StaffGarden

10/09/2026

We had a full house at this year's NWONL Conference for Larissa Africa's session on engaging and retaining Gen Z nurses!

The conversation centered on a growing reality for healthcare leaders: retaining the next generation requires intentional workforce development, meaningful engagement, and ongoing professional growth opportunities.

Learn more about our findings with Laudio Insights and AONL in this recent AHA article, digging into some of the larger themes from our spring AONL report on Gen Z turnover: https://bit.ly/3Wh2Iqz

10/01/2026

How can healthcare organizations make Clinical Ladder Programs more accessible, engaging, and impactful?
The latest AONL & Laudio Insights report highlights six priorities for modernizing CLPs — and reveals that earning a ladder level in year one is associated with up to a 10-point increase in second-year retention.
Get the full report now: https://bit.ly/4iPW0RN

09/30/2026

When it comes to Magnet®, the designation is not the destination.
A recent article from Emerging RN Leader challenges healthcare organizations to dig deeper on the “why” of Magnet® designation by creating environments where nurses can thrive, grow, and choose to stay.

At StaffGarden, we agree sustainable nursing excellence is built through strong leadership, meaningful engagement, career development, and ongoing investment in the frontline workforce, long after any designation is earned.

Workforce strategies should focus on the outcomes that matter most: stronger retention, engaged clinicians, and healthier work environments that support exceptional patient care.
Because ultimately, a culture that nurses want to be part of is the true mark of excellence.
Read more from collaborator and peer to our Laudio Insights team, Rose Sherman:

By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN I have been asked the same question numerous times over the past 6 months by nurse executives: Are we the only ones rethinking Magnet Program Designation®? The answer is no – I am hearing this come up pretty frequently in conversations with CNOs as their ...

09/28/2026

Clinical Ladder Programs play a critical role in supporting nurse development and retention.
This new AONL & Laudio Insights report examines national data from 41,500 RNs and 70,500 ladder applications to identify participation trends, retention outcomes, and opportunities for program modernization.
Download the full report today: https://bit.ly/4dAFvFI

09/28/2026

Tomorrow, join StaffGarden and Becker's Healthcare to discuss how leading health systems are building competency frameworks that support consistent performance, professional growth, and safer patient care.

Don't miss the conversation with nursing executives from El Camino Health, Texas Health Resources, and Laudio by Ascend Learning.

Register now: https://bit.ly/3VcXHir

09/24/2026

Healthcare organizations need confidence that clinicians can perform consistently under increasingly complex care environments.
Yet many organizations still rely on fragmented, checklist-driven approaches that make consistency difficult to achieve at scale.
We’ll be breaking down a practical model for true competency development and sustained performance on September 29th with Becker's Healthcare and Laudio, alongside health system leaders from El Camino Health and Texas Health Resources.
Join the conversation on September 29th: https://bit.ly/46JGr6Z

09/14/2026

Happy Nursing Professional Development Week! 💙

We're celebrating the NPD practitioners, nurse educators, and professional development leaders who empower nurses to grow, thrive, and deliver exceptional patient care.

Your work often happens behind the scenes, but the impact is felt across every unit, every team, and every patient experience.

As we recognize the vital role NPD leaders play in supporting nurse growth and development, we're inspired by the innovative programs and tools helping organizations strengthen professional practice and advancement. Learn how one health system approached modernizing its clinical ladder program:
🔗 https://bit.ly/4gVVQWf

Thank you for all you do to support and advance the nursing profession.

08/20/2026

Fragmented systems and one-size-fits-all reporting make it harder for nurse leaders to act on the information they need — but there’s a better way.

In Nurse Executive Perspectives: Navigating Organizational Digital Transformation, Larissa Africa and co-authors examine how truly sustainable transformation depends on intentional systems that integrate innovation into organizational governance and operations.

For healthcare organizations navigating digital transformation, the opportunity isn't simply to provide more data. It's to make insights actionable, relevant, and accessible within the flow of work.

📖 Read the article in Nurse Leader now: https://hubs.ly/Q04tFlLC0

07/29/2026

"Magnet® takes too much time."
"Magnet® creates extra work."
"Magnet® reporting is overwhelming."

But… what if Magnet® isn't actually the problem?

What if the burden comes from relying on manual evidence collection, fragmented data, and workflows that weren't designed for continuous readiness?

The most successful Magnet® organizations aren't working harder.

They're redesigning how the work happens.

Continuous readiness. Real-time evidence. Workflow-integrated systems.

We’ve compiled the strategies modern Magnet® leaders are using to reduce burden while strengthening outcomes.

➡️ Visit our Magnet® Leadership Resource Center: https://hubs.la/Q04qb5570

07/14/2026

"Why do nurses stay?"

Cherilyn Ashlock, DNP, RN, NE-BC shared that when new nurses join Tampa General Hospital, they say it's because the organization is Magnet® designated.

But the more important question is for the nurses who've stayed for years:

"Why do you stay?" The answers are remarkably consistent:

✔️ My professional practice is valued
✔️ My voice is heard
✔️ I have room to grow

Read how leading organizations are creating environments where nurses want to build long-term careers.

📘Download the Magnet® leadership guide: https://hubs.la/Q04nsPFR0