What if every nurse had a clear pathway to lead, grow, and make a greater impact?

This fall, the American Nurses Association (ANA) invites you to join Opportunity & Impact: From Intention to Action, a free six‑part webinar series to help nurses and other healthcare professionals advance opportunities across the nursing workforce and create environments where every nurse can thrive.

Through expert-led discussions, participants will explore the factors that shape advancement, leadership development, and belonging, while gaining practical strategies that can be implemented within their organizations.

What to expect:

• Open dialogue that honors a wide range of perspectives and lived experiences

• Practical tools to build leadership, workforce development, engagement, and accountability

• Space to reflect, connect, and commit to action together

Fall 2026 Series Schedule

All sessions are held on Wednesdays from 3:00–4:30 p.m. ET | 1.5 ANCC Contact Hours offered per session

September 9: Nursing Leadership – Elevating Voices, Transforming Care

Speaker: Dallas Ducar, MSN, RN, NP, CNL, FAAN, Chief Strategy Officer at Fenway Health

September 23: Closing the Gaps in Nursing: Demographics, Integrity, and Long-Term Solutions

Speaker: Ashley Graham-Perel, EdD, RN, NPD-BC, MEDSURG-BC, CNE, FADLN, FNYAM, FAAN, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Columbia University

October 7: Career Progression & Underemployment – Bridging Gaps, Building Pathways

Speaker: Melanie M. Heuston, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Inaugural Chief Nurse Executive at West Virginia University Medicine

October 21: Equipping the Workforce for Relational Excellence

Speaker: Rebecca O’Connor PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor & Marilee Rasmussen Endowed Faculty Fellow at University of Washington School of Nursing 

November 4: Seen, Heard, and Valued: Leveraging Social Capital, Recognition, and Community to Promote Sense of Belonging

Speaker: Nicole George, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Vice President and Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Press Ganey

November 18: Wrap‑Up – From Intention to Impact

Speaker: Katie Boston-Leary, PhD, MBA, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FAONL, FAAN, Senior Vice President of Equity & Engagement at American Nurses Enterprise

This series moves from foundational understanding to practical strategies, centering the expertise, leadership, and positionality of nurses across settings, roles, and identities.

Attend one or all and earn 1.5 ANCC Contact Hours per session. Participants must attend the live sessions to receive ANCC Contact Hours.

Save the Date: 2027 Opportunity & Impact in Nursing Summit

Mark your calendars, nurses. February 10-12, 2027, we're gathering for the next Opportunity & Impact in Nursing Summit at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. More details, including speakers and registration, are on the way. Sign up now to be the first to know.

Curious what the experience is like? Take a look back at highlights, speakers, and photos from our 2026 Summit.

The American Nurses Association is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.