Dear Colleagues,

The Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) is dedicated to improving community health through the service of nurses on boards and other governing bodies.

Board service is a powerful way for nurses to leverage their knowledge, competencies, and experience to shape strategies and produce a meaningful impact that benefits patients, families, populations, and communities. However, increasing awareness of this path is crucial to expanding nurses’ presence in board leadership.

At ECU Health, we have embraced this challenge by incorporating board leadership discussions into our Shared Governance Council meetings. Our chief nursing executive and chief legal officer recently presented on the board selection process within our organization. Additionally, we reviewed information from NOBC on board participation.

Nursing has also partnered with the patient experience team to address new structured processes identified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As a result, our system’s Patient and Family Advisory Councils have added a clinical nurse to each hospital committee—an important step in promoting ownership, collaboration, and leadership by ensuring nurses have a voice at the table.

Whether through involvement in educational committees or other engagement opportunities, nurses can begin their journey toward board service. This pathway can lead to broader regional and national leadership roles, further amplifying the nursing profession’s impact.

Now is an exciting time for nurses to expand their leadership, advocacy, and influence on improving the healthcare of all the communities we serve!

Sincerely,

Pam Rudisill, DNP, RN, MSN, FAAN, FAONL, NEA-BC

Vice President, Nursing Excellence, ECU Health

NOBC Board Chair Emeritus and Board of Directors