CNO 360
The CNO in 2026: A 360° Benchmarking of Nursing Executive Governance
The CNO role is at risk. As health system margins tighten, the C-suite is shrinking. One of the first roles to go is often the CNO. As the C-suite shrinks, standing still lets nursing influence erode by default — engaging while decisions are still being made is how CNOs come out with more influence, not less.
For nurse leaders, this eBook is a guide to leading the C-suite conversation, not just holding a seat in it. It provides a clear view of today's challenges while helping you prepare for what is ahead.
It also offers an exclusive preview of the data that is currently being collected for Nursing Catalyst's Fall 2026 proprietary CNO 360° Benchmark — the first comprehensive assessment of CNO performance and influence from the perspective of the broader C-suite.
Don’t let the shifting role of the CNO catch you by surprise. Download the eBook. Understand the real risks at stake. Identify what needs to be done. Prepare to mitigate the risk.
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Insights You’ll Gain
Most CNEs and CNOs recognize the shifting C-suite environment. The added challenge is how to respond to the changes. Download the eBook to learn:
Why and how the CNO scorecard has changed. Owning nursing-only operations no longer defines the role. Understand what the enterprise now expects of the CNO seat and why the old measures fall short.
What options CNOs have for addressing the risk. Will you continue on as usual, or will you engage in the conversation to determine the trajectory of CNOs? Learn about your options and the potential outcome for each choice.
Where the real gaps are and how to close them. It's not a skills gap — it's a translation gap. Learn where to focus — skills, structure, and translation — to earn a seat at the table on equal footing with the rest of the C-suite.
How the CNO 360° Benchmark will help identify and fill further gaps. Nursing Catalyst is leading the CNO 360° Benchmark, a first-of-its-kind national study that pairs the CNO's own perspective with input from CFOs, COOs, and CSOs to define what it takes for nursing leaders to hold and expand their seat at the table.
About The Health Management Academy
Since 1998, The Health Management Academy has cultivated the premier membership-based community of healthcare’s most influential CXOs from top U.S. health systems, as well as decision makers from innovative industry companies.
We cultivate exceptional peer groups, providing original market insights, world-class leadership development programs, and novel member alliances to more than 2,000 health system senior executives and 200 industry organizations.
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