3 Areas Where Nurse Leaders Want a Seat at the Table

From the frontline to the C-Suite, nurse leaders say they need a seat at the table.

Nurse leaders have a lot on their plates.

From ensuring nurses have a say in the integration of AI into healthcare systems, to improving the public perception of nursing, to demonstrating the value of nursing to the C-Suite, a CNO’s work is complex.

In times like these strategizing with peers is key, and that’s exactly what dozens of nurse leaders from across the country are doing right now.

The HealthLeaders CNO Exchange is well on its way as the participating members discuss these pain points in nursing and innovative solutions for dealing with them.

Here are three areas where nurse leaders say nurses need a seat at the table.

AI

The emergence of AI in healthcare has the potential to turn the industry upside down, and in many ways it already has.

The biggest concern amongst nurses, according to the Exchange members, is making sure that nurses have a seat at the table in determining how AI will be integrated into their health systems. The implementation of any new technology can become a hindrance if not implemented correctly, so it is crucial that CNOs partner with technology teams to determine the best ways to move forward.

Another key factor is messaging. CNOs need to make sure they are communicating to their nurses that AI is not there to replace them, but rather to support them and help offload some of the more administrative tasks so they can spend more time at the bedside.

Perception of nursing

In terms of recruitment and retention, the public perception of nursing on social media has been affecting the number of people wanting to become nurses. According to the members, the public outlook on the profession has become very negative, and nurse leaders have lost control of the narrative.

Some of the solutions that were discussed include utilizing social media to spin a more positive message about nursing and about working in healthcare. CNOs should consider bringing in experts who are familiar with social media and enlisting their help to create a more positive message that can then help draw new potential candidates into the industry.

Value of nursing

One of the biggest hurdles that CNOs have to jump through is presenting the ROI for nursing to the rest of the C-Suite. According to the Exchange members, the cost of nursing is distributed between other parts of the budget, even though nursing makes up the largest portion of the healthcare workforce.

To the members, the important thing is that nurses are valued and appreciated for the services they provide, and recognized for the revenue that they bring to the health systems through quality care and patient interactions. One recommendation from the members is that CNOs should round with their CFOs, when possible, to demonstrate what's happening at the bedside, and have open lines of communication with other members of the C-Suite.

Stay tuned for more takeaways from the 2024 CNO Exchange.

The HealthLeaders Exchange is an executive community for sharing ideas, solutions, and insights. Please join the community at our LinkedIn page. 

To inquire about attending a HealthLeaders Revenue Cycle Exchange event, email us at exchange@healthleadersmedia.com.