Nurses leading change to advance health

Abstract Background The article includes a review of selected past and current leadership initiatives as well as a summary of three leadership meetings convened by The Center to Champion Nursing in America, a partnership of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), AARP and the AARP Foundation. Purpose These “Leadership in Action” meetings were designed to address the Campaign for Action’s (CFA) goal to increase the number of nurse leaders in health- and health care-related boardrooms at the local, state and national levels. Methods RWJF supported key nursing organizations in initial discussions around integrating state and national efforts to get more nurses onto boards leading to a active vibrant coalition making significant progress. Conclusion This article concludes with a call to action encouraging all nurses to consider board service as an essential component of improving health and health care and to do their part to help build a Culture of Health in the United States.