that support both effectiveness and resilience. Participants will gain practical tools to better manage their workload, reduce overwhelm, and create more capacity for the leadership work that matters most.
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The Advanced Practice Provider Leadership Playbook
Thursday, October 22nd, 2026, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM ET via Zoom
For Advanced Practice Provider leaders
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Transitioning into Advanced Practice Provider (APP) leadership roles requires more than clinical excellence; it requires operational knowledge, leadership skills, and strategic fluency to lead teams in highly regulated and sophisticated business environments. APP Leaders face multiple challenges including demand for high clinical productivity, developing and leading novice teams, and navigating organizational politics. Too often, these pressures go unaddressed until they begin to affect performance.
Led by Dr. Cindi Warburton and Dr. Rose Sherman, this interactive workshop equips Advanced Practice Provider leaders with a playbook for leadership success and practical tools to address challenges proactively and succeed in their roles.
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Essential Leadership Skills for Charge Nurses
Tuesday, October 27th, 2026, 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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Financial Management and Business Essentials for Nurse Managers and Directors
Wednesday, November 4th, 2026, 9:00 AM-3:00 PM ET via Zoom
For nurse managers and directors who want to hone their financial skills and build their business acumen
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Financial management skills and business acumen help nurse managers and directors excel in their roles, maximize their impact, and continue to grow in their careers in the modern, ever-evolving healthcare environment. This interactive program is designed to prepare and empower nurse managers and directors who want to hone the essential financial management skills they need to be successful and enhance their business acumen.
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Staying Power: Building a Culture of Retention in the New World of Work
Tuesday, November 10th, 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 18th, 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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ONL 2026 Winter Quarterly Meeting
Friday, December 11th, 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; Chris Ann Meaney, DNP, MHA, RN-BC, NE-BC, FACHE; 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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2027 ONL Annual Meeting
Thursday and Friday, June 17th and 18th, 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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