Our panel of experts shares their advice for aspiring nurses, and their vision for expanding access to nursing education and supporting careers that last.
Beverly Malone, Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Chief Executive Officer, National League for Nursing
What advice would you give to aspiring nurses entering the profession today?
Be thoughtful, caring, and use the power of healing. While that may sound simplistic, the truth is that, in a profession that demands so much of your energy and spirit; dealing with long hours; life-threatening health challenges; and a need for quick, clear, concise communication with an interprofessional care team, it can be hard to remain empathetic, upbeat, and considerate. The truth is that caring takes maturity, wisdom, insight, and above all, practice. Be kind and caring to yourself. Practice self-care by taking a deep breath when you feel overwhelmed, or give yourself that long-delayed day off to recharge and avoid burning out.
How can nursing programs make sure students are prepared not just to enter the profession, but to build long, successful careers?
Nursing programs must transform their approach to co-create a culture of lifelong learning by establishing robust mentoring and career counseling opportunities. Students must be encouraged to prioritize continuing education, professional development, and formal education to earn advanced degrees and certifications that open many doors — among them academia, to pursue nursing education or nursing science, whose scholarly focus may be on nursing education or clinical research. In clinical practice, advanced practice roles like clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, and nurse anesthetist can provide professional fulfillment while offering economic advantages with attractive salaries and meaningful benefits.
Where do you see the greatest opportunities to expand access to nursing education and bring more qualified nurses into the workforce?
Two things come to mind.
One is competency-based education (CBE), a relatively new approach that transforms nursing education from a one-size-fits-all academic instruction into an interactive process that emphasizes student-teacher goal-setting, mastery of skills and knowledge, and measurable assessments on a flexible timeline — without sacrificing benchmarks or standards of excellence — and facilitates the preparation of a practice-ready nursing workforce.
The second is a trend that is now at least a decade old: the rise and tremendous growth of technology, including quality, accredited online programs — many now offered by some of our nation’s elite colleges of nursing — that have made it possible for people to earn or complete their degrees more conveniently.
How can educators, healthcare organizations, and industry work together to strengthen the nursing pipeline?
More robust funding is sorely needed for grants and scholarships to defray the steep tuition of earning a nursing degree and to advance the science of nursing education, a field of growing importance to the preparation of a sophisticated, technology-savvy nursing workforce entering an AI-driven practice environment. Nursing education and health care systems are interdependent and must develop strong working partnerships by expanding clinical placements and increasing the number of academic clinical nurse educators available to give the guidance and hands-on instruction so essential to a seamless transition to practice for nursing graduates.
Imelda Reyes, DNP, MPH, APRN, FAANP
Dean and Professor, Tanner Health School of Nursing, University of West Georgia
What advice would you give to aspiring nurses entering the profession today?
Stay positive and work hard. There are so many changes happening in healthcare today, but nursing is a wonderful profession that offers many meaningful benefits. I’ve loved the flexibility that my career has offered, from being bedside in adult medical-surgical nursing to working as a pediatric nurse practitioner to serving as a nursing faculty member. Each experience has been deeply rewarding.
How can nursing programs make sure students are prepared not just to enter the profession, but to build long, successful careers?
It’s a two-way street. Having realistic experiences while in school is important, and while being a student, never lose that curiosity. Ask those “why” questions: Why are we doing it this way? Also, never forget that those who need our services are sometimes at their most vulnerable, so please treat them with respect and compassion.
Where do you see the greatest opportunities to expand access to nursing education and bring more qualified nurses into the workforce?
We are all working within education to expand opportunities. Shortages in nursing faculty and clinical placements are really the limiting factor. We all need to work together to offer more seats for nursing students and to retain nurses in the workforce. Reducing barriers to nursing school is also important. Having streamlined and efficient programs matters, as does investing in student success initiatives to help students finish.
How can educators, healthcare organizations, and industry work together to strengthen the nursing pipeline?
Working with clinical partners is essential to understanding what gaps may exist in our educational programs. Ensuring clinical partners understand the importance of access to charting systems and hands-on experiences is critical for student learning. Encouraging practicing nurses to take on students and mentor them is also an important step in the process.
Sarah Rhoads, DNP, Ph.D., APRN, FAAN
Dean, College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
What advice would you give to aspiring nurses entering the profession today?
I would encourage aspiring nurses to remain curious, adaptable, compassionate, and committed to lifelong learning. Nursing is a wonderful profession that requires strong communication, resilience, and caring as well as clinical expertise. The nursing profession is ever-evolving and has endless opportunities.
How can nursing programs make sure students are prepared not just to enter the profession, but to build long, successful careers?
Nursing programs must provide students with a strong clinical foundation while also developing leadership, critical thinking, communication, and professional resilience. Students should have the opportunity to work with interprofessional teams and learn using emerging technologies. The ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, other healthcare professionals, and the public is an essential skill to develop. It is also important for nursing programs to normalize discussions about self-care, stress management, and healthy coping strategies.
Where do you see the greatest opportunities to expand access to nursing education and bring more qualified nurses into the workforce?
Nursing programs today are offering flexible educational pathways that meet students where they are, including accelerated and second-degree programs, as well as innovative hybrid learning models. Strengthening academic-practice partnerships can also increase access to clinical experiences, financial support, and career pathways. Expanding these opportunities is especially important in communities where nursing and healthcare workforce shortages are most significant.
How can educators, healthcare organizations, and industry work together to strengthen the nursing pipeline?
Educators, healthcare organizations, and industry partners must work together to create seamless pathways from education to practice by expanding clinical placements, investing in faculty development, and supporting innovative learning experiences. Shared faculty appointments and dedicated education units can further strengthen these partnerships by aligning academic preparation with clinical practice, increasing student capacity, and enhancing workforce readiness.
