Resources

For Nurses

As a nurse, you can make a unique contribution to achieving the goals of improved health and efficient and effective health care systems at the local, state and national levels. Our goal is to build healthier communities in America by increasing nurses’ presence on corporate, health-related, and other boards, panels, and commissions. The following are resources to help you on your journey to becoming board ready!

Board Aspiring
Resources for nurses who would like to serve on a board and are looking for a place to start.

• Board Core Competencies
• NOBC Board Competencies Model, NOBC Board Readiness, Model, NOBC Support Roles for Board Success 
• NOBC Cover Letter Guide
• Boardroom Basics – What Every Healthcare Trustee Needs to Know  
• Board Readiness Assessment 
• BoardSource: Board Responsibilities and Structures – FAQ 
• BoardSource: Do you want to make a difference in your community?
• Launching Your Board Journey: Tips, Tricks For Finding the Right Board Position to Launch Your Board Journey – Session 1 of the Supporting Underrepresented Nurses for Successful Board Service grant educational curriculum, funded by American Nurses Foundation, authored and presented by Deborah C. Stamps, EdD, MBA, MS, RN, GNP, NE, BC, CDE®, FAAN, Advisor, and Vivienne Pierce McDaniel, DNP, MSN, RN, National Black Nurses Association Representative 
• Cleveland, K., Harper, K.J, Rudisill, P., Vander Horst, A. (2023, November/December), Building Evidence that Demonstrates a Need for Increasing the Number of Nurses on Boards. Nursing Economic$, 40(6), 297-300. 
• Harper, K.J, Benson, L. (2023, May/June), Supporting Underrespresented Nurses for Successful Board Service. Nursing Economic$, 40(3), 152-155. 
• Pilla, L. (2022, May), Nurses, Get on (a) Board: How You Can Make A Difference in Your Community and Beyond. Daily Nurse 
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2021). The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 
• Harper, K. J., & Benson, L. S. (2020, November/December). Are You Ready For Board Service? Identifying Key Competencies and Discovering Your Path to the Boardroom. Nursing Economics, 38(6), 316-323. 
• Cleveland, K., Harper, K.J. (2020, March/April) Prepare and Pursue Board Opportunities: A Practical Guide for Nurse Leaders to Serve on a Board. Nursing Economic$, 38(2), 94-97. 
• Harper, K.J, Wray, R. (2019, November/December) Attaining a Seat at the Table: Process, Preparation, and Potential. Nursing Economic$, 37(6), 324-327. 
• McMahon, E. (2019, October 2). ISU’s Mennonite College of Nursing paves the way with nurses on local boards initiative. Illinois State University. 
• Harper, K. J., & Benson, L. S. (2019, July/August). The Importance and Impact of Nurses Serving on Boards. Nursing Economics, 37(4), 209-212. 
• Sundean, L. J., White, K. R., Thompson, L. S., & Prybil, L. D. (2019, April 5). Governance education for nurses: Preparing nurses for the future. Journal of Professional Nursing. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2019.04.001 
• Sundean, L. J. (2018). Everyday advocacy: Nurses serving on boards. In American Nurses Association. 
• Sundean, L. J., Polifroni, E. C., Libal, K., & McGrath, J. M. (2018). The rationale for nurses on boards in the voices of nurses who serve. Nursing Outlook, 66(3), 222-232. 
• Benson, L. (2018, September). Nurses: Consider raising your leadership voice [Electronic version]. Today’s Wound Clinic, 12(9). 
• Campana, D. (2018, February). ENA-NOBC partnership encourages nurses to get involved [Electronic version]. ENA Connection. 
• Mulliniz, C., Lee Walton, A., & Ruiz, D. (2017, July). From the bedside to the boardroom: Are you ready to serve? American Nurse Today, 12(7). 
• Capella University. (2017, June). Nurses on board: The time for change is now. In Nurses on Boards Coalition. 
• Nevidjon, B., & Benson, L. (2017, April 11). Serving on boards allows nurses to improve the nation’s health. In ONS Voice. 
• Hachten, R., & Mershon, K. (2017, January 11). Hospital impact: In uncertain times, healthcare boards have even more reason to embrace nurse leaders [Electronic version]. Fierce Healthcare. 
• Mayer, D. K. (2016, September). Nurses on boards: My experience with the moonshot [Electronic version]. Oncology Nursing Forum, 43(5), 539-540. doi:10.1188/16 
• Board Source. (2016, June 7). Joining a nonprofit board. In Board Source 
• Thew, J. (2016, June 6). 4 strategies for nurses who want to enter the boardroom. In Health Leaders. 
• Burnes Bolton, L. (2014, January 3). My leadership journey. In Campaign for Action. 
• Hassmiller, S. B. (2012, March). Nurses on boards: Competencies required for leadership. American Journal of Nursing, 112(3), 61-66. 
• Hassmiller, S. Taking the first steps to serving on a board. American Nurse Today, 7(11), 18-20. 
• Lipincott Solutions. (2018, October 25). Have you considered an academic voice? Nurses on boards: Building a healthier america. In Lippincott Solutions. 
• Jones-Schenk, J. (2018, April 26). Resources for current and aspiring nurse leaders. In Western Governors University. 
• Mahoney, D. (2017, September 20). Getting nurses on board with serving on boards. In Press Ganey. 
• Bonsall, L. (2017, April 12). Nurses- Get on board!. In NursingCenter. 
• Bonsall, L. (2017, July 26). Preparing nurse leaders: An interview with F. Patrick Robinson, PhD, RN, FAAN. In NursingCenter. 
• Improving health – Making an impact through service on boards (n.d.). In INS Learning Center. 

Board Serving
Resources for nurses who are serving on a board and want to learn more.

• Using Generative Governance Principles For Better Boardroom Conversations 
• Working with Legislators An Advocacy Briefing Guide for Board Members 
• The Boards Role in Reviewing Form 990 a Checklist 
• Emergency Leadership Transition Plan 
• CNOs on Boards  
• Boardroom Basics: An Orientation to Service In Healthcare – Session 2 of the Supporting Underrepresented Nurses for Successful Board Service grant educational curriculum, funded by American Nurses Foundation, presented and authored by Curry Bordelon, DNP, MBA, NNP-BC, CPNP-AC, CNE, American Association for Men In Nursing Representative
• Harper, K.J., Sanderson, Carla. (2022, September/October) One Journey of Board Service: An Interview with a Seasoned Professional. Nursing Economic$, 40(5), 254-258. 
• Harper, K.J, Benson, L. (2022, May/June), Identifying and Engaging Key Support Roles for Successful Board Service.  Nursing Economic$, 40(3), 136-138. 
• Sundean, L.J., O’lynn, C.E. (2022, February), Nurses Perspectives of Their Impact While Serving on Boards. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 52(2), 106-111. 
• Eichelberger, L. (January 2021). The Impact of Including Nursing’s Perspective on Hospital Boards. Subsidiary Focus: A Quarterly Governance Institute Newsletter. 
• Benson, L., & Harper, K. J. (2018, September). Leading Change: Holistic Nurses in the Board room. In Nurses on Boards. 
• Werrlein, D. (2018, August 24). Nurse brings big picture mindset to school board. In Campaign for Action. 
• Sundean, L. J., Polifroni, E. C., Libal, K. & McGrath, J. M. (2017). Nurses on health care governing boards: An integrative review. Nursing Outlook, 65(4), 361-371. 
• Zimmerman, B. (2016, September 28). From the bedside to the board room: 2 nurse leaders on getting 10k nurses on boards by 2020 [Electronic version]. Becker’s Hospital Review. 
• Joseph, M. Lindell, and Benson, Laurie (2023, Dec. 11) “How Our Professional Identities Should Drive Board Effectiveness.” In NursingCenter 
• Joseph, M. Lindell, and Benson, Laurie. (2022, Apr. 7) “Leveraging Conflict in the Boardroom.” In NursingCenter 
• Joseph, M. Lindell, and Benson, Laurie. (2021, Sept. 6) “Projecting Confidence in the Boardroom: 5 Steps to Build Confidence.” In NursingCenter 
• Joseph, M. Lindell, and Benson, Laurie. (2021, Apr. 20) “Building a Healthier America: Innovating in the Boardroom.” In NursingCenter. 
• Lippincott Solutions. (2018, June 12). The art of being gracious. In Lippincott Solutions. 
• Bonsall, L. (2017, September 17). Take an ethical stance!. In NursingCenter. 
• Bonsall, L. (2017, May 30). Confidence and Truthfulness. In NursingCenter. 
• Sundean, L. J. (2016, November 28). Courageous Conversations for Nurse Board Leaders. In Sundean RN. 
• Citrin, J. (2016, February 18). The market for board talent is changing: Here is what you need to know. In LinkedIn. ß very out of date. 2016.  
• Bonsall, L. (2020, January).Nurses Make Profound Impacts: An Interview with Angelleen Peters Lewis, PhD, RN, FAAN. In NursingCenter, podcast interview | University of Minnesota School of Nursing. 

Board Mentoring
Resources for nurses who are experienced with board service and want to learn more about mentoring others.

• The Impact of Equity and Health Equity in Board Service – Session 3 of the Supporting Underrepresented Nurses for Successful Board Service grant educational curriculum, funded by American Nurses Foundation, authored and presented by Deborah C. Stamps, EdD, MBA, MS, RN, GNP, NE, BC, CDE®, FAAN, Advisor, and Vivienne Pierce McDaniel, DNP, MSN, RN, National Black Nurses Association Representative 
• Llopis, Glenn. (2025, April) “Shared Governance Is Transforming Nursing Leadership.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine. 
• Sundean, L., Christopher, R., Reede, L., Mott, J., Mylott, L. (2023, December) Board Leaders Perspectives of the Impact of Nurses on Boards. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 53(12), 627-633. 
• Bonsall, L. (2017, December 15). Influence with storytelling. In NursingCenter. 

Additional Resources

• The Value of Nurses on Boards: An Inaugural Survey – Discussion into the findings and implications of the research from the NOBC inaugural Value of Nurses on Boards Survey, as presented by Kimberly Cleveland, PhD, JD, MSN, RN, C-MBC, C-MPC, Board Chair Emeritus, Nurses on Boards Coalition, Associate Professor Kent State University, and Pam Rudisill, DNP, MSN, RN, NEC-BC, FAONL, FAAN, Board Chair Emeritus, Nurses on Boards Coalition, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Community Health System  
• Edmonson, C. (2025, July) Stand Firmly in Your Joy: Lessons From the Life of a Leader, So Far. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, Vol. 56, No. 7, https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20250611-03 
• Edmonson, C., Harper, K.J. (2025, March/April) Nurses on Boards Coalition: Celebrating the Magic of Collaboration. Nursing Economic$, 43(2), 94-97. 
• Baviskar, Nikhil (2025, April). “What Nurses Bring to Hospital and Health System Boards Board Chair, Member and Nursing Leader Discuss Value of Adding Nursing Experience, Perspective.” American Hospital Association Trustee Services 
• Andrews, RJ (2022, August), How Florence Nightingale Changed Data Visualization Forever. Scientific American 
• Harper, K.J., Brewington, J.G. (2022, January/February), Diverse Leadership Needed for a Changing World. Nursing Economic$, 40(1), 46-48. 
• Carmody, J., Black, K., Bonner, A., Wolfe, M., & Fulmer, T. (2021). Advancing Gerontological Nursing at the Intersection of Age Friendly Communities Health Systems and Public Health. Journal of Gerontological Nursing,47(3),13-7. 
• The Governance Institute. (2019, March). Nurse Leadership at Mayo Clinic: Integrating Nursing, Clinical Practice, and Interdisciplinary Education. In The Governance Institute’s Academic Health Focus . 
• Fauteux, N. (2018, December 21). Mayor Jean Stothert: A first for Omaha. In Campaign for Action. 
• Swensen, S., & Robel, S. M. (2018, December 6). Leadership survey: Nurses as leaders: Broad acceptance, room to grow. In New England Journal of Medicine Insights. 
• Nurses on boards: Bringing holistic perspective to academic health systems. (2018, September). The Governance Institute’s Academic Health Focus, 1-3. 
• The nurses on boards coalition: The goal is to have 10,000 nurses on boards by 2020 [Electronic version]. (2017, September). The Research Journal of the National League for Nursing, 38(5), 293-294. doi:10.1097/01 
• ANA Leadership Institute  
• Best On Board
• Bonsall, L. (2020, Nov. 3). Making Change or Changing Minds? A Conversation with Karen Cox, PhD, RN, FACHE, FAAN. 
• Bonsall, L. (2020, Oct. 15). Nursing, Tech, and Hackathons: A Conversation with Molly McCarthy, MBA, RN-BC. 
• Hilton, L. (2018, May 14). Woodhull study finds nurses still missing from media healthcare coverage. In Nurse.com. 
• Groenwald, S. (2017, May 5). Strategic partnership aims to get more nurses on boards. In Nurse.com. 
• American Journal of Nursing. (2017, April). A gold bond to restore joy to nursing: A collaborative exchange of ideas to address burnout.. In American Journal of Nursing Blog. 
• Bonsall, L. (2021, September). The Fabric of Being a Nurse: A Conversation with Lisa Kreeger, PhD, RN. In NursingCenter. 
• Bonsall, L. (2020, November). Trust and Spheres of Influence: An Interview with Karen Cox, PhD, RN, FACHE, FAAN. In NursingCenter. 
• Bonsall, L. (2020, October). Uniting Technology & Clinicians: An Interview with Molly McCarthy, MBA, RN-BC. In NursingCenter. 
• Bonsall, L. (2019, August 30). The power of informal conversations and bold relationships. In NursingCenter. 
• Bonsall, L. (2019, April 25). Nurses – Natural Leaders and Collaborators: An Interview with Mike Singer. In NursingCenter. 
• Bonsall, L. (2018, November). The ability to influence: An interview with Mary Beth Kingston, RN, MSN, NEA-BC [Podcast]. In NursingCenter. 
• Bonsall, L. (2018, October 16). Nurses – The keepers of patients’ stories: An interview with Angela Patterson DNP, FNP-BC, NEA-BC [Podcast]. In NursingCenter. 
• Bonsall, L. (2018, September 24). The unique perspective of nurses: An interview with Mary Ann Fuchs, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. In NursingCenter. 
• Bonsall, L. (2018, January 15). Nurses and the business of caring: An interview with John Bluford. In NursingCenter. 
• Useful Links 
  • American Hospital Association (AHA) Trustee Services 
  • BoardBuild 
  • Campaign for Action Leadership Activities 
  • Center for Healthcare Governance 
  • CompassPoint Non-Profit Services 
  • Lippencott NursingCenter 
  • National Council of Nonprofits
  • Standards for Excellence Institute 
  • The Governance Institute  
  • Trusteeship Magazine (Higher Education)