The Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce is proud to share an update on the leadership of our statewide Council of Deans and Directors, the body of nursing education leaders that convenes each month to advance excellence across Connecticut's nursing programs.
 
Following an open election of the full Council membership, we are delighted to welcome two newly elected Vice-Chairs, Cynthia O'Sullivan, Ph.D., APRN, FNP-BC, Associate Dean, Academic Affairs & Global Nursing of Sacred Heart University and Edie Ouellet, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE, Executive Director and Chair, Nursing Department, University of Hartford. Both bring deep experience in nursing education and a strong commitment to the Council's shared work, and we look forward to the leadership they will provide.


They join our Co-Chairs, Amanda Bell of Arizona College and Patty DeLucia of Lincoln Tech, who continue to guide the Council's monthly meetings, shape its agendas, and represent our members before key stakeholders, including the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing.


We are also pleased to welcome Christina Nadeau, DNP, MSN, RN, OCN, CNE, Director of Clinical Education for the Nursing Program at Eastern Connecticut State University, as the Council's new Secretary. Christina will steward our meeting minutes and agendas, keeping the Council's work organized and accessible to all members.


This Council speaks for 54 nursing education leaders across 27 schools and programs of nursing in Connecticut, spanning public and private institutions and every level of nursing education. Strong volunteer leadership is what makes that voice possible. Please join us in congratulating our new Vice-Chairs and Secretary, and thanking our entire leadership team for their service to nursing education and the future of Connecticut's nursing workforce.
 
With gratitude, Tina Loarte-Rodriguez, DNP, RN Executive Director, Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce

On May 19, 2026, CT State Community College will mark a proud and heartfelt milestone as the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Class of 2026 gathers for their Pinning Ceremony — a cherished tradition that honors the dedication, resilience, and compassion it takes to enter the nursing profession.

Family, faculty, and friends will fill the room with pride as each graduate receives their pin, a symbol of their commitment to the art and science of nursing. After years of rigorous coursework, clinical rotations, and countless late-night study sessions, the Class of 2026 will cross the threshold from student to nurse.

A Powerful Voice to Mark the Occasion
The ceremony will be made even more special by the presence of an extraordinary guest speaker: Dr. Tina Loarte-Rodriguez, DNP, RN, CPPS, FADLN, Executive Director of the Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce. Dr. Loarte-Rodriguez will bring both inspiration and purpose to the room, speaking to the graduates about the vital role nurses play in shaping the health and well-being of communities across Connecticut and beyond.

Drawing on her own journey in nursing and her statewide advocacy work, Dr. Loarte-Rodriguez will remind the new nurses that they are not just entering a career — they are joining a movement. Connecticut's communities need strong, skilled, and compassionate nurses now more than ever, and this graduating class is ready to answer that call.

The Meaning Behind the Pin
The pinning ceremony holds a special place in nursing tradition, distinct from graduation itself. The pin — often placed by a mentor, family member, or fellow student — represents the personal commitment each nurse makes to their patients and their profession. For the CT State Class of 2026, the moment will serve as a powerful reminder of why they began this journey and what lies ahead.

Congratulations in Advance, Class of 2026!To every nurse who will walk across that stage on May 19th — congratulations. Your hard work, heart, and determination have brought you to this moment. Connecticut's patients and communities are fortunate to have you.

Welcome to the profession. Now go change lives.

On February 17, 2026, CCNW’s Executive Director was featured on News 8 WTNH addressing nurse burnout, workplace violence, and staffing shortages across Connecticut.
 
The message was clear. This is not just a staffing crisis, it is a pipeline and policy failure. Connecticut has unfilled nursing education seats, graduates too few nurses to meet demand, and faces faculty shortages, limited clinical placements, rising education costs, and outdated regulations that slow real solutions.
 
Nursing is economic infrastructure. When the workforce fails, access to care suffers and communities pay the price. With intentional investment, regulatory modernization, and full use of the nursing workforce, Connecticut can absolutely solve this.

The new short documentary Don’t Clock Out shines a light on the emotional toll of nursing, and the resilience that keeps nurses going. Produced by the peer-support organization of the same name, the film follows healthcare workers navigating moral distress, burnout, and their shared search for healing.

Through intimate storytelling, Don’t Clock Out urges viewers to rethink how we care for those who care for others. It’s more than a film, it’s a movement to restore humanity to the profession and strengthen the nursing pipeline by supporting mental health and retention.
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“The nursing pipeline is more than new graduates — it’s sustained hearts and minds who stay, lead, and thrive.”

The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) announces today that it will induct a highly accomplished cohort of nurse leaders as its 2025 Fellows. The inductees will be recognized for their substantial contributions to health and health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 16 – October 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. This year’s conference theme is “Impact Through Integrity and Trust: Our Role as Navigators and Translators.”
 
The newest Fellows represent 42 states, the District of Columbia, and 12 countries. Their extensive expertise will enrich the thought leadership of the over 3,200 Academy Fellows who together advance the Academy's mission of improving health and achieving health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science.
 
“I cannot emphasize enough at this pivotal time in history the vital importance of recognizing this extraordinary and sizeable group of nurse leaders. With rich and varied backgrounds from practice, policy, research, entrepreneurship, and academia, they have been instrumental in using nursing’s holistic approach to improve the health of patients and communities throughout the world,” said Academy President Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FNAP, FAAN. “Induction into the Academy represents the highest honor in nursing. Earning the FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) credential is a prestigious recognition of one’s accomplishments and signifies the power of nursing to transform health and enact positive outcomes.”
 
The 2025 Class of Fellows, selected from a historically high number of applicants which resulted in a comparable overall acceptance rate as in previous years, represent the continued influence nurses have on ensuring innovative, evidence-informed solutions that champion health and well-being in their systems and communities. The Academy appreciates the dedicated work of the organization’s Fellow Selection Committee and International Subcommittee, who led the rigorous review of the record-breaking number of applications.
 
The Academy will host the Induction Ceremony and Soiree on the evening of Saturday, October 18, 2025. This event is a unique opportunity to showcase nursing leadership, science, and innovation where colleagues, friends, families, and sponsors gather together in Washington, DC to celebrate nursing’s transformational efforts to improve health. Learn more about the Academy and visit the policy conference website for more details.
 
2025 Academy Fellows*

Connecticut

• Judith Hahn, Yale New Haven Health System
• Barbara Jacobs, Hartford Hospital
• Tiffany Kelley, University of Connecticut School of Nursing
• Wendy Lord Mackey, Yale University School of Nursing and Connecticut Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Mallory Perry-Eaddy, University of Connecticut School of Nursing and Connecticut Children’s
• Lisa Sundean, Fairfield University Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies
• Gee Su Yang, University of Connecticut School of Nursing

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The Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) has officially opened Early Bird Registration for its highly anticipated 2025 Annual Convention, to be held November 20–22 in Nashville, Tennessee — and this year’s speaker lineup promises to inspire, inform, and elevate.

Location: Nashville, TN
Dates: November 20–22, 2025

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Tina Loarte-Rodriguez, Executive Director of CCNW, will be one of the featured speakers at this national gathering of nurse educators and leaders. A dynamic voice for community health and equity, Dr. Loarte-Rodriguez will share powerful stories of resilience, trust, and transformation, and explore their lasting impact within the ADN nursing community.

Themed “Elevating Nursing Education: Embracing Change, Strengthening Community,” the 2025 convention features a powerhouse group of thought leaders from across public health, leadership, AI, and nursing education:
Featured Speakers Include:

• Rebecca Love, RN, MSN, FIEL – Nurse entrepreneur and AI innovator
• Danielle McCamey, DNP, FAAN – Mentor and leader in community-building
• Rear Admiral (Ret.) Aisha Brooks, DNP, FAAN – Former Deputy Surgeon General
• Cherie Rebar & Nicole Heimgartner – Education-to-practice readiness experts
• Beth Toner, MSN, RN – Director at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Nicole Williams, DNP, RN – NCLEX updates from NCSBN

With rates held at 2024 pricing, now is the perfect time to register and save:
Early Bird Registration is now open – save $100 off regular rates!

Join OADN  for three days of innovation, connection, and celebration of the Associate Degree Nurse. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the movement transforming nursing education from the inside out.

Register today: https://oadn.org/news/oadn-convention-update-featured-speakers-registration

For more about Dr. Tina Loarte-Rodriguez and CCNW, click here

During Nurses Week, CCNW proudly honors the incredible dedication and compassion of nurses across our community. Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, offering skilled care, emotional support, and tireless advocacy for their patients.

At CCNW, we recognize the vital role nurses play every day—and especially during this special week. We thank you for your unwavering commitment, your strength in challenging moments, and your deep compassion that makes a lasting difference in so many lives.

To all nurses: we see you, we support you, and we are grateful for you.

​Happy Nurses Week!

At CCNW, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary contributions of nurses during National Nurses Month. Nurses are the heart of healthcare—providing compassionate care, advocating for patients, and working tirelessly to improve the well-being of our communities.

Throughout the month of May, we honor the dedication, resilience, and expertise that nurses bring to their work each and every day. From hospitals and clinics to long-term care and home health, nurses go above and beyond to deliver critical care and comfort to those in need.

CCNW extends our deepest gratitude to all nurses—not just this month, but every day of the year. Your courage and commitment inspire us all.
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Thank you for ALL you do.

The Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce (CCNW) is excited to announce a Lapel Pin Design Contest! We’re calling on creative minds to design a unique, professional, and inspiring lapel pin that represents CCNW’s mission and brand. The winning design will be produced as an official CCNW lapel pin, worn with pride by nursing professionals across Connecticut!
 
Design Guidelines:

• Must incorporate CCNW’s branding colors
• Should be approximately 1 inch in size
• Should reflect CCNW’s mission to strengthen the nursing workforce and support the future of nursing
• The design should be clear, professional, and wearable

 
Mission of CCNW:  “The Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce, Inc.’s mission is to foster collaborations to ensure a highly educated, diverse, and sustainable nursing workforce to support the healthcare needs of Connecticut residents.”
 
Who Can Participate?
This contest is open to students, nurses, designers, and anyone passionate about nursing and workforce development!
 
Show us your creativity—help design a pin that represents the heart of Connecticut’s nursing workforce!
 
The winning designer will receive a gift card and will have their work featured in CCNW’s marketing efforts!
 
How to Submit:
Email your design to peggy@ctcenterfornursingworkforce.com
Deadline: April 1, 2025