The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) is a nonprofit organization whose membership is comprised of the nursing regulatory bodies in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories—American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. There are five exam user members as well as 25 associate members that are either nursing regulatory bodies or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories. NCSBN has an annual operating budget of $95 million, with over 150 professional staff members.
The purpose of NCSBN is to provide an organization through which nursing regulatory bodies act and counsel together on matters of common interest and concern affecting the public health, safety, and welfare, including the development of licensing examinations in nursing. NCSBN’s programs and services include developing the NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® Examinations, performing policy analysis and promoting uniformity in relationship to the regulation of nursing practice, disseminating data related to the licensure of nurses, conducting research pertinent to NCSBN’s purpose, and serving as a forum for information exchange for members.
As an independent organization, NCSBN empowers and supports nursing regulators across the world in their mandate to protect the public. As a global leader in regulatory excellence, NCSBN champions regulatory solutions to borderless health care delivery, agile regulatory systems and nurses practicing to the full scope of their education, experience, and expertise. As a world leader in test development and administration, NCSBN’s NCLEX® Exams are internationally recognized as the preeminent nursing examinations.
NCSBN Mission
NCSBN empowers and supports nursing regulators in their mandate to protect the public.
NCSBN Vision
Leading regulatory excellence worldwide.
NCSBN Values
Collaboration: Forging solutions through respect, diversity, inclusion, and collective strength of all stakeholders.
Excellence: Striving to be and do our best in rapidly changing environments.
Innovation: Embracing change as an opportunity to better organize endeavors for all and turn new ideas into action.
Integrity: Doing the right thing for the right reason through honest, informed, open and ethical dialogue.
Transparency: Demonstrating and expecting openness, clear communication, and equity and accountability of processes and outcomes.
History
Founded in 1978 as an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, NCSBN can trace its roots to the American Nurses Association (ANA) Council on State Boards of Nursing. The impetus for its creation arose out of recognition that to guard the safety of the public, the regulation of nurses needed to be a separate entity from the organization representing professional nurses.
The member boards that comprise NCSBN protect the public by ensuring that safe and competent nursing care is provided by licensed nurses. NCSBN is the vehicle through which its members act and counsel together on matters of common interest. These member boards are charged with the responsibility of providing regulatory excellence for public health, safety, and welfare. Nursing regulatory bodies recognize that the best way to guard the safety of the public is to ensure that nurses entering the workforce have the necessary knowledge and skills to practice. To meet that goal, NCSBN is devoted to developing a psychometrically sound and legally defensible nurse licensure examination consistent with current nursing practice.
NCSBN became the first organization to implement computerized adaptive testing (CAT) for nationwide licensure exams in 1994. In addition to the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examinations, NCSBN also develops the largest competency evaluation for nurse aides known as the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP). The ongoing assessment of these exams includes research that gathers job analysis data from entry-level nurses and aides that ultimately contributes to refinement and adaptation of the tests to keep pace with the rapidly evolving health care environment.
Beyond the ongoing analysis and measurement of entry-level competence, NCSBN has been an active partner with boards of nursing in exploring issues related to health care, government policy, nursing practice, and regulatory processes and initiatives. Working with, through and on behalf of its member boards, NCSBN:
Conducts pertinent research into nursing practice and regulation;
Furthers nursing initiatives for public protection; and
Develops regulatory innovations for member board excellence.
Currently, there are 39 jurisdictions that have enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs) to have one multistate license, with the ability to practice in-person or via telehealth, in both their home territory/state and other NLC states. The NLC increases access to care while maintaining public protection at the state level. Under the NLC, nurses can provide care to patients located across the country, without having to obtain additional licenses.
The APRN Compact permits advanced practice registered nurses to practice freely among member states while still allowing each state to retain autonomy and the authority to enforce its nurse practice act. The compact eliminates redundant, duplicative regulatory processes and unnecessary fees while increasing access to care. The APRN Compact will be implemented when seven states have enacted the legislation. Three states have already enacted APRN Compact legislation: Delaware, North Dakota, and Utah.
Nursys® is the only national database for licensure verification and discipline for RNs, LPN/VNs and APRNs. Nursys data is pushed directly from participating national regulatory bodies’ databases (for participating jurisdictions visit nursys.com). Nursys is live and dynamic, and all updates to the system are reflected immediately. There are three Nursys services publicly available via nursys.com:
e-Notify
Licensure QuickConfirm
Nurse License Verification
The Optimal Regulatory Board System (ORBS) is a turnkey solution for NCSBN Members in the U.S. that can assist them with license management and discipline enforcement across the lifespan of a nurse. It provides modules for licensing, discipline, and education program management functions.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
NCSBN is seeking a dynamic, visionary, and passionate leader to build upon the organization’s successful track record, continue to strengthen and grow its impact, and explore new approaches and directions. In this highly visible role, the incoming CEO will responsible for the effective leadership of NCSBN and execution of its mission and goals. The CEO will have a proven track record of successfully leading an organization in a changing and dynamic environment, ensuring its relevancy and value to its members.
Reporting to the National Board of Directors, the CEO will continue to strengthen its national and international presence in regulation. NSCBN is an extremely vibrant and growing organization that is poised to meet new challenges in the regulatory world. This executive will provide leadership and manage the strategic, programmatic, and financial operations to support research for regulatory solutions in response to a dynamic health care delivery environment and interprofessional regulation. It is critical that the selected individual provide leadership to develop innovative technology to support the organization and its member boards and foster evidence-based regulation. The new CEO must support leadership development of the membership to sustain a solid yet flexible governance structure. Specific responsibilities include the following;
Organizational Responsibilities
Ensure the organization fulfills its mission and vision in a manner consistent with its core values.
Be a tireless advocate for the organization’s mission, programs, and services.
Promote members’ satisfaction by ensuring that their interests are represented in decision-making consistent with the organization’s core mission, vision, and values.
Serve as a visionary for NCSBN to anticipate and analyze trends in the field of regulation.
Partner with the Board and staff to position the organization to grow and thrive.
Lead efforts to create new alliances, partnerships, and collaborations with other regulatory and professional organizations.
Facilitate success in strategic development and implementation.
Operational Responsibilities
Manage a multi-million budget, including developing annual operating budgets that reflect the strategic initiatives for the organization.
Ensure sufficient sustainable revenue to sustain the organization, develop innovative programs, products, and services for its members, and ensure capital for essential investments.
Lead a continuous process of strategic thinking that will enable the Board and staff to analyze internal and external trends for effective decision-making, to revisit assumptions, and make meaningful changes in direction.
Ensure a productive, respectful, and safe work environment for employees.
Provide enterprise-wide leadership to achieve a high level of employee engagement, marketplace competitiveness, customer service excellence, and targeted financial performance.
Address membership needs; demonstrate to members the value of engaging with NCSBN.
Board Responsibilities
Engage and collaborate with the Board on matters of governance, mission, vision, and strategy.
Foster development of Member Boards.
Ensure regular review of the strategic plan and report progress to the Board of Directors.
Provide update on the organization’s financial performance and key investments.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS/COMPETENCIES
The successful candidate will be a credible leader with at least 10 years of relevant executive leadership experience and a track record of advancing organizational agendas. He/she will be an innovative, strategic thinker with proven leadership, communications, advocacy, and relationship-building skills; international business perspective; and significant organizational leadership experience. Candidates must possess a deep understanding of regulation to promote the advancement of healthcare regulatory excellence and champion regulatory solutions. Qualified candidates will possess knowledge of the healthcare field, regulation, member relations, finance, data analytics, technology, and research.
Demonstrated Leadership/Experience
Demonstrated success in leading an organization of comparable scale and scope at the regional, national, and/or international level.
Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with the staff and Board to advance NCSBN’s mission and strategy.
Proven senior level management and leadership experience with a track record of collaborative efforts and outcomes.
Financial/business acumen within an organization of similar scale and complexity. Relevant national membership organization leadership desirable.
Outstanding leadership skills, credibility, and integrity.Demonstrates an in depth understanding of the organization’s core products and services.
Advocacy
Performs effectively as an advocate and spokesperson for the organization and the nursing specialty.
Possesses an understanding of the role of state governments and policymaking.
Champions the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
Vision
Thinks ahead and plans strategically for the future in conjunction with the Board.
Communicates a clear, vivid, and relevant description or picture of where the organization should be in the future.
Expresses the vision in a way that resonates with others as demonstrated by their words and actions.
Builds a shared vision with others.
Influences others to translate vision to action.
Building Trust
Makes and meets commitments that contribute to addressing the interests, needs, and concerns of others.
Identifies and communicates shared interests, goals, and differences among stakeholders, as appropriate.
Uses a win-win approach to resolving conflicts and conducting negotiations.
Demonstrates consistency in honesty and keeping commitments.
Remains open to others' ideas and opinions, even when they conflict with the CEO’s own.
Shares information with others openly, freely, and in a timely manner as appropriate to achieve mutual goals and objectives.
Communication
Presents information, analysis, ideas, and positions in a clear and convincing manner.
Demonstrates a willingness to share ideas and perspectives and encourages others to do the same.
Possesses superior written and verbal communication skills.
Change Management
Embraces change and responds with innovative strategies for current and future issues.
Demonstrates support for innovation and organizational changes needed to improve organizational effectiveness.
Facilitates the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace.
Decision Making
Uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.
Takes action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.
Modifies decisions based on new information when appropriate and takes responsibility for decisions.
Understands the impact and implications of decisions and provides feedback on outcomes.
Includes others in the decision-making process as warranted to help make the most appropriate decisions and to gain buy-in.
Executive Presence
Confidently guides the organization and inspires people into action.
Demonstrates ability to remain calm and keep composure during adversity.
Makes tough decisions for the best interest of the organization.
Displays authenticity of personality and defers personal recognition in the pursuit of the mission of the organization.
Innovation
Works cooperatively with others to identify innovative solutions.
Encourages others to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities.
Inspires others to think creatively to encourage an atmosphere of innovation.
Interpersonal Skills
Treats others with respect and demonstrates consistency and fairness.
Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of individuals in different situations.
Provides timely and honest feedback in a constructive and nonthreatening way.
Listens well to others and provides feedback on what was heard.
Relationship Building
Demonstrates interpersonal competencies in relationship building.
Builds an effective working partnership with the Board of Directors, the Board President, the Executive Committee, and direct reports.
Networks and builds partnerships internally and externally.
Talent Management
Achieves measurable results in hiring, mentoring, developing, leading, and retaining staff.
Ensures that an effective culture and programs are in place to attract, retain and motivate the types of individuals needed to carry out the mission of the organization.
Supports employee efforts to achieve personal development and organizational goals.
Deals firmly and promptly with organizational performance problems by working with staff to diagnose problems, develop solutions, and monitor progress while keeping upper-level management informed.
Cultivates ongoing recognition and rewards program based on a good understanding of employee needs.
Uses appropriate methods and a flexible interpersonal style to help others develop their capabilities.
Valuing and Leveraging Diversity
Values diversity as exhibited in hiring choices, assignments made, teams formed, and interaction with others.
Shows respect for people regardless of race, gender, disability, lifestyle, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or viewpoint.
Leads and manages an inclusive workplace that maximizes the talents of each employee to achieve sound organizational results.
Fosters an environment in which people who are culturally diverse can work together cooperatively and effectively to achieve organizational goals.
Regulatory, nursing, or healthcare leadership background is preferred.
WORK VISA
In compliance with U.S. federal law, the successful candidate hired for the CEO role will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification upon hire.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) is a nonprofit organization whose membership is comprised of the nursing regulatory bodies in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories—American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. There are five exam user members as well as 25 associate members that are either nursing regulatory bodies or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories. NCSBN has an annual operating budget of $95 million, with over 150 professional staff members.
The purpose of NCSBN is to provide an organization through which nursing regulatory bodies act and counsel together on matters of common interest and concern affecting the public health, safety, and welfare, including the development of licensing examinations in nursing. NCSBN’s programs and services include developing the NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® Examinations, performing policy analysis and promoting uniformity in relationship to the regulation of nursing practice, disseminating data related to the licensure of nurses, conducting research pertinent to NCSBN’s purpose, and serving as a forum for information exchange for members.
