In May 2022, the American Academy of Nursing (Academy) hosted a policy dialogue on “Optimizing the Nursing Workforce: Exploring Innovative Reforms and Policy Implications.” The Academy’s Expert Panel on Building Health Care System Excellence, in collaboration with the Expert Panels on Quality Health Care as well as Acute & Critical Care, convened this dialogue focused on current workforce shortages, projected workforce demands, and models of care that optimize nurses' expertise in enhancing care delivery. 

While existing nursing and health workforce shortages have intensified worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses and the nursing profession are uniquely positioned to lead the design of value-informed models that improve the quality of care and the experience for patients and clinicians. This policy dialogue provided participants the opportunity to gain insights from leading experts on novel models of care, data and technology, the economic value of nursing, federal and global regulations, and advancements to prepare the nursing workforce of the future. Participants were able to explore the critically important policy implications related to these issues and how the profession can advance them. 

• Innovation Must be Intentional
  Funding and time are needed to facilitate and generate the innovations that will transform health care. Academic and health care leaders must intentionally value and support nursing-led innovations.
• Payment Models Must be Reformed to Address Waste and Unnecessary Care
  Nurses are in a unique position to address the harms of waste and unnecessary care in health services. Moving away from fee-for-service to risk-bearing, value-based payment systems would empower nurses and the diverse populations they serve.
• Nurses Must be Prepared to be Innovators, Solution-Providers, and Re-Designers of Care
  Competency-based education has a large role to play in ensuring the future nursing workforce is practice-ready and equipped with the critical thinking skills that will reshape their working environment.
• Regulation, Education, and Scope of Practice Must be Harmonized
  For optimal nurse-led models of care, nurses must be educated and enabled to practice to the top of their licensure across the continuum. 
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Must be Championed and Strategically Implemented
  Gatekeeping policies and barriers to underrepresented populations are still in place in many programs. Removing these barriers with strategic intention can strengthen the workforce and nursing’s contributions to health. 
  

Guest Panelists

• David Marshall, JD, DNP, RN, CENP, NEA-BC, FAONL, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, Cedars-Sinai
• Betty Rambur, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor of Nursing and Routhier Endowed Chair for Practice, University of Rhode Island
• Michelle Acorn, DNP, NP PHC/Adult, MN/ACNP, BScN/PHCNP, FCAN, GCNC, FAAN, Chief Nurse, International Council of Nurses
• Deborah Trautman, PhD, RN, FAAN, Chief Executive Officer, American Association of Colleges of Nursing
  

Planning Committee

• Susan Grant, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Chair, Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer, Wellstar Health System
• Maureen McCausland, DNSc, RN, FAAN, Co-Chair, Senior Advisor, McChrystal Group
• Joyce Batcheller, DNP, RN, FAAN, Adjunct Faculty and Executive Nurse Advisor, The Center for the Advancement of Healthcare Professionals
• Suzanne Boyle, DNSc, RN, FAAN, Consultant/ Executive Coach, SMB Healthcare Associates, LLC
• Donna Havens, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean, Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing
• Vallire Hooper, PhD, RN, CPAN, FASPAN, FAAN, Senior Nurse Scientist, Ascension
• Rosanne Raso, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FAAN, Chief Nursing Officer, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell
• AkkeNeel Talsma, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Nancy Valentine, PhD, MPH, RN, FNAP, FAAN, President, ValentineGroupHealth,LLC
• Deb Zimmermann, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

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