- EVENTS
- Alumni & Friends Spring '26
- CNOI
New Program! CNO How-To: The First 90 Days
Invest in Your CNO Leadership Transition with eLearning
Your first months as a CNO shouldn’t feel like you’re figuring it out alone.
Stepping into the CNO position is one of the most consequential transitions in healthcare leadership.
Every year, hundreds of nurse leaders step into the CNO seat for the first time — and most of them are expected to figure it out on their own. Build the team. Win over the C-suite. Set a strategic direction. All while learning an organization, a culture, and a political landscape that is new to you.
Our program gives you the roadmap and the support to lead with clarity from day one.
4 Modules with Practical Tools
With Expert Guidance
Created by Dr. Joyce Batcheller
DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FAAN
What You'll Learn
Not theory. Practice.
Every module is grounded in strategies that have been tested in real CNO roles by real CNOs.
Build Your Team
Create Coalition Support with the C-Suite
Establish a Clear Strategic Action Plan
This isn’t theoretical leadership content. It’s built around the three things that matter most in your first 90 days — the areas where early decisions create lasting impact.
"Stepping into the Chief Nursing Officer role is one of the most complex transitions in healthcare leadership.
When I assumed the role, I completed the CNO Institute’s 90-day onboarding program with coaching from Dr. Batcheller, and it provided exactly the structure and strategic guidance I needed to succeed.
I joined an organization during a period of significant transition, facing staffing challenges, financial constraints, and only had a few weeks to start demonstrating impact. The program strengthened my financial and operational acumen, sharpened my executive decision-making, and gave me the confidence to advocate effectively for nursing at the executive table.
Most importantly, it filled critical gaps that often exist in the onboarding of new nurse executives. The support, mentorship, and practical leadership tools were invaluable during a pivotal moment in my career.
Today, I actively send members of my own leadership team to the CNO Institute as part of our leadership development strategy. It is an investment that strengthens both the individual leader and the organization they serve."
— Thea Burke
DNP, RN, NE-BC, SVP, CNO
Good Shepherd Rehabilitation
One-on-One Coaching
Your CNO in Your Corner
Pair your eLearning with one-on-one coaching from a CNO who has navigated exactly the challenges you're facing.
“This is the conversation you wish you could have with someone who’s been where you are — because they have.”
Steve Carroll, Coaching Participant
Meet Our Coaching Network
Angela Belmont, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Senior Vice President / Chief Nurse Executive
Bassett Healthcare Network, Cooperstown, NY
Angela Belmont is a seasoned nurse executive with over 35 years of experience driving organizational transformation, building high-performing teams, and elevating patient care through innovative nursing operations and strategic leadership.
David Bailey, PhD, RN, MBA, CCRN, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAONL, FAAN
Chief Nursing Officer
UCLA Health, Santa Monica Medical Center, CA
David Bailey is a nurse executive and educator who specializes in relational leadership and mentorship, leveraging evidence-based strategies to strengthen team dynamics and improve outcomes for both patients and healthcare professionals.
Nancy W. Gaden, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Senior Vice President / Chief Nursing Officer
Boston Medical Center, MA
Nancy Gaden is a transformational nurse leader recognized for guiding safety-net and academic healthcare systems toward Magnet designation, enhancing patient experience, and championing initiatives that foster workforce engagement and clinical excellence.
Giancarlo Lyle-Edrosolo, DNP, RN, CENP, NEA-BC, FAONL, FAAN
Chief Nurse Executive
Advocate Health, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Giancarlo Lyle-Edrosolo is a nurse executive and educator known for pioneering programs that advance nursing financial literacy, strategic leadership, and workforce development, driving measurable improvements in retention, quality, and operational performance.
Join Us Today
Choose Your Path
Select the level of support that fits where you are right now.
Level 01
eLearning Only
Self-paced access to our CNO How-To: The First 90 Days. All four modules, reflection prompts, and practical tools to guide your first 90 days with clarity and confidence.
Value: $350 | Launch Price: $280
Most Popular
Level 02
eLearning + Coaching
Everything in the eLearning program, plus four one-on-one coaching sessions with a senior CNO who’s been where you are. The combination of structured learning and personalized guidance — for leaders who want both the roadmap and a thought partner.
Value: $1,500 | Launch Price: $1,200
Level 03
eLearning + Coaching + CNO Institute
The Full Experience
The complete leadership foundation. Your self-paced learning, your personal coaching relationship, plus a seat at the CNO Institute — our flagship four-day immersive for new and existing CNOs. This is the package for leaders who are serious about starting strong and building a network that lasts.
Value: $5,500 | Launch Price: $4,400
SPRING CNO INSTITUTE
April 19–22, 2026 | Dallas, TX
FALL CNO INSTITUTE
September 13–16, 2026 | Dallas, TX
Note: Launch pricing available through September. We’re bringing something new to the profession and we want the right leaders in the room from the start.
* A CNO Institute seat alone is a $4,000 investment. This package adds the full eLearning program and four private coaching sessions for $1,000 more — the strongest foundation we can offer for a leader in transition.
Common Questions
Who is this program for?
You're Stepping Into a New CNO or ACNO Role
Whether you’re in your first week or your first year, and whether this is your first executive seat or your first time leading a new organization, this program meets you where you are.
You’re Hiring or Onboarding a New CNO
This program is also designed for health system leaders and CHROs who want to set their incoming nursing executive up for success from day one.
How does it work?
Complete The Program on Your Own Schedule
The CNO How-To is self-paced and structured around the natural arc of your first 90 days:
- Preparing for Day One
- The first 30 days
- 30–60 Days
- 60–90 days
Each level includes reflection prompts and practical tools you can apply immediately.
How much time does it take?
Most Participants Spend About 60 Minutes per Week
Can my organization pay for me?
Absolutely.
Many participants have their organization cover the cost as part of onboarding or leadership development. If you need a formal invoice to share with your HR team, CFO, or supervisor, email us and we'll make it easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does the eLearning take to complete?
The program is designed to move with you through your first 90 days. It's broken into four levels, and most participants spend about 75 minutes per week. You can move faster if you'd like — the content is fully self-paced.
- Can I start anytime?
Yes. Once you enroll, you'll have immediate access and can begin whenever you're ready. The program is designed to align with your transition timeline, so whether you're starting a new role next week or next quarter, it meets you where you are.
- How are coaching sessions scheduled?
You'll book sessions directly with your coach through an online scheduling link. Each of your four sessions is timed to align with a phase of the program — an initial conversation, then one session each for the 0–30, 30–60, and 60–90 day phases. Sessions are 60 minutes and held virtually.
- Who are the coaches?
Your coach will be a senior CNO — someone currently in the role or who has recently led at the highest levels of nursing. These are not consultants or academics. They are leaders who understand the challenges you're facing because they've lived them. View coach profiles.
- Are CE credits available?
CE credit availability is being finalized. Check back soon or contact us for the latest information.
- Can my organization pay for this?
Absolutely. Many participants have their organization cover the cost as part of onboarding or leadership development. If you need a formal invoice to share with your HR team, CFO, or supervisor, contact us at programs@thenurseslegacyinstitute.org and we'll make it easy.
- What's your refund policy?
If you need to cancel before accessing any content, we'll issue a full refund. Once you've begun the program, refunds are available on a case-by-case basis. For the Full Experience package, the CNO Institute cancellation policy applies to that portion of your enrollment; however, we often shift executives to a future session to make it easier to attend and avoid cancellation. Contact us at programs@thenurseslegacyinstitute.org with any questions.
- I'm not brand new to the CNO role — is this still relevant?
Yes. The content is built around foundational leadership priorities that matter whether you're in month one or year two — building your team, strengthening C-suite relationships, and sharpening your strategic plan. If you're navigating a new organization, a reorganization, or simply want to pressure-test your approach against proven frameworks, this program will meet you where you are. The coaching alone is worth it for leaders who want a confidential thought partner who understands the seat.
- What if I want to add coaching or the CNO Institute later?
Contact us at programs@thenurseslegacyinstitute.org. We'll work with you to find the right path forward.
- What if I'm aspiring to become a CNO — would this program suit me?
This program is deliberately practical and tactical — it's designed for leaders who are in the early days of a new CNO or ACNO role and need to apply what they learn immediately. If you're an ACNO or actively part of a succession plan for your current CNO, you'll get real value from going through it. But if you're earlier in your leadership journey or not yet in the seat, you may not get as much from your investment because the content is built to solve problems you haven't encountered yet. In that case, the CNO Institute is a stronger starting point — it builds the broader leadership foundation that will prepare you for when the time comes.
Why The Nurses Legacy Institute?
It's Simple
Our Content is Built, Tested, and Refined by Nurse Leaders Who Use it Every Day
This program didn’t come from a curriculum committee. It came from watching too many talented nurse leaders struggle through transitions that could have gone differently with the right support.
The Nurses Legacy Institute is the organization behind the CNO Institute — a premier leadership development program with 700+ graduates in its national network. Our faculty and coaches bring decades of frontline CNO experience. Our outcomes are published in the Journal of Nursing Administration. And across our programs, an average of 5+ participants per cohort have been promoted to CNO roles following their experience with us.
the nurses legacy institute