In this month’s President’s Column, ALSN President Dr. Heather Nelson-Brantley, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, FAAN reflects on the importance of replenishment, connection, and community in sustaining nurse leaders, and how those themes come together at the 2026 ALSN International Conference in Los Angeles.
One of the greatest gifts of being part of the ALSN community is learning from one another. We are surrounded by nurse leaders whose ideas challenge our thinking, inspire our growth, and remind us why leadership matters. Recently, a LinkedIn post from ALSN member Dr. Bob Dent prompted me to reflect on a concept that feels especially important as we enter a new season: replenishment. As nurse leaders, we often focus on resilience, our ability to persevere, adapt, and continue serving through challenges. Yet replenishment offers a different perspective. Resilience helps us keep going, while replenishment restores the energy, purpose, and passion that make leadership sustainable over time.
As I reflected on his words, I thought about each of you across our ALSN community. Whether you lead in healthcare operations, academia, research, or practice, you carry responsibilities that extend far beyond your job description. You serve as mentors, advocates, innovators, educators, caregivers, and changemakers. The work is meaningful, but it is also demanding. Replenishment is what allows us to continue showing up as our best selves for those who depend on us.
The truth is that replenishment looks different for each of us. It may be a daily walk with your phone tucked away, uninterrupted time with family, watching your grandchildren experience life's precious firsts, attending a concert or symphony, or simply creating space to step away from the constant demands of work. As summer comes to a close and a new academic year begins, this is the perfect time to reflect: How are you replenishing your cup? What practices most effectively restore your mind, body, and spirit? What brings you clarity in your life and in your work?
For some of you, the return of children to school may feel wonderfully replenishing. For me, replenishment often comes in small daily moments: closing the laptop, stepping onto my deck, taking a deep breath, and soaking in the beauty of nature and the joy of what I get to do in life each and every day. Yet replenishment is not always found in solitude. Often, it is found in connection. One of the greatest lessons we learned during the pandemic is that, at our core, we are meant to be in community with one another. We lead better when we are connected to something larger than ourselves.
That is why one of the greatest sources of replenishment for me each year is theALSN Conference. The energy is palpable. The hallways buzz with ideas. New friendships form over dinner. Longtime colleagues reconnect between sessions. Conversations spark collaborations that advance nursing leadership science and strengthen our profession. Every year, I leave renewed, inspired, and reminded that none of us leads alone. We are truly together in leadership, and there is something deeply replenishing about being surrounded by colleagues who understand both the challenges and the joys of our work.
Replenishment is essential for purpose-driven leadership. It is not a luxury, nor is it something we do only when we have time left over. It is an investment in our ability to lead with clarity, compassion, courage, and purpose. As we enter into the fall season, I encourage you to intentionally make space for what restores you and, if you can, join us at the ALSN Conference to experience the renewal that comes from learning, connecting, and growing together.
When we replenish ourselves, we strengthen not only our own leadership but also the collective strength of our ALSN community.
Together, we lead. Together, we grow. And together, we are replenished.
Together in leadership,
Heather Nelson-Brantley, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, FAAN
Click to learn more about the 2026 ALSN International Conference, taking place September 30 - October 2 in Los Angeles.
