Making the Business Case for Nursing to the Business Community and to CEOs

Researchers are publishing an ever-expanding body of evidence that makes the "business case for nursing" by linking inadequate nursing levels to rising healthcare costs, lower levels of quality and patient safety, and high staff turnover. Nurse leaders must distill this research into a cognizant and concise argument to convince the business community and healthcare chief executive officers (CEOs) to take action to address the impending nurse and nurse faculty shortages. We use our experience partnering with the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce on the New Jersey Nursing Initiative: So a Nurse Will Be There for You Initiative—to help nurse leaders make the business case for nursing to their local Chambers of Commerce and healthcare CEOs. Gaining business allies is crucial if we are to address the shortage by 2025 when the United States will need 500,000 new nurses.