Six Key Takeaways from AONL 2025: Innovation, Safety, and the Future of Nursing Leadership
By Dr. Christine Gall, Chief Nursing Officer, Collette Health
LinkedIn: Christine Gall DrPH, MS, BSN
LinkedIn: Collette Health
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend the 2025 American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Conference—an annual gathering of nurse executives and clinical leaders from across the country. The event furthered its commitment to inspiring and sharing creative approaches to addressing contemporary challenges in healthcare, with a program designed to spark innovation, collaboration, and meaningful dialogue.
From the preconference Hackathon to keynote addresses and breakout sessions, the agenda highlighted both the complexity of the issues we face and the urgency to reimagine how we lead. It was a valuable space to connect with peers, reflect on where we are as a profession, and explore bold new strategies for moving forward.
Here are six key themes that stood out to me:
1. Innovation Is No Longer Optional—It’s Expected
From the very start, there was a clear call to action: today’s challenges demand creative, interdisciplinary solutions. Nurse leaders are being asked to not only guide care delivery but also to shape it. Across sessions, the focus on innovation emphasized the importance of practical solutions supported by a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and clinical insight. Whether through AI integration, workflow redesign, or virtual care models, we’re seeing clinical teams lean into change and experiment with new approaches that are patient-centered and sustainable.
2. Empowering Nurses to Practice at the Top of Their License
Many conversations focused on how we can better equip nurses to work at their full capacity and expertise. As emerging technologies become more integrated into care delivery, nurse leaders are helping to lead the charge in ensuring that clinical workflows evolve accordingly. By leveraging AI and virtual support tools as strategic force multipliers, nurses have greater control of their activities by streamlining workflows, improving efficiency, and giving nurses more space to do what they do best: care for patients.
3. Workplace Safety Is a Leadership Imperative
One of the most powerful moments of the conference came from keynote speaker Dr. Renee Thompson, who addressed the increasingly difficult environment many nurses face at work. Incivility among staff and rising incidents of violence from patients and visitors continue to grow in frequency and severity. These are complex challenges that require a proactive and sustained response. Nurse leaders play a critical role in shaping safer, more respectful workplace cultures—starting with clear policies and reinforced daily through intentional action and leadership presence.
4. Leadership Sustainability and Succession Planning
There is no question that frontline and executive nurse leaders are facing unprecedented pressure. The demands of the role have grown significantly, and so must our strategies to support nurse leaders at all levels. One message came through loud and clear: we can’t afford to treat leadership development as an afterthought. Deliberate investment in retention, growth pathways, and succession planning is essential to ensure stability in clinical teams—and to protect the future of nursing.
5. Bridging the Transition for New Nurses
As more novice nurses enter the workforce, often into high-acuity environments, we need to be intentional in how we support their transition to professional practice. Beyond just onboarding, transition-to-practice initiatives help build clinical competence, professional confidence, reduce turnover, and ensure consistency in the quality of care. Nurse leaders play a pivotal role in shaping these programs and mentoring new clinicians—developing the next generation of care leaders in the process.
6. Partnerships That Advance Nursing Leadership
The exhibit hall this year showcased a range of innovative solutions and services that directly support the evolving needs of nurse leaders. Throughout the event, there was a strong sense of momentum around collaboration—nurse leaders actively engaging with industry partners to explore new tools, technologies, and models of care. These conversations reflected a shared commitment to staying current, leveraging innovation, and working together to address the most pressing challenges in healthcare.
Eyes on 2026: Leading with Purpose, Building What Comes Next
As we continue through 2025 and look ahead to the future, it’s clear that the demands on nurse leaders will continue to evolve—requiring clarity of purpose, a commitment to innovation, and a deep connection to both patients and teams. The conversations at AONL 2025 reflected a profession actively shaping its future: confronting real challenges while staying grounded in collaboration, creativity, and care.
What stood out most to me was the collective energy and determination of nurse leaders across the country. Together, we’re actively driving change and strengthening the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable future in nursing.
