Leadership Think Tanks
Bringing leaders from health care practice and industry together to discuss important issues and brainstorm next steps to move the needle on these topics.
2024 Think Tank Programs
The AONL Foundation will host six Think Tank programs in 2024.
- A series of 3 programs on AI for Nursing Leadership
- Building upon three previous programs:
- Retaining New-to-Practice Nurses
- Preventing Workplace Violence and Promoting Safety
- Rethinking Nursing Productivity
Our program series will run from June to December this year, and specific dates for each topic will be announced soon.
If you are a health care industry company and would like to learn more about how to sponsor and be involved this year, please fill out this form.
If you are a nurse leader interested in participating please fill out this form.
How the Think Tanks Work
Each Think Tank is a 2-hour virtual meeting focused on a specific theme and topic within that theme. (See our previous Think Tank descriptions, below, for examples.)
After the themes are identified, the Foundation identifies a facilitator or facilitators to lead each program and begins to recruit participants from both practice and industry. The goal is to bring together approximately 25 experts on the topic to facilitate a well-rounded conversation about the topic. We aim to include equal representation from the practice and industry side, as well as bringing in expert voices from other organizations. We ask health care industry partners to help support these programs through both financial sponsorship and expert participation.
We recognize that these are complex topics and issues that will not be "solved" in a single working session. With that in mind, each Think Tank program will produce:
- An Executive Summary of the discussion.
- An actionable Next Step, determined by the Think Tank (e.g. whitepaper, literature review, toolkit, etc.)
By contributing to the momentum around important topics in health care, the ultimate goal is to make meaningful improvements in health utilizing the steps identified by the Think Tank.
2023 Think Tank Programs
Promoting Workplace Safety and Preventing Violence Through the Nursing Leadership Lens
December 15, 2023
This program was made possible thanks to our participating sponsor: Motorola Solutions.
This Think Tank explored what healthcare organizations are doing to improve safety and prevent violence, as well as explore new technologies being used for these initiatives.
Exploring Data Usability in Health Care
November 1, 2023
This program was made possible thanks to our participating sponsor: Beckman Coulter.
This Think Tank explored key topics such as data literacy of leadership, solutions and systems integration, ease of access across technology, and more. AONL and others are working in this space to identify innovations and solutions with the goal of improving the way health care works.
Retaining Today's New-to-Practice Nurses
September 20, 2023
This program was made possible thanks to our participating sponsors: CareRev, Healthcare Plus Solutions Group, MentorLead, and Dignity Health Global Education.
Workforce topics remain among the top, if not the top concern for nurse leaders. This Think Tank program explored strategies and factors around retaining today’s new-to-practice nurses.
Exploring Social Media Through the Nurse Leader Lens
August 31, 2023
This Think Tank explored social media through the nurse leader perspective. Participants saw an early preview of results of the study currently in the field “Understanding the Current State of Nurse Leaders’ Social Media Engagement,” and had an opportunity to react to those findings.
Technology to Support Nurse Leaders
August 3, 2023
This program was made possible thanks to our participating sponsors: Laudio and Beckman Coulter.
This Think Tank focused on technology solutions that can help nurse leaders be more effective and efficient in their roles. Leaders explored how implementing technology tools improve the way the nurse manager works and benefit their teams, and explored strategies to make the case for bringing these tools into their organizations.
2022 Think Tank Programs
Nurse Managers and Front Line Nurse Leaders
December 14, 2022
This Think Tank explored issues faced by the nurse leader workforce such as staff retention, workload, and the scope of the role. The deconstruction and examination of the role of nurse manager was discussed as a topic of interest for future AONL work.
Innovative Technology, Virtual Nursing and Artificial Intelligence
December 7, 2022
Made possible thanks to our sponsors: Hellocare by Solaborate, AvaSure, Caregility, and Artisight.
This Think Tank examined virtual nursing, the viability of this technology, and what is needed to for the technology to be adapted by more healthcare organizations.
Innovative Care Delivery Models, Hospital-at-Home
November 8, 2022
Made possible thanks to our participating sponsors: Current Health, a Best Buy Health Company, and Johnson & Johnson Nursing.
Featuring a case study from Atrium Health, this Think Tank explored the growing importance of hospital-at-home care models, and discussions around the importance of nurse leaders advocating for the adoption of these programs.
