Testimonial quote
“Serving on boards has been incredibly rewarding for me. Beyond the strategic influence, it’s opened doors to invaluable networking, cross-organizational collaboration, and connections with leaders at other institutions. And truthfully, it’s just been fun. You get to work with passionate, brilliant people, gain insight into how other organizations operate, and contribute to something bigger than yourself. Since holding my board positions, I have been involved in several national presentations that involved working with other nursing professionals from different organizations. It has also strengthened my understanding to how to network with vendors and develop that necessary relationship. Being involved in these spaces genuinely fills my cup—it’s where advocacy meets impact, and where I find both purpose and community.”
No matter where you are in your nursing journey, stepping into leadership through professional associations, fellowships, and board membership can:
- Strengthen your voice and influence in nursing
- Increase your advocacy for access, quality, and equity
- Evolve your community and professional leadership skills
- Advance your career and clinical ladder opportunities
Your VOICE as a nurse is highly respected, valued, and needed in our communities, nursing, and professional organizations. Take informed steps to volunteer, enter and grow into a board position and be a part of shaping the future in nursing, patient care, and beyond.
- Start With Your Why
- Defining and embracing your passion is the first step. What inspires you as a nurse and a person?
- Whether you’re at the bedside, in the community, or behind the scenes, your “why?” can lead you to meaningful opportunities and infinite possibilities!
- What issues compel you to speak up? What changes do you want to see?
- Article for reflection: Prepare and Pursue Board Opportunities: A Practical Guide for Nurse Leaders to Serve on a Board
- Connect Through KP to Find Opportunities That Align with Your Interests in Surrounding Communities
- Reach out to the Kaiser Permanente Community Relations team at your medical center, such as the:
- Community Health Lead
- Public Affairs Director
- They are connected to community organizations and can help:
- Introduce your to organizations, including boards seeking healthcare leaders
- Share calendars of upcoming community events where KP is active
- You can visit KP Cares to find KP-sponsored outreach efforts in your area.
- Reach out to the Kaiser Permanente Community Relations team at your medical center, such as the:
- Explore Pathways to Board Roles within but not limited to Nursing
- Many professional organizations offer networking and opportunities, both broadly and specifically for nurses:
- American Nurses Association (ANA)
- American Nurses Association/CA (ANA/CA)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- American Nurses Foundation (ANF)
- American Organization of Nurser Leaders (AONL)
- Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL)
- Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC)
- Nonprofits seeking healthcare expertise
- Platforms such as
- Many professional organizations offer networking and opportunities, both broadly and specifically for nurses:
- Build Your Career and Connect Through Professional Associations and Fellowships
- Joining professional nursing associations complements board service by providing:
- Access to Resources: Educational tools, leadership development, and policy updates.
- Mentorship and Networking: Connect with peers and nurse leaders nationally and locally.
- Pathways to Fellowships: Many organizations offer fellowship programs that recognize and develop nurse leaders. Fellowships can boost your resume and open doors to advanced leadership and clinical roles.
- Professional association examples:
- Fellowship examples:
- American Academy of Nursing (AAN): American Academy of Nursing Fellowship
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP): Fellow American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP)
- American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL): Fellow American Organization of Nursing Leadership (FAONL) designation
- National League for Nursing (NLN): Academy of Nursing Education Fellow (ANEF)
- Joining professional nursing associations complements board service by providing:
- Grow Your Network and Let People Know You’re Interested
- Express your interest in community connection and leadership to:
- Colleagues
- Mentors
- Nursing leaders
- Attend:
- Webinars
- Networking events
- Local governance meetings
- The more people who know you’re seeking opportunities, the more doors will open.
- Express your interest in community connection and leadership to:
- Build Your Skills and Your Resume
- Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) offers resources specifically designed to help nurses become board ready. These include helpful documents, board core competencies, a board readiness assessment tool, and resources for understanding board responsibilities.
- Create or update your board bio and resume to include:
- Leadership roles
- Committee experience
- Outcomes you’ve influenced
- Your “why”
- Helpful resource: How to Write Your Board Bio | theBoardlist
- Take Credit for Your Involvement
- Add and highlight your board participation, association membership, and fellowship status on your HealthStream e-Portfolio Profile and professional resume (see job aide):
