2026 Workforce Forecast: Data-Driven Guidance for Nursing Leaders

Nursing executives are navigating unprecedented workforce complexity: persistent talent shortages, intensifying margin pressure, and the critical need to balance workforce flexibility with financial viability. Staffing challenges and premium labor costs rank among the top five priorities for nursing leaders, alongside increasing difficulty maintaining competitive employer status. Finance leaders reinforce this urgency—over 90% identify cost containment as their primary focus, while 73% are actively planning reductions in travel nurse expenditures.

The imperative is unmistakable: CNOs are positioned to champion internal workforce optimization through strategic improvements in efficiency, productivity, and engagement.

This session combines data-driven insights from The Health Management Academy with practical CNO expertise to examine the workforce imperatives that will shape health systems in 2026:

• Strategies to close critical staffing gaps

• Changing perspectives on agency relationships

• Competitive employer positioning in today's market

• Approaches to margin management and cost optimization

For the full deck, click here.

Speakers

• Scott Estep, MBOE, RN, CSSBB, System Vice President, Nursing Operations & Capacity Management, OhioHealth

• Jessica Potts, DNP, Vice President of Workforce Strategy and Operations, SSM Health

• Courtney Green, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Senior Vice President of Nurse & Staff, QGenda

• Naj Khan, Associate Director, The Health Management Academy