Abstract
In the face of accelerating change across healthcare and higher education, preparing students for practice-ready success requires more than a strategic plan, it demands a cultural shift grounded in leadership alignment and inclusive engagement (Weston, 2022). One school of nursing (SON) launched a 10-month strategy and leadership alignment initiative aimed at building a high-functioning leadership team, clarifying foundational identity, meaningfully engaging stakeholders, and co-creating a bold yet practical strategic plan ready for implementation.
The initiative unfolded through a series of interconnected efforts. Leadership development sessions built a shared sense of purpose among SON leaders. A survey paired with a full-day workshop led to refreshed vision, mission, and values statements. Thirty-three stakeholders, including university leaders, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners, participated in interviews and focus groups, ensuring the strategic plan reflected the full breadth of perspectives across the SON community. Collaborative sessions produced a one-page strategic plan emphasizing clarity, usability, and accountability. Grounded in the new mission, vision, and core values, the plan’s strategic priorities focus on strengthening competency-based education and ensuring graduates are practice-ready.
From the start, implementation support was embedded into the process. Leaders developed key performance indicators, conducted barrier analyses, and participated in retreats to activate the plan. Practical, human-centered tools such as storytelling, empathy mapping, and change style assessments were integrated into planning sessions, enhancing readiness for change and building transparency in decision-making and resource allocation. To reinforce alignment and engagement, the SON integrated the plan into daily operations. Initiatives included a “High-Five” campaign recognizing individuals who demonstrate core values in action, restructuring shared governance agendas around strategic priorities, and redesigning student awards to reflect school values. The results were significant: a widely supported strategic plan, strengthened leadership-stakeholder alignment, and a cultural shift toward long-term shared accountability.
This session offers SON faculty leaders actionable strategies to design inclusive planning efforts, align leadership and culture, and build sustainable plans that advance practice-ready education.
Notes
References:
Weston, M. J. (2022). Strategic planning for a very different nursing workforce. Nurse Leader, 20(2), 152-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2021.12.021
Sigma Membership
Tau Rho
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quality Improvement
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Faculty Development, Workforce, Teaching/Learning Strategies, Teaching Methods, Learning Methods, Nursing Education
Recommended Citation
Slater, Larry Z.; Cloud, Kristie; and Cooper, Taylor, "Advancing Practice-Ready Nursing Education: Strategic Planning That Builds Tomorrow Together" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 68.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2026/presentations_2026/68
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-05-03
Advancing Practice-Ready Nursing Education: Strategic Planning That Builds Tomorrow Together
Washington, DC, USA
In the face of accelerating change across healthcare and higher education, preparing students for practice-ready success requires more than a strategic plan, it demands a cultural shift grounded in leadership alignment and inclusive engagement (Weston, 2022). One school of nursing (SON) launched a 10-month strategy and leadership alignment initiative aimed at building a high-functioning leadership team, clarifying foundational identity, meaningfully engaging stakeholders, and co-creating a bold yet practical strategic plan ready for implementation.
The initiative unfolded through a series of interconnected efforts. Leadership development sessions built a shared sense of purpose among SON leaders. A survey paired with a full-day workshop led to refreshed vision, mission, and values statements. Thirty-three stakeholders, including university leaders, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners, participated in interviews and focus groups, ensuring the strategic plan reflected the full breadth of perspectives across the SON community. Collaborative sessions produced a one-page strategic plan emphasizing clarity, usability, and accountability. Grounded in the new mission, vision, and core values, the plan’s strategic priorities focus on strengthening competency-based education and ensuring graduates are practice-ready.
From the start, implementation support was embedded into the process. Leaders developed key performance indicators, conducted barrier analyses, and participated in retreats to activate the plan. Practical, human-centered tools such as storytelling, empathy mapping, and change style assessments were integrated into planning sessions, enhancing readiness for change and building transparency in decision-making and resource allocation. To reinforce alignment and engagement, the SON integrated the plan into daily operations. Initiatives included a “High-Five” campaign recognizing individuals who demonstrate core values in action, restructuring shared governance agendas around strategic priorities, and redesigning student awards to reflect school values. The results were significant: a widely supported strategic plan, strengthened leadership-stakeholder alignment, and a cultural shift toward long-term shared accountability.
This session offers SON faculty leaders actionable strategies to design inclusive planning efforts, align leadership and culture, and build sustainable plans that advance practice-ready education.
Description
This expansive quality improvement case exploration demonstrates how aligning strategy and culture can catalyze institutional transformation, foster a sense of belonging, and prepare nursing schools to meet future challenges with clarity and purpose. The session will offer actionable strategies for designing inclusive planning processes, embedding strategic priorities into the fabric of daily operations, and developing sustainable plans that advance practice-ready education.