Condition 2: Climate & Intergroup Relations – Creating Conditions for Respect, Trust & Collaboration

Webinar Details

This session explores how interpersonal norms, communication practices, and power dynamics shape the lived experiences of students, staff, and faculty within academic nursing environments. Grounded in the AACN Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing, participants will examine how the Climate and Intergroup Relations Condition, within the Operational Core, influences well-being, collaboration, and long-term academic and professional success.

The session highlights the connection between institutional climate and the Humanistic Conditions—particularly psychological safety, connection, support, and value—and demonstrates how these elements reinforce one another to sustain excellence. Participants will engage in strategies to promote psychological safety, build trust, foster belonging, and strengthen accountability across all roles and levels.

Discussion will also explore how institutional histories, structures, and digital communication tools influence intergroup relations—and how intentional, evidence-informed actions can help nursing programs cultivate climates where every individual feels respected, supported, and prepared to thrive.

Learning Outcomes

After participating in this webinar, attendees will be able to:

• Explain how institutional climate and intergroup relations influence the well-being, engagement, and performance of students, staff, and faculty.
• Recognize early signs of unhealthy or unsafe climates—such as relational exclusion, incivility, or misuse of power—that disrupt collaboration and learning.
• Apply strategies that foster respectful communication, trust-building, and shared accountability across the academic nursing community.
• Describe how the Operational Core and Humanistic Conditions within the Ecosystem of Excellence guide the creation of climates that align with AACN’s Access, Connection, and Engagement (ACE) vision.

The AACN Ecosystem of Excellence in Academic Nursing is a comprehensive, evidence-informed framework that aligns mission, people, and systems to create environments where all students, staff, and faculty can thrive.

At its foundation are the Humanistic Conditions—Healthy, Psychologically Safe, Connected, Supported, Valued, and Prepared—that enable individuals to achieve their best. These are integrated through the Ecosystem’s three Cores:

• Human Core, which centers on the Humanistic Conditions that foster well-being and engagement.
• Operational Core, which aligns systems and strategies through five Institutional Conditions: Infrastructure and Capacity, Climate and Intergroup Relations, Education and Scholarship, Access and Success, and Community Engagement.
• Institutional Core, which grounds excellence in shared culture through five Cultural Conditions: Mission, Vision, Values, Traditions, and Norms.

The Operational Core is supported by a digital Ecosystem Toolkit that translates the framework into actionable strategies and measurable outcomes, including:

• Strategies that strengthen policies, practices, and structures
• Scenarios illustrating real-world challenges and solutions—each intentionally linked to the Humanistic Conditions of the Ecosystem and aligned with relevant AACN Essentials
• Reflection questions that promote dialogue, planning, and innovation
• Dashboards and planning tools to monitor progress and outcomes
• Curated supporting literature that provides evidence and context for implementation

Note: Recording of the webinar will be available soon after the webinar airs. Visit AACN's On-Demand Webinars to watch.