In nursing professional development (NPD) practice, connection is more than networking—it is the foundation for learning, innovation, mentorship, leadership, and professional growth. An environmental scan of the region revealed that many NPD practitioners worked independently or in small teams and had limited opportunities to connect with peers outside their organizations. It also identified a shared need for professional support, exchange of best practices, and collaboration across healthcare systems and practice settings. In response, the Queen City Affiliate was established to create a regional community where NPD practitioners could build relationships, learn from one another, and collectively strengthen the specialty.

The affiliate began as a Charlotte-area collaboration among NPD practitioners who recognized the value of bringing colleagues together from different healthcare systems and practice settings. Early planning focused on developing a mission, defining board and committee roles, and establishing a quarterly meeting structure. A member poll was used to identify the most accessible meeting day and time. Because organizational restrictions made access to some virtual meeting platforms inconsistent, the affiliate had to identify a reliable, cross-system platform. Member feedback and ongoing discussions about professional needs, shared practice challenges, and educational interests continue to guide meeting topics and programming. The president, secretary, media chair, education committee chair, and membership chair share responsibility for coordinating communications, educational sessions, guest speakers, membership outreach, and networking activities. Helpful resources and tools included member polls, virtual meeting technology, electronic communication, and guidance available through the ANPD Affiliates webpage. This combination of accessible technology, consistent scheduling, member-informed programming, and shared leadership provides a sustainable framework that other emerging affiliates can adapt. What began as a planning conversation has evolved into a thriving professional network supporting NPD practitioners throughout North and South Carolina.

Affiliate members represent a variety of healthcare environments, including academic medical centers, community hospitals, ambulatory care, procedural services, specialty care, and healthcare education programs. This diverse membership has grown through intentional outreach, professional networking, and educational offerings designed to appeal to NPD practitioners across different roles and practice settings. Members are also encouraged to personally invite colleagues, helping the affiliate reach practitioners who may work independently or as part of small education teams and who might otherwise have limited opportunities for professional connection. Despite differences in organizational structure and roles, members share a common purpose: supporting the development of healthcare professionals and improving patient outcomes through education and professional growth.

From the beginning, connection was the cornerstone of the affiliate. Members quickly discovered that many challenges, like orientation, competency validation, transition-to-practice programs, specialty education, and educational technology, were shared across organizations. The affiliate fosters regular dialogue through quarterly virtual meetings. It also creates informal opportunities for relationship-building through networking activities, including a Charlotte Checkers hockey game, pumpkin picking, wineglass painting, and a hands-on sourdough workshop. Additionally, members attending the annual ANPD Aspire Convention coordinate meetups, extending affiliate connections and strengthening relationships. Together, these virtual meetings and in-person experiences allow members to exchange ideas, compare approaches, and adapt successful strategies to meet the needs of their own teams. These connections transform individual experiences into collective learning opportunities. This work reflects Standard 11: Collaboration of the Nursing Professional Development: Scope and Standards of Practice (Harper & Maloney, 2022). By bringing practitioners from different organizations and practice settings together to address shared challenges, the affiliate demonstrates how collaboration can strengthen practice and generate positive outcomes across healthcare environments.

One of the affiliate’s greatest strengths is the sense of community it provides. NPD practitioners spend much of their time supporting others yet often have limited opportunities to connect with peers who truly understand their role. The affiliate intentionally cultivates trust by welcoming new members, creating space during meetings for open discussion, encouraging questions without judgment, and maintaining a collaborative rather than competitive environment. Members are invited to share current challenges, offer practical guidance, and recognize one another’s professional accomplishments. As a result, members know they have a dependable community to turn to for encouragement, perspective, and practical support.

The Queen City Affiliate intentionally balances structured learning with networking opportunities. Educational sessions and professional discussions are identified through member feedback, emerging trends in NPD practice, and challenges shared by practitioners across healthcare settings. Planning and coordination are led collaboratively by affiliate board members. These leaders coordinate guest speakers and content experts who provide relevant expertise, practical insights, and diverse perspectives on topics important to NPD practitioners. Educational programming provides valuable professional content, while social gatherings and interactive networking events create opportunities for authentic relationship-building. Together, these experiences strengthen trust, increase engagement, and foster a culture in which members feel comfortable sharing ideas and seeking support. This educational programming reflects Standard 8: Advocacy of the Nursing Professional Development: Scope and Standards of Practice. By sharing knowledge and best practices, elevating NPD expertise, and offering relevant professional development, the affiliate advocates for both its members and the continued advancement of NPD as a specialty.

The impact of these connections extends well beyond affiliate meetings. Members have collaborated on initiatives, shared resources, pursued specialty certification, presented at conferences, contributed to scholarly work, and assumed leadership roles within their organizations and professional associations. By creating an environment that encourages professional growth, the affiliate serves as a catalyst for both individual and collective success.

The power of connection is perhaps most evident in how the affiliate supports members in developing and sharing their work beyond their own organizations. One example is the Flexible Options to Cultivate Unique Success (F.O.C.U.S.) Classroom Kit, a resource developed by an affiliate member to support neurodivergent learners in educational settings. Although the initiative was not led by the affiliate, the mentoring, encouragement, and professional relationships fostered through affiliate involvement helped strengthen the work and empowered the member to share it with a larger audience. This support contributed to the decision to present the initiative at the ANPD Aspire Convention, where NPD practitioners from other organizations expressed interest in learning more and exploring implementation within their own practice settings. This experience illustrates how an affiliate’s influence extends beyond the programs it directly leads. By encouraging members and building their confidence, the affiliate helps create pathways for locally developed ideas to reach and influence the broader NPD community.

The affiliate also plays an important role in developing future NPD leaders. Members are invited to contribute through committee involvement and volunteer opportunities that support educational programming, membership engagement, communications, event planning, and other affiliate priorities. These experiences allow members to apply their strengths, develop leadership and collaboration skills, and help shape initiatives that advance the affiliate’s mission of connection, professional development, and shared learning. Practitioners who initially joined seeking connection may discover new opportunities to serve as presenters, mentors, authors, committee members, and leaders within the broader NPD profession.

As healthcare and the NPD role continue to evolve, strong professional networks remain essential. The Queen City Affiliate demonstrates how intentional networking, collaboration, and community-building can strengthen practice while creating opportunities for innovation and leadership development. By providing accessible meetings, relevant education, mentorship, volunteer roles, and meaningful networking experiences, the affiliate offers a practical model that other NPD practitioners can adapt within their own regions. Through connection, members transform individual experiences into collective growth, advance the NPD specialty, and contribute to improved outcomes across organizations.