DBD Coaching & Consulting New NOBC In-Kind Sponsor

Dr. Bob Dent New NOBC In-Kind Sponsor

By Bob Dent, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, ACC, FACHE, FAAN, FAONL

Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to advancing leadership capacity, improving cultures of ownership and accountability, and fostering well-being within healthcare organizations. As the founder of DBD Coaching & Consulting, I work with healthcare leaders, teams, and organizations to navigate today’s most pressing leadership challenges. Through executive coaching, strategic consulting, keynote speaking, and tailored workshops, I help healthcare systems strengthen their leadership and organizational effectiveness. My company also supports organizations pursuing ANCC Magnet and Pathway to Excellence designations, providing expert guidance to elevate nursing excellence. At the heart of my work is a commitment to rehumanizing healthcare, cultivating environments where both people and outcomes can truly flourish.

My journey in leadership has included extensive board service, allowing me to shape the direction of healthcare organizations and initiatives. I have had the privilege of serving as past president of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Board of Directors and the Texas Organization of Nurse Leaders (TONL) Board. Additionally, I have served on the boards of hospice organizations and community groups such as the YMCA. In these roles, I have worked alongside nurses, interdisciplinary healthcare leaders, and engaged community members, contributing to advisory boards and task forces focused on leadership development, the nursing workforce, and mental health advocacy.

Becoming connected to board opportunities has required a deliberate approach—combining professional networking, national involvement, and intentional skill development in governance, finance, strategy, and culture. Many of my board connections have been cultivated through long-standing relationships with healthcare organizations, professional associations, and national leadership bodies. Visibility within the field—through publications, presentations, and active leadership roles—has also played a critical role in opening doors.

Serving on boards as a nurse has allowed me to bring a systems-thinking perspective, ensuring that decisions reflect both clinical excellence and operational feasibility. Nurses uniquely bridge leadership and frontline realities, advocating for strategic decisions that improve workforce well-being and patient care outcomes. One example that stands out is my influence on workforce strategies, where I have helped shift board discussions beyond metrics to meaningful action—grounded in evidence-based practice and the lived experiences of caregivers. Nurses understand how frontline care impacts the broader system, making their voices essential in shaping policies that are both sustainable and responsive to healthcare’s evolving needs.

The greatest challenge I encountered in board service was transitioning from an operational mindset to a governance mindset—learning to focus on oversight, strategy, and long-term impact rather than direct problem-solving. Board service is about asking the right questions rather than executing solutions, and it demands a different pace compared to the rapid, tactical nature of clinical healthcare. While healthcare often requires swift action, board governance emphasizes thoughtful deliberation, consensus building, and strategic patience.

The impact of nurses serving on boards is profound. Nurses bring a trusted, compassionate, and clinically informed voice to decision-making processes, ensuring that board discussions prioritize safety, quality, workforce well-being, and patient-centered care. We understand the realities of healthcare delivery and the systemic challenges affecting patients and providers, allowing us to advocate for ethical and holistic solutions. When nurses serve in boardrooms, they elevate conversations to align financial decisions with patient outcomes, ensuring that governance strategies are human-centered, balanced, and effective.

Ultimately, integrating nursing leadership into board service is not just a matter of representation—it is a strategic imperative that strengthens healthcare organizations, enhances decision-making, and improves outcomes for patients, staff, and communities.