Nursing professionals from across Nevada came together on Nov. 4 for the 2026 Nevada Nursing Summit, a statewide gathering centered on the power of nurses to find their voices, share their expertise and influence the future of health care.
Hosted by the 夜色视频 Orvis School of Nursing, the Summit brought together nearly 200 nurses working across education, clinical practice, health care leadership, advocacy and policy for a day of learning, discussion and connection. Throughout the event, one message remained central: nurses have the knowledge and experience to shape health care, and their voices belong in the conversations where decisions are made.
Orvis School of Nursing Professors Jasen Brooks and Stacy Demitropoulos check-in Nevada Nursing Summit attendees.
Nevada is home to more than 30,000 nurses working everywhere from rural critical access hospitals to urban trauma centers, clinics, schools and homes. In his welcome message, Orvis School of Nursing Dean Charles Yingling emphasized the collective impact nurses can have when they come together.
“Nurses do not need to wait for an invitation to lead,” Yingling said. “We already have the expertise, the trust and the lived experience of caring for people and communities. The challenge coming out of the Nevada Nursing Summit is to turn that expertise into action. Take one step today. Use your voice, share what you know, and help shape what comes next.”
The Summit also marked an important milestone for nursing leadership in Nevada with the introduction of the newly established Organization of Nevada Nurse Leaders (ONNL). At the start of the Summit, representatives from the Nevada Hospital Association, Renown Health and Carson Tahoe Health presented financial contributions to support the launch of ONNL. Molly Kokenge, associate dean for strategic partnerships and practice and associate professor at the Orvis School of Nursing, has been named president of ONNL.
Finding a voice and using it
The theme carried throughout the day’s presentations, beginning with keynote speaker Sarah DiGregorio, journalist and author of "Taking Care: The Story of Nursing and Its Power to Change Our World." Her opening presentation, “How Nurses Change the World,” explored stories demonstrating the power of nursing. DiGregorio returned later in the afternoon for “Who Gets to Be Called an Expert?” an exploration of false hierarchies and practical steps to dismantle them.
The conversation about finding and using one’s voice continued through breakout sessions designed to give nurses practical tools for creating change.
Vania Carter-Strauss, lecturer, nurse practitioner, director of Latinx Nursing Advocacy and Advancement at the Orvis School of Nursing, led “From the Clinic to the Capitol: Turning Nursing Expertise into Advocacy and Action,” exploring how nurses can transform their experiences caring for patients into advocacy at the community, organizational and policy levels. John Packham, associate professor and associate dean of Statewide Initiatives with the , provided an update on Nevada’s nursing workforce and education landscape.
Additional sessions featured Natasha D. Lukasiewich of Incline Village Community Hospital, who presented tools for building resilience in high-stakes health care environments, and Dawn Evans of the Nevada Hospital Association, whose session introduced practical ways for nurses to participate in Nevada’s legislative process.
A legislative panel with Dawn Evans and Assemblymember Heather Goulding, moderated by Caroline Samir, continued the discussion by exploring how nurses and legislators can work together to advance shared priorities and improve health outcomes across the state. Attendees were invited to submit questions and engage directly in the conversation about nursing’s role in shaping health policy.
Featured speaker James Q. Simmons closed the Summit with “Trusted Voices: Claiming Nursing’s Leadership in the Public Conversation.” The session focused on why nurses are uniquely positioned to serve as trusted public educators and advocates and offered strategies for sharing clinical expertise through media, online platforms and their communities.
Featured speaker James Q. Simmons and Dean Charlie Yingling with Luna and Alphie.
Featured speaker James Q. Simmons closed the Summit with “Trusted Voices: Claiming Nursing’s Leadership in the Public Conversation.” The session focused on why nurses are uniquely positioned to serve as trusted public educators and advocates and offered strategies for sharing clinical expertise through media, online platforms and their communities.
Building connections across Nevada
As chair of the planning committee and emcee for the event, Caroline Samir, lecturer at the Orvis School of Nursing, emphasized the importance of bringing nurses together from across the state.
“Bringing nurses together from across Nevada creates an opportunity to learn from one another, build meaningful connections and recognize the strength of our collective voice,” Samir said. “I hope nurses left the Summit feeling inspired and confident in their ability to use their voices to advocate for their patients, their communities and the nursing profession.”
The Summit was developed by a planning committee representing nursing education, professional organizations, hospitals and health care organizations throughout Nevada. Committee members included Natasha Lukasiewich of Incline Village Community Hospital; Brittany Hert of Banner Churchill Community Hospital; Rhigel (Jay) Tan of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing; Shelby L. Hunt of Sierra Medical Center; Nicki Aaker of the Nevada Nurses Association and Nevada Nurses Foundation; Chelsey Gray of Revive Health; and Janelle Hoover of Carson Tahoe Health.
The event was sponsored by Renown Health, the United States Navy, Northern Nevada Health System, CVRx and Casa de Salud. Attendees also had the opportunity to connect with Summit exhibitors throughout the day.
The day concluded with a reception and book signing with DiGregorio, where attendees could purchase copies of Taking Care from Thistle & Nightshade Bookstore, an independent Reno bookstore, and have them signed by the author.
The gathering reinforced a message that Nevada’s nurses may work in different communities, organizations and specialties, but their collective expertise has the potential to influence the health of the entire state.
