Nurse Leadership Academy
Learn more about VNF's newest leadership development program.
About the Nurse Leadership Academy
The waitlist is open for the 2027 cohort!
The Nurse Leadership Academy is a ten month leadership development program spearheaded by the Virginia Nurses Foundation in partnership with the Virginia Nurses Association. Intended for new and aspiring nurse leaders across all healthcare settings, fellows of this robust program learn foundational leadership skills and participate in a one-on-one mentorship program to place a greater emphasis on relationship-building, real-world leadership exposure, and individualized development. If you’re a new or aspiring nurse leader who wants to take your leadership skills and knowledge to new heights, consider becoming a fellow of the Academy’s next graduating class!
The first seven months of this Academy program are dedicated to live VIRTUAL didactic sessions. During the subsequent months, fellows will participate in the "Day in the Life of a Nurse Leader" shadow opportunity to provide firsthand exposure to leadership in practice and help bridge the gap between theory and real-world application. Learn more under “Curriculum,” below.
SECURE YOUR SPOT ON THE WAITLIST! The program is limited to 25 Fellows.
The curriculum will cover 7 Leadership Development sessions:
- Foundations of Leadership
- Communication & Relationship Building
- Organizational Culture & Workplace Leadership
- Safety, Quality, & Systems Thinking
- Healthcare Finance & Value-Based Care
- Advocacy & Policy Influence
- Leading Change & Driving Impact
2027 Virtual Program Dates:
- February 11
- March 11
- April 8
- May 13
- June 10
- July 8
- August 12
Final Program Celebration: November 11 in Spotsylvania, Virginia at the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
BONUS: All NLA Fellows will receive registration to the VNA & VNF Nursing Impact Summit on November 12-13 in n Spotsylvania, Virginia at the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions!
Months 1-7:
- 7 Live VIRTUAL didactic sessions
- Fellows will identify a leadership mentor
- Fellows will complete a leadership assessment to gain feedback on their personal leadership style
- A virtual Community will be provided for additional coaching opportunities with program leadership and peer-to-peer engagement
Month 8-9:
- Fellows will participate in "Day in the Life of a Nurse Leader" shadow opportunity for a minimum of 8 hours.
Month 10:
- Final Program Celebration & VNA/VNF Nursing Impact Summit
Member registration: $1795 per registrant
Non-Member registration: $1995
per registrant
Fellows will learn foundational leadership skills and participate in a one-on-one mentorship program to place a greater emphasis on relationship-building, real-world leadership exposure, and individualized development.
The VNF Nightingale Legacy Fund was created as a tribute to nursing leaders who have made a difference and to help support the development of the Nurse Leadership Academy.
The Nurse Leadership Academy is a nine
month curriculum where high performing nurses with less than five years of management experience can garner exposure and immersion in key topics while strengthening their leadership core competencies.
Monies donated will help support this leadership development program and provide donors with an opportunity to recognize and give tribute to those they are thankful for because of the difference their leadership has
made to us.
The nurse leader you recognize will receive an email letting them know you wanted to say thank you!
NLA Scholarships Available Through the Virginia Department of Health
Please check back in 2026, our next program year!
Click the button below to navigate to a separate webpage and view the work of each fellow or team of fellows from our inaugural 2022 program. We invite you to learn from their work and consider how you can transfer this to your organization!
Please direct any Nurse Leadership Academy questions to VNF & VNA's Director of Professional Development Ashley Henry at ahenry@virginianurses.org .
Interested in mentoring a Nurse Leadership Academy Fellow? Contact VNF & VNA's Director of Professional Development Ashley Henry at ahenry@virginianurses.org.