Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): Online Journal of Nursing Workforce

Across care settings and communities, the nursing workforce sits at the center of both challenge and opportunity. This issue of the Online Journal of Nursing Workforce brings together insights to highlight  current pressures and the leadership needed to address them. Several articles examine the persistent reality of nurse burnout, focusing on system level drivers such as work design, staffing variability, moral distress, and documentation burden. The message is clear: burnout is not an individual failing, but a systems problem that requires coordinated organizational response.

This issue also emphasizes strengthening the nursing pipeline and the faculty workforce that sustains it. From expanding clinical placements through statewide partnerships to evaluating RN refresher programs,  these efforts highlight the need for investment in education infrastructure that supports both learners and preceptors.

At the same time, attention to faculty, an often overlooked constraint, underscores the importance of  holistic development to prepare the next generation. Together, these articles reinforce a central point: the
future of the nursing workforce will be shaped by decisions leaders make today.

We hope you enjoy this issue, and thank you for your commitment to advancing nursing workforce excellence.

Patricia Moulton Burwell, Ph.D.