Shaping the future of nursing leadership at Karolinska
At Karolinska University Hospital, leadership in nursing is seen as a cornerstone for advancing healthcare. With the rapid pace of change in medicine, the demand for nursing leaders who can navigate complexity, drive innovation, and ensure high-quality patient care has never been greater. The Nursing Management Program was created to answer this need, and in 2025, it once again delivered a unique and transformative learning journey.
Over the course of four days, participants engaged in a dynamic mix of ward visits, case-based discussions, and collaborative learning sessions. The curriculum was designed to equip nursing leaders with practical tools in areas such as change management, quality improvement, and team resilience. This year’s program also placed special focus on one of healthcare’s greatest challenges: competence staffing. By addressing strategies for building adaptable and future-ready teams, the program underscored the importance of sustainable leadership in today’s evolving healthcare landscape.
Beyond the structured sessions, the program offered something equally valuable: the chance to see leadership in action. Through tailored ward visits, participants connected theory with practice, gaining insights into how innovative approaches can shape patient care and strengthen teams. The experience left a lasting impression, and the voices of the participants speak for themselves.
As one participant noted:
“Karolinska has been an amazing host, and it allowed us to discuss various pressing issues in nursing that are applicable to all European countries.”
Others emphasized how the speakers influenced them:
“A lot of speakers were really inspiring, and are role-models for us leaders, and it has given me more motivation, more energy to expand my knowledge and become even better as a leader.”
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with 96% rating the program 4 or higher out of 5. More importantly, the sessions inspired new perspectives and gave participants concrete strategies to bring back to their teams and organizations.
Since its launch, the Nursing Management Program has welcomed participants from over ten countries, creating a diverse and inspiring community of professionals dedicated to shaping the future of nursing. With its strong foundation in transformational leadership and Karolinska’s vision for innovation in practice, the program is set to continue building capacity and empowering nursing leaders worldwide.
As one participant summarized it:
“This has been a unique opportunity for colleagues from around Europe to come together, and we don’t often get those opportunities to have a safe space to discuss differences in our practice and different approaches to innovation.”
Stay tuned for updates on the Nursing Management Program 2026 and discover how you can join next year’s inspiring experience.