Nurse Board Stories

Innovation Through Service — Reflections from Carol Toussie Weingarten

Innovation in board leadership often begins with involvement, connection, and a willingness to explore new ways of serving. Throughout my career as a nurse educator, I have been privileged to teach and mentor students across all levels — from traditional undergraduates to master’s and doctoral students, as well as those entering nursing with degrees in other fields. For more than two decades, I’ve supported students through independent studies focused on professional identity and leadership development, especially through our work with the Student Nurses Association. More recently, innovation has taken shape on our campus through WXV&U Health, Villanova University’s radio station, where I serve as Inaugural Director. Collaborating with nursing and non-nursing students and colleagues has created opportunities for creativity, communication, and leadership that extend far beyond the classroom.

My involvement with board service has grown naturally from professional engagement, mentorship, and the networks built through SNAP-Villanova, NSNA, NOBC, and the radio station. As advisor to one of the most active SNAP chapters in the nation, I have watched students develop the confidence, professionalism, and strategic thinking that lead to elected positions on both state and national boards. My own roles have included serving as Trustee, Vice President, and President of the Foundation of the National Student Nurses Association; President of Sigma’s Alpha Nu Chapter; and now representing NSNA on the NOBC Board and its Finance Committee. I also represent NOBC on the American Red Cross National Nurses Committee. Across all these roles, innovation has been central — from leading FNSNA through the pandemic using virtual platforms to maintain connection and momentum, to integrating new forms of communication and collaboration through WXV&U Health.

The Nursing Process has been my most valuable guide from bedside to boardroom, offering a structured way to assess issues, set goals, implement plans, and evaluate outcomes. Board service brings together members with diverse perspectives and priorities, and navigating these dynamics requires both flexibility and clarity. Yet this diversity is also where innovation thrives. Nurses bring essential expertise in health and well-being, and our presence on boards strengthens policies, strategies, and outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

My advice to aspiring board members remains simple: show up, contribute, and connect. Registering with NOBC is an excellent way to align your experience with opportunities to serve — and to take part in shaping the future of governance and nursing leadership.

Carol Toussie Weingarten, PhD, RN, ANEF