Nurse Innovation Fellowship

Application background:

Fifteen two-person teams from different health systems across the United States will be selected as fellows through a competitive process using an online application. The application opens on January 6, 2026. Each team will be composed of a CNO or nurse executive and a senior nurse leader.

The application will be submitted by the CNO/nurse executive from a hospital or health system who will serve as the primary applicant. The CNO/nurse executive will choose another senior nurse leader from their hospital or health system to complete the team. Evidence of health system buy-in and support for the participation in the Fellowship and implementation of the solution from the Chief Executive Officer is required.

The fellows will be selected by Penn Nursing. 

Applicants must:

• Be a Registered Nurse.
• Reside in the U.S. or its territories or Indian Lands of Federally Recognized Tribes of the United States.
• The primary applicant will hold the role of Chief Nursing Officer/nurse executive in a hospital or health system and identify a senior nurse leader as the partner on the team.
• This is a team-based fellowship; each member of the dyadic team must commit to working together as a part of the Fellowship program.
• Have support and buy-in from the executive leadership (e.g., Chief Executive Officer) and c-suite administrators, including a signed letter of support on letterhead guaranteeing release time for the in-person and virtual sessions.
• Commitment from the executive leadership (e.g., Chief Executive Officer) and c-suite administrators, included in the signed letter of support stating how they will support the development, implementation, and sustainability of the innovative ideas within the health system.
• Must serve at an institution that is agile and committed to being at the forefront of healthcare innovation.
• Both team members must commit to a full year of structured learning, travel, self-study, and project activity, including attendance at the in-person and virtual sessions. See key Fellowship dates above.
• Must focus on a problem that when solved better supports a healthy work environment for nurses (that then impacts patients).
• Must work in an acute care hospital or health system.