The Nursing Workforce Coordinating Council convened for the first time on May 6 virtually for a Priority Setting and Action Team Launch meeting. The goal of the meeting was to move from data to action by identifying statewide priorities and beginning the formation of focused Action Teams positioned to drive measurable progress.

The NC Center on the Workforce for Health launched the nursing workforce initiative in February to coordinate action on North Carolina’s persistent nursing shortages and strengthen the pathways and supports for nursing professionals across the state. The Council includes representation from nurse leaders across several statewide nursing organizations, employers and education settings.

Meeting Focus and Agenda Highlights

The meeting opened with a message from N.C. Governor Josh Stein. The agenda was structured to balance context building with decision making. Participants reviewed the Council’s draft strategic framework for 2026 through 2030, grounded in a guiding principle that the NWCC does not replace or duplicate partner work. Instead, the Council adds value by elevating issues that require statewide coordination, shared accountability, and sustained focus.

The Council discussed four cross‑cutting enablers that underpin all strategic priorities: governance and accountability that emphasized nursing leadership; communications and engagement; partnership alignment; and environmental intelligence. These elements were identified as essential infrastructure for effective statewide action.

Much of the meeting centered on action‑focused priorities, with discussion aligned with related efforts underway through the NC DHHS Leadership Council on Caregiving. This alignment reflects a shared commitment to coordinated workforce strategy across health and caregiving sectors. Council members also examined national nursing workforce center models using the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers framework. As North Carolina’s representative to the National Forum, the NC Center on the Workforce for Health facilitated discussion about how other states use shared infrastructure, coordinated data, and statewide visibility to strengthen workforce outcomes.

What the Council Prioritized Next: Retention Rose to the Top

In the Council’s orientation conversations, members were asked a simple question: “What is your number one nursing workforce priority?”

The response was consistent. Retention emerged as the leading concern. Council members emphasized that expanding educational output alone is insufficient if nurses continue to leave the workforce at high rates. Participants spoke candidly about turnover, workload strain, workplace culture, and the importance of environments that support nurses across career stages. Retention was not discussed as a single broad concept, but as an issue that must be clearly defined by population, role, setting, and career stage to support targeted, actionable strategies.

This perspective will shape the Council’s next phase of work, reinforcing the need to choose a clear focus, establishing measurable goals, and aligning partners around shared strategies rather than parallel efforts.

Where the NWCC Adds Value

A consistent theme throughout the meeting was the importance of statewide coordination infrastructure. Experiences from North Carolina and other states point to the value of having a dedicated forum that connects existing efforts, improves visibility, reduces duplication, and supports shared learning and accountability.

The NWCC’s value proposition reflects this role by:

• Reducing silos and fragmentation across nursing workforce initiatives
• Elevating the nursing voice in statewide workforce planning and policy discussions
• Translating long‑standing recommendations into coordinated action
• Making nursing workforce efforts more visible, measurable, and scalable

Looking Ahead

The May meeting marked a transition point for the NWCC from initial planning and orientation toward implementation and accountability. Action Teams will be formed around selected priority areas, with defined partners, timelines, and metrics. Progress will be tracked through regular reporting and shared publicly to promote transparency and collective learning. The Nursing Workforce Coordinating Council is positioned to help North Carolina move beyond repeatedly identifying what works and toward sustaining the structures needed to make statewide progress possible.

Read our blog about launching the Nursing Workforce Initiative, and visit our webpage about the Nursing Workforce Coordinating Council.