The State of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Symposium 2026
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026
9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Registration: FREE
Continuing Nursing Professional Development (CE): $45
College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
3501 University Blvd East
Hyattsville, MD 20783
Overview
The nursing workforce is often viewed through isolated challenges such as recruitment, turnover, vacancies, and educational capacity. Sustaining the profession, however, requires a broader perspective — one that recognizes nursing as a career continuum and the shared responsibility of health care organizations, academic institutions, policymakers, and leaders to support nurses from workforce entry through career advancement and leadership.
This symposium will explore strategies that strengthen career longevity by examining how nurses are recruited, retained, developed, and advanced throughout their careers. Through plenary and breakout sessions, participants will explore emerging trends, innovative practices, and collaborative approaches that strengthen the nursing workforce across the career continuum.
Outcomes
At the conclusion of this symposium, participants will be able to:
- explore factors that influence nurse retention, career advancement, and workforce sustainability using current workforce data, evidence, and emerging trends
- evaluate organizational, educational, and policy strategies that support career development across the nursing continuum, including pathway programs, leadership development, technology, and workforce innovation
- identify opportunities for collaboration among health care organizations, academic institutions, and workforce partners to strengthen career longevity and build a sustainable nursing workforce.
Agenda
|
Time |
Topic |
Presenter |
|---|---|---|
|
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
|
|
9 - 9:15 |
Opening Remarks and Welcome |
Crystal DeVance-Wilson, PhD, MBA, PHCNS-BC Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD, NNP, FNAP, FAAN |
|
9:15 - 10 |
Keynote Presentation: Retention by Design: Rethinking How We Grow and Keep Nurses |
Bradley Goettl, DNP, DHA, RN, FNP-C, FAAN |
|
10 - 10:10 |
Nurse Support Program II Updates |
Laura Schenk, DNP, RN, CNE Alicia Gainey, MSN, RN |
|
10:10 - 11 |
Maryland Department of Labor Updates |
Ajani Pierce, BS Urwah Faisal, BS Maryland Department of Labor |
|
11 - 11:15 |
Break |
|
|
11:15 a.m. - noon |
Panel Discussion: |
Panelists: TBD |
|
noon - 1 p.m. |
Lunch |
|
|
1 - 2:30 |
Breakout Sessions |
From Data to Decisions: Using AI to Support Nursing Workforce Challenges Tolvalyn Dennison, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, CNE Nicole R. Evans, MSN, RN, CCRN, PCCN Denise Owens, DNP, RN, CCRN, CNE Building Nursing Careers: Pathways, Leadership, and Innovation Building Pathways to Nursing in Maryland: Current Practice, Tradeoffs, and Standardization |
|
2:30 - 3:15 |
Breakout Session Debriefs |
|
|
3:15 - 3:30 p.m. |
Closing Remarks and Evaluation |
Crystal DeVance-Wilson, PhD, MBA, PHCNS-BC |
Keynote Speaker Bio
Retention by Design: Rethinking How We Grow and Keep Nurses
Description: Nursing faces many pressing workforce issues — from uneven distribution and faculty shortages to burnout, technology adoption, and barriers to advancement. Drawing on examples from Maryland and beyond, Goettl will spotlight innovative approaches to preparing students, supporting early-career nurses, and creating sustainable pathways for long-term success in the profession.
Bradley Goettl, DNP, DHA, RN, FNP-C, FAAN
Chief Nursing Officer, American Nurses Enterprise
Bradley Goettl has more than 20 years of experience across clinical practice, health care administration, academia, and nonprofit leadership. He began his career in rural health care and practiced as a flight nurse and nurse practitioner before moving into executive roles.
He serves as chief nursing officer for the American Nurses Enterprise, which includes the American Nurses Association, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and the American Nurses Foundation. In this role, he advocates for the nation’s five million nurses and provides executive oversight for nursing and credentialing programs. Goettl is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the American College of Healthcare Executives. He also holds an adjunct faculty appointment at Georgetown University’s Berkley School of Nursing.
Nursing Continuing Professional Development
Nurses may receive 4.5 contact hours for attending the entire educational activity and completing the evaluation. Partial credit is not provided. Participants paying for CE will receive a certificate via email within 2 - 4 weeks. All requests must be received within 30 days of the event.
The University of Maryland School of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Organized by the 2026 The State of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Symposium Planning Committee
Crystal DeVance-Wilson, PhD, MBA, PHCNS-BC
Director, Maryland Nursing Workforce Center
Assistant Professor and Vice Chair, University of Maryland School of Nursing at the Universities at Shady Grove
Chair, State of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Symposium 2026
Lynn Marie Bullock, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Assistant Professor and Director, Office of Professional Education
University of Maryland School of Nursing
Adaugo Ezejie, MSN, RN
Research Project Coordinator, Maryland Nursing Workforce Center
Giordana Segneri, MA
Assistant Dean for Marketing and Communications
University of Maryland School of Nursing
Sonia Smith, MS
Manager, Professional Development and Education
University of Maryland School of Nursing
Enjoli Sonnier, MBA, MS
Director of Events
University of Maryland School of Nursing
Take a look at last year's event: State of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Symposium 2025