NOBC: Nurses serving on boards increasing

Nurses are historically underrepresented on all types of governing boards, but according to the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC), the number of nurses serving on boards has grown considerably in recent years, from 3,111 in 2017 to 5,034 as of this June. Writing in Nursing Economic$, NOBC leaders Kimberly Harper, MS, RN, and Laurie Benson, BSN, argue that the voices of nurse leaders are critical to discussions about how to improve communities, population health and a rapidly changing health care environment. The authors see opportunities, not just for seasoned leaders, but for novice nurses to serve—on neighborhood associations, youth sport leagues and parent-teacher organizations for example. NOBC is conducting research to demonstrate the value of nurse board service and aims to have 10,000 nurses on boards by the end of 2020, a goal set in response to the Institute of Medicine’s 2011 landmark report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.