Leveraging the Power of Board Leadership in Professional Nursing Organizations Barbara Cherry, DNSc, MBA, RN, NEA-BC Laura Caramanica, PhD, RN, CNE, CENP, FACHE, FAAN Linda Q. Everett, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, FAONL Laura Fennimore, DNP, RN, NEA-BC Elaine Scott, PhD, RN, FNAP Nurses who aspire to lead a profes- sional nursing organization can significantly influence the future of the nursing profession. This arti- cle describes 4 essential responsibil- ities required in a board leadership position as identified by a group of nurse leaders who have each served as the board president of a national or international professional nurs- ing organization. Professional nursing organizations have existed for over 125 years to support nursing practice, articu- late nursing values, and promote self-regulation. 1 Throughout this long history, dynamic nurse leaders have stepped up to advocate and strengthen the nursing profession using the power of the professional nursing organization. Leading a national or international profes- sional nursing organization may well be one of the key highlights of an individual's nursing career. The energy and drive to engage in such a visible leadership position provide a nurse leader with countless opportunities —and responsibilities — to influence nurses, advocate for nurs- ing and healthcare policy, and guide the future direction of nurs- ing practice. This article offers the perspec- tives of a group of nurse leaders who have each served as the pres- ident of a professional nursing organization board. Any nurse con- sidering such a leadership position must be willing to embrace and promote 4 essential responsibilities if they are to be successful in leverag- ing the power of the professional nursing organization to advance nursing practice and influence the future of nursing. These essential responsibilities are to: 1) promote professional development; 2) push the envelope to advance nursing standards and competencies; 3) address current and unique issues faced by the nurses everywhere; and 4) work within the professional organization structure to accom- plish goals. Professional Organizations: An Investment in Professional Development As nurses evolve, grow, and de- velop, several factors emerge that influence their professional devel- opment including formal education, mentors and coaches, experience, and personal characteristics such as intelligence, honesty, and integ- rity. One essential element for pro- fessional development is committing the time necessary to strategically engage in lifelong learning. A rec- ommendation from the Future of Nursing report 2(p13) supporting this view is to “ensure that nurses en- gage in lifelong learning.” Another factor essential to a nurse's profes- sional development is active mem- bership in 1 or more professional organizations. Membership provides exposure and access to educational resources (eg, websites, webinars, publications, and conferences) and rewarding networking opportu- nities with peers and colleagues. Professional organizations provide nurses with a network of experts to share clinical and administrative challenges and gain new ideas and Author Affiliations: Professor and As- sociate Dean (Dr Cherry), Texas Tech Uni- versity Health Sciences Center, Lubbock; Associate Professor (Dr Caramanica), Tanner Health System School of Nursing, Univer- sity of West Georgia, Carrollton; Professor (Dr Everett), Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy, Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio; Professor (Dr Fennimore), University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pro- fessor and PhD Program Director (Dr Scott), East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Correspondence: Dr Cherry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79430 (Barbara.cherry@ ttuhsc.edu). DOI: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000805 Association for Leadership Science in Nursing JONA Volume 49, Number 11, pp 517-519 Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. Perspectives JONA  Vol. 49, No. 11  November 2019 517 Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.