Nursing academic leaders face urgent faculty shortages and rising turnover. To retain talent and sustain programs, leaders must shift from control to empowerment — adopting a new leadership model rooted in trust, adaptability, and shared purpose.
Reimagining academic leadership in nursing education
Facing pressures to produce more graduates faster, nursing schools are expanding student enrollment through accelerated pathways, hybrid models, simulation-based learning, virtual reality, and other teaching tools. But without enough faculty, many schools can’t keep pace with demand, and many students eager to enroll get turned away.
While nursing faculty vacancy rates hover around 8%, the deeper concern is turnover. According to AACN’s 2024–2025 faculty data, nearly one-third (31.6%) of faculty vacancies stemmed from resignations — an alarming signal of instability. Though retirements remain the top cause (39.7%), the rise in midcareer departures points to systemic issues that leadership must urgently address.
Why academic leadership skills are essential to faculty retention and program stability
Today’s academic leaders are navigating unprecedented complexity. Many inherited their roles without formal preparation, now tasked with managing budgets, curricula, personnel, and institutional change — all while under pressure to produce more nursing graduates, faster.
Traditional leadership models rooted in hierarchy and control are no longer sufficient. The most effective leaders today are not gatekeepers — they are groundskeepers: cultivating environments where faculty feel supported, valued, and empowered to thrive.
Defining new academic leadership models: The shift from gatekeeping to groundskeeping
The traditional gatekeeper model, focused on compliance and authority, was designed for stability — not agility. In contrast, the groundskeeper model emphasizes stewardship, trust, and adaptability. It’s about removing barriers, nurturing talent, and creating conditions for success.
Groundskeepers don’t just manage — they inspire. They lead with empathy, clarity, and courage, fostering cultures where innovation and collaboration flourish.
