2026 WCN Annual Nursing Workforce Summit - Wisconsin Center for Nursing

Join nurse clinicians, leaders, educators, healthcare partners and policy makers as we highlight data-driven insights and engage in discussion to identify actionable and innovative solutions facing Wisconsin’s nursing workforce. In this summit current data from the RN, LPN and Educator surveys will be used to guide learning and problem solving discussion.

Registration CLOSED

Friday, August 7, 2026
The Glacier Canyon Conference Center/ Wilderness Resorts
45 Hillman Rd
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Room: Sandstone
Hotel website: https://www.wildernessresort.com/glacier-canyon-lodge/

Summit Agenda

Registration & Check In

Friday, August 7, 2026
The Glacier Canyon Conference Center/ Wilderness Resorts
45 Hillman Rd
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Room: Sandstone

Please stop at the WCN registration table when you arrive to pick up your name tag and agenda

Parking

PARKING:

If you are not staying overnight, please park near the conference center side of the hotel and enter through the conference center doors.

If you are staying overnight at the Wilderness Resort, the conference center is connected to the resort, and you may walk through the resort to access the conference center.

Handouts

HANDOUTS:
Any handouts or resources submitted by presenters will be posted below for the summit registrants to access/download/print as desired about 1 week prior to the summit. Printed copies will NOT be provided at the summit, but handouts may be accessed by wifi on-site if you bring your device.

Sessions with linked handouts will be green:

Printable Agenda – Updated 8/5/26
Recommended Readings & Resources

Welcome: Celebrating 20 Years of Nursing Workforce Leadership
Vision, Grit, and Collaboration

The State of the Wisconsin Nursing Workforce: RN, LPN, & Nursing Faculty
2025 LPN Survey: Findings & Recommendations – Katie Gillespie
2024 RN Workforce Survey: Implications & Value – Roberta Pawlak
WCN RN/LPN Survey Reports
2024 Nursing Education and Nursing Faculty Survey Report: Current Trends – Gail Hanson Brenner
WCN Education/Faculty Reports

Wisconsin’s Nursing Workforce Forecast: Looking Ahead to 2040
WI RN Supply and Demand Forecast Results 2024-2050 – Tom Walsh
Wisconsin RN Supply and Demand Forecast Results

Workforce Topic 1: Recruitment, Retention and Wisconsin Nurses Generational and Diverse Differences
The Workforce Advantage – Michelle Hehman
Generational Differences in the Nursing Workforce: Strategies for Nurse Leaders
Building an Equity-Centered Nursing Leadership Workforce: A Framework for Transformative Change

Workforce Topic 2: Artificial Intelligence Use in Nursing Education & Practice
Artificial Intelligence Use in Nursing Education & Practice – Ann Wieben
AACN Integrating AI in Nursing Education: AI in Nursing Education
N.U.R.S.E.S. embracing artificial intelligence: A guide to artificial intelligence literacy for the nursing profession
Regulating at the AI frontier: The collision of policy, regulation, and nursing practice

Connecting Wisconsin Nursing Workforce to Organizational Decisions & Health Policy
Connecting WI’s Nursing Workforce to Organizational Decisions and Health Policy – Dan Hereth
APRN – Emergency Rule Order
APRN – Adopting Emergency Rules
APRN Implementation FAQs
AI-enabled fraud detection, prevention, and perpetration in nursing credential evaluation: A scoping study

Click Here to complete the Summit Evaluation

CE CREDIT/EVALUATION

CE CREDIT/EVALUATION:
The 16th Annual WCN Nursing Workforce Summit offers NO nursing continuing professional development credits for this 1-day summit. You will receive a Certificate of Attendance after completing the evaluation. Evaluation must be completed by August 28, 2026.
Click HERE to complete the evaluation

A link to the evaluation will also be provided at the summit, and an email with the evaluation details will also be sent to all participants approximately one week prior to the event.

If you have questions, please email bri@wicenterfornursing.org.

Lodging

The Glacier Canyon Conference Center/ Wilderness Resorts
45 Hillman Rd
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

LODGING:
A block of standard rooms are available for Thursday, August 6, 2026, at the rate of $199.00/night.
A block of standard rooms are available for Friday, August 7, 2026, AND Saturday, August 8, 2026 at the rate of $299.00/night.

Rates are subject to applicable state and local taxes (12.25%) and a taxable $35.00 nightly resort fee. You will be required to provide a credit card upon making the reservation, but you will not be charged until you check out.

Deadline to reserve at this rate: Thursday, July 16, 2026 – Reserve before the deadline!
To receive the discounted room rate, please call 1-800-867-9453 and state they are with Leader #B53594

WCN NURSING WORKFORCE AWARDS

WCN NURSING WORKFORCE AWARDS:
Do you know a nurse who goes above and beyond? Now is the time to recognize their dedication and impact!

Our annual awards celebrate excellence in education, emerging leadership, community impact, and lifetime achievement. Don’t miss the chance to honor someone who truly makes a difference.