The fourth California Nursing Summit on Sept. 13 in Sacramento attracted more than 600 of the state's present and future nursing leaders from practice and academe.

The highlights of this year's event were the keynote presentation by Mary Foley, MSN, RN, president of the American Nurses Association, on its plan "Nursing's Agenda for the Future" [nursingworld.org/naf] and the final report from the California Strategic Planning Committee for Nursing, a 10-year effort to provide a systematic measure of California's nursing workforce needs, by Karen Sechrist, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, director of research for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The committee's work is being shifted to the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Other speakers from across the state highlighted the innovative and successful initiatives that are contributing to the increase in nursing school enrollment statewide. I hope many of you will consider involving your organizations in similar partnerships with local schools. The summit also featured a discussion of the efforts to improve work environments and nurse retention within hospitals. Nurses and nurse leaders generally agree that improving the work environment remains our highest priority to ensure nursing's future.

Data from the recent NURSEWEEK/AONE study were presented, comparing the views of California's nurses to those of our nation, highlighting both the common and unique characteristics of our state's nurses. You can view or download this presentation at www.nurseweek.com/ednote/calnurses.html. If you were not able to attend the summit, a videotape of the proceedings is available through the Association of California Nurse Leaders.

I also would like to recognize the many contributions that individual nurse leaders and health care organizations have made to support the important work described at the nursing summit. Although much of what California nurse leaders have accomplished in the last decade has been assisted by the financial support of many health care systems, individual hospitals and foundations, these contributions would not have been forthcoming without the support of key nursing leaders.

Despite the challenges of the last decade, nursing leaders in every region of the state have been hard at work addressing the needs of our profession. When one looks out across the nation, California nursing leadership has consistently been in front of many major initiatives; however, there is still a long road to travel.

It's time to build upon these early efforts and the legacy of yesterday's leaders, and demand more action, more money and more influence. To do this, our efforts need to be directed outside the nursing community, to elected representatives, to health system leadership, our physician colleagues, our patients and the media. Talking to each other has served its purpose; now it is time to get others engaged and take ownership in our challenges.

Discuss this and other topics with your colleagues at www.nurseweek.com/rnvillage.