banner2026 AONL Annual Conference

Improving health requires reducing disparities in healthcare outcomes, expanding access to care and building partnerships beyond traditional healthcare settings. Nurse leaders are developing innovative approaches to reduce disparities in health outcomes, improve care for vulnerable populations, address social determinants of health and strengthen the health of individuals, families and communities.

How are you improving access, reducing health disparities and creating healthier communities?

Potential Topics Include:

• Advocacy and policy initiatives
• Age-Friendly Care
• Maternal health
• Behavioral health
• Community and health system collaborations
• Impact on social determinants of health
• Public health collaboration
• Culturally responsive care
• Integrated care delivery models across settings
• Initiatives to ensure access to care
• Strategies to reduce health disparities

Leading in today's healthcare environment is both rewarding and increasingly complex. This priority area explores the realities of leadership today and invites honest conversations about the experience of being a leader.

How are you shaping, supporting, challenging or reimagining the experience of leadership in healthcare?

Potential Topics Include:

• Nontraditional leadership careers and pathways
• Leadership transitions
• Mentorship, sponsorship and executive coaching
• Workplace civility and respectful leadership cultures
• Psychological safety of nurse leaders
• Trust, accountability, and belonging
• Leader well-being
• Generational perspectives on leadership
• Leadership journeys and lessons learned

The nursing workforce is under unprecedented strain while simultaneously undergoing transformation. Nurse leaders are successfully attracting, developing, retaining and optimizing talent while creating innovative models that support quality care, well-being and organizational stability.

How are you building and sustaining the workforce of the future?

Potential Topics Include:

• Implementation of team-based care delivery models
• Creation of new roles or optimization of existing roles in team-based care models
• Incorporating LPNs/LVNs into acute care teams
• APRN role optimization
• Academic-practice partnerships
• Career pathways and succession planning
• Rural workforce solutions
• Flexible staffing and scheduling models
• Career pathways and succession planning
• Developing future nursing talent through school and community partnerships
• Workforce well-being

Technology, artificial intelligence and digital innovation are rapidly reshaping healthcare delivery, leadership decision-making, workforce preparation and models of care. Nurse leaders are advancing patient care delivery, enhancing the nursing experience and preparing the workforce of the future – all while creating measurable value and preserving the human side of healthcare.

How are you leveraging technology, AI and innovation to improve care, access, safety and operational effectiveness?

Potential Topics Include:

• Artificial intelligence
• Virtual nursing, telehealth, remote patient monitoring
• Reduction of administrative burden
• Remote workforce optimization and operating models
• Implementation, adoption and ROI examples and lessons learned
• Human-centered technology design
• Nurse leader role in technology governance
• Hospital-at-home
• Integrated care delivery models across settings
• Nurse-developed technology solutions

Nurse leaders are navigating increasing financial pressures while being asked to clearly define, measure, and communicate the value nursing brings to patients, organizations and communities. In an environment where human capital represents one of healthcare's most significant investments, demonstrating nursing's impact through quality, safety, operational performance and financial outcomes has never been more important.

How are you advancing quality, safety, financial stewardship, and organizational performance while elevating the value of nursing?

Potential Topics Include:

• Nursing Impact on Community Outcomes
• Nursing and Finance Collaboration
• Return on Investment (ROI) and Business Case Development
• Value-based care
• Measuring and Demonstrating Nursing Value
• Productivity and workforce investment outcomes
• Strategic Resource Management and Planning