About

2026 Message from Board Chairs and CEO

Cole Edmonson, DNP, RN, FAONL, FNAP, FAAN, NOBC CEO, Nancy Mannion, DNP, RN, FAEN, FAAN, NOBC Board Chair and Rick García, PhD, RN, CCM, FAAOHN, FAADN, FAAN, NOBC Board Chair-Elect.

The past decade of the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) has been extraordinary. What began as a bold call to action has grown into a vibrant movement, with tens of thousands of nurses engaged, thousands serving on boards across sectors, and a shared belief that when nurses lead, organizations and communities thrive. Our collective effort has demonstrated not only that nurses belong in governance roles, but that our perspectives are essential.

Our latest impact report reveals that just over 30,000 nurses have registered in our database, just under 12,000 board seats held by nurses, and over 16,000 more nurses who want to serve on boards. Our coalition continues to expand, with new organizations joining our work, new partnerships forming, and a deepening commitment to advancing nurse leadership in governance.

In 2025, we came together to develop NOBC’s 2026–2028 Strategic Plan: a roadmap that focuses our efforts on three interconnected imperatives: Connect, Transform, and Impact. These pillars capture both who we are and who we aspire to be as we enter our next chapter.

Connect: Reflects our commitment to building meaningful relationships and uniting communities of interest. We will continue to expand partnerships, strengthen engagement with nurses serving on boards, and foster communities where nurses learn from and support one another. Board service is not a solitary endeavor; it is strengthened through connection, shared experience, and collective leadership.

Transform: Speaks to preparation and growth. Serving effectively on a board requires confidence, competence, and mentorship. Through targeted education, structured mentorship, and real-world learning, we will support nurses at every stage of their governance journey, from those aspiring to serve to those already leading at the highest levels.

Impact: Anchors our work in outcomes. Nurses bring a systems perspective, grounding in evidence, and an unwavering focus on people. By amplifying the influence of nurses in governance and research, we will continue to demonstrate how nurse leadership shapes policy, strengthens organizations, impact organizational outcomes, and advances the health of communities.

We invite you to stay engaged; to mentor and be mentored; and to continue raising your hand for service. Together, we will help ensure the future is more connected, transformative, and positively impacted.