A nurse adjusts a monitor in a patient's hospital room.
A nurse adjusts a monitor in a patient's hospital room.

Empowering Nurses and the Nursing Profession

LEADERSHIP FOR BETTER HEALTH

Nurses are the largest segment of America’s workforce. They are face-to-face with people that need help every day. Through a range of investments in nursing-related leadership, policy, and practice, RWJF is elevating the nursing profession by enabling nurses in America to work at their greatest potential.

Related News and Insights

Read expert perspectives and the latest research from RWJF to explore the opportunities and complexities of this topic.

Blog Post
Mentor the next generation of nurses.

Good Things Happen When Nurses Lead

Maria Gomez, a retired nurse, says we need nurses in government, on the boards of for-profits and mentoring the next generation given their powerful role in influencing people, policies, and systems.

4-min read

Nurses and Nursing
Blog Post
Nurse Holly Bryan meets with student Kanye Fleming, 13, for a sports physical at Tanglewood Middle School. Bryan travels to several schools throughout the district as part of the OnTrack Greenville initiative.

Four Reasons We Need School Nurses Now More Than Ever

With schools facing unprecedented challenges, school nurses are preparing for a demanding year.

5-min read

Nurses and Nursing Education
Blog Post
Flat vector illustration.

Nurses Can't Care for Us if We Don't Care for Them

After two years of a pandemic, nurses are more stressed and burned out than ever and too many are leaving the profession. How can we address this crisis?

4-min read

Nurses and Nursing
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Featured Initiatives

RWJF funds many initiatives in support of our vision for a Culture of Health. For this focus area, these initiatives were selected to demonstrate grantmaking that is helping us achieve the greatest impact. 

Clinical Scholars meet during the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Fall Leadership Institute conference at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center in Nashville, TN, October 15-17, 2017. (Photo by Samantha Appleton)

Clinical Scholars

Clinical Scholars is a leadership opportunity for practitioners from diverse fields of healthcare. Through intensive learning, mentoring, and networking, this program develops fellows across health care settings and disciplines to create leaders of transformational change.

Nurses preparing patient for the surgery at hospital

Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action

Nurses are critical to building a Culture of Health. That is why the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, a joint initiative of AARP and RWJF, explores how healthier communities can be built by improving the roles, responsibilities, and education of nurses. Read about this work.

A male doctor reads a patient's chart.

MakerNurse

MakerNurse is changing the game for nurses by tapping into their natural problem-solving skills and bringing the spirit of invention, creativity, and innovation into medical settings. This RWJF-supported program ended in 2016. 

Current Grant Opportunities

We realize that building a Culture of Health will take unprecedented collaboration and a deeper understanding of where barriers exist and how to overcome them.

We have previously funded opportunities in this area of focus with the goal to strengthen and advance health equity, and we have more work to do.

2023 Culture of Health Prize

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Wed, 29 Mar 2023, 3:00 p.m. ET

Apply Now

Healthy Eating Research

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Wed, 5 Apr 2023, 3:00 p.m. ET

Apply Now
A nurse takes a patient's blood pressure during a medical home visit.

Evidence for Action: Innovative Research to Advance Racial Equity

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Open

Apply Now
A nurse takes a patient's blood pressure during a medical home visit.

Pioneering Ideas: Exploring the Future to Build a Culture of Health

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Open

Apply Now