Nurses Gain More Seats on Hospital Boards

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A growing number of healthcare organizations are adding nurses to their boards of directors, recognizing the critical role nurses play in delivering high-quality patient care and the importance of integrating frontline expertise into hospital governance and risk oversight. This shift comes as research shows the positive impact of strong nursing work environments and the risks associated with high patient-to-nurse ratios.

Why it matters

Historically, nurses have been underrepresented on hospital and healthcare organization boards, despite being the largest segment of the healthcare workforce and the primary drivers of inpatient care, safety, and patient experience. Boards that lack nursing expertise are incomplete and may make decisions without fully understanding the realities of frontline care delivery.

The details

The 2025 National Governance Report by the American Hospital Association found that the proportion of clinicians on hospital boards has decreased from 29% in 2014 to 26% in 2024, with nurses making up only 5% of clinicians on boards. However, healthcare leaders are recognizing the value that nurses bring to governance, including more grounded discussions about quality, safety, experience, and workforce sustainability, as well as earlier identification of risks and more executable strategies.

• The 2025 National Governance Report by the American Hospital Association found the decrease in clinicians on hospital boards from 2014 to 2024.
• In the past decade, research has consistently linked higher patient-to-nurse ratios to increased mortality, higher failure-to-rescue rates, and greater nurse burnout.

What’s next

Healthcare organizations are expected to continue expanding nurse representation on their boards as the value of nursing expertise in governance becomes increasingly clear.