Rising Nurse Leaders (RNL) is a two-year part-time program designed to provide aspiring and current frontline administrative nurses with opportunities to acquire essential knowledge, skills, and abilities for ongoing leadership and professional development. The ultimate program goal is for participants to become effective administrative leaders and shape the future of nursing at UC Davis Health.

Picture of the Rising Nurse Leaders Cohort 13.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the program, the RNL participants will:

  • Develop a leadership style consistent with individual strengths and goals.
  • Integrate planning, mentorship, and experiential learning experiences into ongoing professional and leadership development.
  • Increase awareness of current professional, practice, and organizational issues relevant to nurse leaders.
  • Demonstrate leadership through the facilitation of a change process integrating concepts on best practices, quality/performance improvement methodologies, and project management.

Program Activities

Program participants will engage in learning activities such as seminars, discussion forums, mentorship, coaching, and group activities. The program utilizes various instructive and interactive methods to enhance learning and skill development. During the program, the participants will engage actively in completing an individualized professional development plan, leadership portfolio, and project. An overview of components are as follows:

  • Leadership development seminars: The quarterly leadership seminars consist of eight core educational offerings, aligned to leadership competencies, to provide participants with an opportunity to apply leadership concepts, problem-solving, reflection, and skill development.
  • Leadership forums: Monthly leadership forums are co-facilitated by a coach and/or a nurse leader. The sessions provide the participants a venue to discuss specific leadership topics/issues and learn applicable leadership strategies.
  • Mentorship: Participants will be paired with a nursing mentor that complements the individual’s career and learning goals. As part of the formalized mentorship, participants will work with mentors to identify development opportunities to attain goals. Mentors volunteer to support RNL nurses in their professional development and will also be offered their own development opportunities.
  • Professional coaching: Each participant has access to individual professional leadership coaching offered at no cost by HR Training and Development. Information can be found here: Career Coaching.
  • Leadership project: The participants will partner with mentors to acquire and demonstrate leadership skills by completing a project that support institutional goals and priority areas.
  • Elective courses: While the seminars are designed to build core competencies in leadership, participants may take additional elective courses based on their individual needs. These elective course offerings are open to all UC Davis nursing staff.

Eligibility

The Rising Nurse Leaders program is open to nurses that meet the following qualifications:

  • UC Davis Health career nursing employee with at least two years of service.
  • Demonstration of professional leadership qualities, including but not limited to serving as a committee chair, Unit-Based Practice Council or professional governance committee member, unit or hospital-wide project champion, relief charge nurse, professional organization member, etc.
  • Commitment to program activities.
  • Motivation and willingness to contribute to improving the quality of care and services at UC Davis Health.

Expectations

Participants agree to actively engage in all aspects of this 24-month program, specifically:

  • Secure supervisor’s approval for planned leave to attend program activities.
  • Actively participate in all program activities, including attending quarterly seminars and a minimum of 8 Leadership Forums a year during the program.
  • Develop and implement an individualized professional plan.
  • Meet regularly with identified mentor.
  • Develop a professional portfolio that will provide evidence of leadership growth and competency.
  • Participate in a leadership project that support institutional goals or priority areas.
  • Participate in program evaluation and consider participating in research studies if requested.
  • Complete all the program requirements within 24 months.

Cost

UC Davis Medical Center Patient Care Services sponsorships of participants cover most of the program cost, which includes educational materials, seminars, and other learning experiences. Participants may use available professional leave with the approval of their manager for program activities.

Application Procedures

Thank you for your interest in the Rising Nurse Leaders Program. The 2027-2028 Cohort 14 applications are available at the link below. Priority applications are due by January 29, 2027. Applications received after January 29, 2027, will only be reviewed on a space-available basis. Completed applications include two professional references. Final decisions and acceptance letters will be emailed on or before February 12, 2027. The program will start on May 13, 2027.   

Application Open

Cohort 14: Applications Dec. 1, 2026, to Jan. 29, 2027

Part I: Applicant

The online application cannot be saved incompletely; it must be completed in a single session. Before you access the online application form, prepare or draft the following:

  • Statement of Purpose: Describe professional background, professional goals, leadership experience, or how you have demonstrated leadership, evidence of committee or project work, and how this program will support your goals (minimum of 300 words).

Once you are ready with your application, access the link below. Answer all the questions and cut and paste your statement of purpose in the space provided.

Part II: Professional Reference

    As part of your Rising Nurse Leaders Program application, you will need to provide two professional references who can speak to your work performance, leadership qualities, and leadership potential.

    • One reference must be your current unit director/nurse manager.
    • Your second reference should be another nurse leader within your unit or department who is familiar with your professional practice and leadership potential.
    • In the application form, you will be asked to enter the name and email address of both professional references.
    • Once your application is submitted, a link to the Professional Reference Survey will be sent directly to each reference at the email address you provided.
    • You do not need to send the survey link to your references yourself.
    • Please notify your references in advance that they will receive an email requesting completion of the Professional Reference Survey and encourage them to complete it by the application deadline.

    Important: Both completed Professional Reference Surveys are required for your application to be considered complete and eligible for review. The applicant is responsible for ensuring both references are completed and for submitting their surveys by the application deadline.

    Please verify that you entered your references' names and email addresses correctly in your application to avoid delays in receiving or completing the reference survey.

    Program Coordinators

    Misty Mandeville, M.S.N., R.N., N.P.D.-B.C.
    Professional Development Specialist
    mdmandeville@health.ucdavis.edu

    Denise Angelo Prudencio, D.N.P., R.N., N.E.A.-B.C., N.P.D.-B.C., P.C.C.N., C.G.N.C., F.F.N.M.R.C.S.I., F.S.I.E.N., F.A.D.L.N.
    Professional Development Specialist
    dprudencio@health.ucdavis.edu