From Empty Questions to Meaningful Actions: Supporting Nurses Who Aspire to Lead the Future

Not long ago, I had a conversation that shook me to the core. It wasn’t just about the daily struggles of being a nurse in a low-income country. It was about something deeper-about dreams deferred and potential overlooked. The nurse I spoke with had an unwavering vision for his future, and the future of nursing. His words struck me like lightning:

"I wish nursing faculty deans, educators, and business leaders would ask me how they can help me secure a place in a nursing faculty to pursue my dream of earning a master’s degree. It’s my deepest ambition to advance my learning, to become a visionary nursing leader who modernizes and reshapes the profession globally. Everyone who truly cares about the future of nursing should stop asking how I’m doing and start asking how they can support me."

This wasn’t just another lament about the system. This was a passionate plea for tangible support. What made it even more powerful was the clarity of the ask: “Don’t ask how I’m doing-ask how you can help.”

We often default to well-meaning but hollow questions like "How are you?" We do it because we care, but in the face of systemic challenges, these questions can feel empty-void of the action that is so desperately needed.

A New Kind of Question

What if we changed our approach? What if, instead of offering empty pleasantries, we asked, "How can I support you?" or even more boldly, "What can I do to help make your dream as a nurse a reality?" This shift in questioning would reflect a deeper commitment to not just listening, but doing something about the challenges nurses face.

Now, let’s talk about the real issue at hand: Where is the tangible support for nurses who dream big? Where are the scholarships, grants, and resources for those who, like Adam, see themselves not just as care providers but as future leaders and innovators?

Adam: A Visionary Nurse with Global Ambitions

Adam is a nurse with extraordinary potential. He doesn’t just want to further his education for personal gain-he wants to lead the nursing profession into a bold, new future. His vision is expansive: modernizing nursing education, integrating critical thinking and evidence-based practices, and ensuring that nurses are respected as vital leaders in global healthcare.

But Adam’s journey isn’t an easy one. Like many talented nurses in low-income countries, he faces a myriad of obstacles-financial barriers, lack of opportunities, and a system that doesn’t always value nursing leadership the way it should. Yet, Adam is undeterred. He knows that, with the right support, his vision could become a reality.

And this is where nursing institutions, business leaders, and educational faculty need to step up.

Nursing Schools: Where Is Your Bold Support?

Educational institutions, especially those in higher-income countries, have the power to make a profound difference in the lives of nurses like Adam. Imagine if they started offering scholarships or fellowships in exchange for the talents these nurses already possess. Nurses like Adam bring invaluable skills to the table-whether it’s research, marketing, community outreach, or patient care insights. By providing them with the resources to further their education, institutions could, in return, benefit from their unique expertise.

Instead of simply asking for tuition or fees, why not create pathways for these talented individuals to contribute back through research assistant-ships, teaching fellowships, or marketing roles? By recognizing and fostering their talents, we’re not just helping one nurse. We’re building the future leaders of our profession-those who will champion innovation, education, and global collaboration.

A New Vision for the Nursing Profession

Adam is just one example of countless nurses around the world who have the potential to change the future of nursing. These individuals are already passionate about modernizing the profession, making it more inclusive, data-driven, and patient-centered. However, their dreams cannot be realized without meaningful, systemic support.

It’s not enough to recognize potential-we need to act on it. We need to stop asking empty questions and start making bold decisions that create real opportunities for the visionary nurses of tomorrow.

The Challenge to Nursing Leaders

So, here’s my challenge to deans of nursing faculties, educators, and business owners who care about the future of our profession: What power do you have to make bold decisions and offer tangible support for nurses like Adam? Are you willing to create scholarships, grants, and fellowships in exchange for the diverse talents these individuals can offer? Will you take the risk to invest in them, knowing that they have the potential to lead our profession into a brighter, more innovative future?

Nurses like Adam don’t just want to be asked how they’re doing—they want to be asked how they can be supported. They are ready to lead, to innovate, and to reshape the profession on a global scale. But it’s up to us to provide the pathways for them to do so.

Are we ready to ask the right questions and offer the right support?

The future of nursing depends on it.