Annually in July and November, respectively, the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) hosts its Academy for Aspiring Emerging Nurse Leaders and the Academy for Diverse Emerging Nurse Leaders, each a highly specified immersive program designed to empower nurse leaders from historically underrepresented groups in healthcare and academia. The academies offer a unique blend of mentorship, professional development, and networking to both early-career nurses and rising leaders in the field.
Academy for Diverse Aspiring Nurse Leaders
This three-day immersive program is tailored for registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, nurse educators, case managers, and nurse informaticists with a minimum of three years of experience who have not yet assumed formal leadership positions. The academy sessions focus on building foundational skills, including theories of leadership, people management, conflict resolution, and financial management.
Participants engage in self-discovery and career planning, guided by experienced local and national leaders from diverse backgrounds in health care and higher education. The program also addresses the influences of racism and discrimination on leadership trajectories, providing strategies to build supportive professional communities.
Academy for Diverse Emerging Nurse Leaders
Designed for nurses who have been in leadership positions for less than five years, this five-day program offers an in-depth exploration of advanced competencies. Participants benefit from sessions led by national leaders across nursing, healthcare, and academia, building skills in strategic planning, organizational financial management, stakeholder engagement, and managing unconscious bias.
A distinctive feature of the academy is its dual-mentorship model: each attendee is paired with an executive coach from the academy and a mentor NURSING AND PHARMACY SCHOOLS from their home institution to provide ongoing support for their leadership projects and career development.
Both academies are endorsed by the American Association for Men in Nursing and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. Active members of these organizations are eligible for a 10% tuition discount upon validation of membership. Tuition for the Aspiring Nurse Leaders program is $1,500, while the Emerging Nurse Leaders program is $3,000.
Through these programs, VUSN demonstrates its commitment to cultivating a diverse and inclusive nursing leadership pipeline, equipping participants with the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary to excel in their careers and contribute meaningfully to the health care profession.
