Abstract
Future chief executive officers (CEOs) in health care may very well be required to have clinical backgrounds. Nurses are in an excellent position to lead hospitals and health care systems through impending sea changes. Moving from the chief nursing officer to the CEO requires core leadership competencies and a framework to ensure success. This framework needs to include a self-assessment and a personal development plan. Lessons learned offered to aspiring CEOs include insights and tools to make getting to the top achievable.