The HASC-facilitated Nursing Leadership Council (NLC) was successful for many years, providing a forum for educational events, the discussion of management strategies for nursing departments, and the exchange of ideas for improvement. This work was carried out within several regional chapters of the NLC.

On Sept. 6, Katherine Bullard received the recognition award that each outgoing chairperson receives for their service to NLC, but Bullard’s award also acknowledged her extraordinary leadership, courage and insight. When she took on the voluntary role in 2012, participation in the regional chapters, and in the NLC Board meetings, was waning. In her first meeting, she helped the NLC Board (leaders of the various chapters) to:

• Debate some difficult questions around the perceived value of NLC membership (to our member nurses)
• Identify what services they are accessing elsewhere (e.g., the Association of California Nurse Leaders, ACNL)
• Re-define our purpose for the future

Through several more facilitated discussion sessions, the NLC successfully reengineered itself, folding chapter membership into the coexisting ACNL regional chapters where much of the education and strategic exchange also takes place, and refocusing its efforts on strategic initiatives such as:

• Advocacy
• Representation
• Analytics
• Scope of practice
• Integrated delivery
• Performance improvement

The NLC is now a formal HASC committee with a voting seat on the HASC Board of Directors, incorporating nursing leaders’ input into decisions made by hospital CEOs and association executives. Though only in its first year, remarkable projects are already commissioned to meet its strategic objectives to support and strengthen the nursing profession in Southern California. We are grateful to Bullard for shining a light on the road behind, refocusing that light on the road ahead, and for rolling up her insightful sleeves to set us on that road.

Contact: Teri Hollingsworth
(213) 538-0763, thollngsworth@hasc.org