Mission: To develop, support, and advocate for nurse leaders as they enhance the delivery of health care.

Vision: To be an engaged community of nursing leaders with one voice of advancing health in the Commonwealth.

Key Priorities

  • Foster the development of Nurse Leaders
  • Promote the value of nursing
  • Improve the value and engagement of membership
  • Provide leadership that enhances the Nursing Profession
  • Promote a culture of safety and quality in health care

Be a Nurse that leads the Profession into the future

KONL – Who We Are

KONL District Map

The Kentucky Organization of Nurse Leaders (KONL) is a non-profit organization and chapter of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL). It is also an allied society of the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA). The purpose of the organization is to advance the development of effective administrative leadership in nursing services, in sites where healthcare is delivered.

The organization operates for charitable, scientific and educational purposes. KONL provides educational programs for nurse leaders throughout the state, funds scholarships for members, shares scientific works between members and provides forums for discussion and networking through district and state level meetings. KONL is divided into four districts: Bluegrass, Cumberland, Ohio Valley and Twin Lakes. Districts are equally represented in statewide decisions, and forums are provided, at both the district and state level, for members to become involved and share their views.

Membership is open to all registered nurses serving as a nursing leadership professional along with KONL members who have retired from a nursing leadership position.

Associate membership is available for aspiring nurse leaders and those in relevant degree programs with a career path in nursing administration.

    • To Join as a KONL member or renew membership just click on Become a Member/Renew Member. Select your membership area and create an account. Fill out the application form online and pay via credit card or check. The service is provided by PayPal, but you can pay with any credit card or use a PayPal account if you have one. If you choose to pay by check, you account will become active when we receive the check.
    • If you prefer the paper option, print the application, fill out the requested information and mail in with your $60 check made out to the KONL
      Click here to view/print a KONL New Member and/or Member Renewal Paper Application

Call for Poster Abstracts!

Attention!!! Call for poster abstracts!! The posters will be an important part of our KONL fall conference. Be sure to share this with other KONL members as well. You must be a member to participate, and you must attend the Fall Conference.

Click here for additional information!

Click here to submit your abstract!


2024 KHA Annual Convention

KONL hosted a nursing focused day during the KHA’s 95th annual convention.  It was an informative and inspirational day.  We are glad to have so many leaders present with us for the engaging discussions.  Pictured left to right are:

  1. Presenters:  Marshall Burkhart, Vice President, Client Engagement, I-PASS Patient Safety Institute; Deb Campbell, Vice President Clinical Strategy and Transformation, Kentucky Hospital Association; Theresa Murray, MSN, RN, CPPS, LSSBB, Vice President, Clinical Strategy and Transformation’ I-PASS Patient Safety Institute; Christopher Landrigan, MD, MPH’ Chief of General Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital;
  2. Panel discussion I-PASS: An Evidence-Based Approach to Improving Patient Safety and Averting Malpractice Claims
  3. Presenters:   Patti Howard, PhD, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, NE-BC, FAEN, FAAN
    Enterprise Director, Emergency Services, UK HealthCare; Donna Meador, MSN, RN, CENP, CPHQ, KNA President 2020 – 2022, KONL President 2008 – 2010; Kelly Jenkins, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Executive Director, Kentucky Board of Nursing
  4. KONL Board members Ina Glass, Amber Cross, Deb Campbell, Sally Davenport, Ashley Denton, Brandy Mathews, Judy Ponder, Deanna Parker

Scholarship and DAISY Announcements

The KONL will be offering a $1,000 scholarship award for 2024. Scholarship eligibility is included with the application. Application submissions will begin on June 1st through September 2nd, 2024, and the scholarship winner will be announced at the KONL fall conference October 24th and October 25th . More information for 2025 spring scholarship opportunities will be shared at the KONL fall conference.

Click here for scholarship application (PDF).

The KONL is partnering with the DAISY Foundation to offer a Nurse Leader of the Year award. The nominee must be a previous DAISY award winner in any category but does not have to be a KONL member to be nominated. Nominations begin on June 1st through September 2nd, 2024, and award winner will be announced at the KONL fall conference October 24th and October 25th, 2024.


2024 KHA Annual Convention

Good afternoon!

Thank you for visiting the KONL website.

You are invited to join the KONL members and to attend the KHA Annual Convention and Ruby Anniversary, May 20-22, 2024! KHA is celebrating 95 years as an association and wants you to be a part of our event!

This conference will kick off on Monday, May 20 with a Workforce Summit and a three-hour ACHE session on Leading in a Changing Environment: Focus on Population Health followed by a networking reception co-hosted by KHA and ACHE. National keynote speakers will present on Health Care AI and the Dare to Lead program.

On Tuesday, attend the KONL track full of educational sessions with topics such as nursing leadership, high reliability organizing, improving patient safety, the impact of communication lapses in malpractice cases, and KONL’s strategic plan.

The KHA Awards Luncheon is open to all attendees and will honor several hospital and legislative heroes, whose valuable contributions to healthcare in Kentucky have positively impacted the lives of individuals across the Commonwealth. Visit with a wide variety of event sponsors who have exciting and innovative solutions to offer and then join us Tuesday evening for the Ruby Anniversary Gala where we take the festivities to the dance floor while the Endless Summer Band plays!

Wednesday features another highly requested ACHE session, Possibilities, Probabilities, and Creative Solutions: Breakthrough Thinking for Complex Environments, in addition to two intriguing sessions available for legal CEs. All attendees are once more welcome to join KHA for lunch to draw our event to a close.

Click here to view brochure!

Register now to take advantage of our early bird pricing!

Please contact Tammy Wells, KHA Education Manager, if you have any questions or difficulty registering.