Nurse Leadership Portal

Program Details

It is important for nurses to understand the impact their role has in the future of nursing. Through continued professional development focusing on innovative strategies, workforce best practices, interprofessional collaboration, and an integrative healthcare approach, nurses will have the foundation to lead their organizations and communities to better outcomes.

The SDAHO Nurse Leadership Program, started in 2019, is a customized education program designed to equip hospital and post-acute care nurses, current and emerging, with leadership and operational skills they need to be a successful and supportive leader in their organization. This program is designed to give nurses tools that can be immediately applied to their current role.

The content will be taught by South Dakota nurse leaders and other health care industry experts regarding current best practice and applying those principles to real world concerns while developing critical communication skills in a fast-paced healthcare field. 

Professionals who attend this program will build skills and confidence in leadership, critical thinking, conflict management, effective team building, and how to incorporate professional development within their own practice while encouraging those around them to do the same. The program will include lectures, discussion, reflection, independent project study, networking, and opportunities to interact with nurse leaders and other resource experts.

Who Should Attend: 

The SDAHO Nurse Leadership Program is available to current and emerging nurse leaders within hospitals and post-acute care (nursing home, assisted living, home health and hospice) settings. If you are a Nurse Executive, Director of Nursing, Associate DON, Nurse Manager or an emerging nurse leader, this program is for you!

Why you Should Attend:

  • Develop a network of nurse colleagues throughout the state.
  • Enhance critical communication skills while fostering relationships in the workplace.
  • Demonstrate reflective and communication practices to enhance professional growth.
  • Immediate application of foundational business and leadership principles.
  • Discuss the role of political advocacy in nursing.
  • Discuss best practices in hiring and managing staffing needs while considering legal implications.
  • Identify impacting revenues / expenses particularly how nursing influences organizational decisions and patient outcomes.

Objectives

  • Improve skills by application of real-world scenarios to foundational operational and leadership principles.
  • Examine and apply critical communication skills.
  • Discuss the responsibilities of regulatory compliance and clinical inquiry.
  • Identify responsibilities of the nurse leader when making decisions, developing teams, inspiring leaders, understanding financials, and championing change.
  • Examine partnership with Human Resources and the legalities of employment.

FAQs

2026 Program preview

Supported by

Program Overview:

  • Crucial Conversations© curriculum
    • Includes book and learner guide
  • Board of Nursing role and Review of AONL Nurse Leader Core Competencies
  • Nursing Inquiry
    • Research and Evidenced Based Practice
    • Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement
  • Nursing Advocacy at Local, State, and National level
  • Health Care Ethics
  • Human Resources – Legal Aspects of Management
  • Health Care Finance
  • Innovative Leadership
  • Registration for 2 SDAHO conferences (Post Acute Partners in Care Conference and Annual Conference)
  • Multiple Resources for Self-Initiated Leadership Development

Tentative Schedule

Expectations for the Program:

  • Attend all in-person and virtual events.
  • Active participation in both in-person and virtual events.
    • Ensure you have a working webcam.
  • If you are unable to attend a virtual or an in-person event, notify SDAHO immediately.
  • Program is designed for 10 sessions, no substitutions.
  • Complete course evaluations at the end of each event.

Successful Completion of the Program: 

  • Attend at least 8 of the 10 sessions, 2 of which must be in-person events.
  • Submission of final independent study project by 1600 on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

2026 Registration Information:

  • SDAHO Members = $375
  • Non-Members = $500
  • Pricing includes all sessions in education program, such as:
    • Crucial Conversation© training and books (a savings of $2000) 
    • Post-Acute Partners in Care Convention registration (a savings of $200 member/$300 nonmember)
    • Annual Convention registration (a savings of $250 member/$375 nonmember)
    • Meals for in-person events

Have questions? 

Contact Debra Morello at debra.morello@sdaho.org or call 605-789-7536

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