In May 2011, nurse executives and emerging nurse leaders gathered in Huntsville, Ontario for the Ontario Hospital Association's (OHA) First Annual National Nursing Executives Summit. Over the course of three days, 60 attendees were able to connect and learn about the various trends and issues facing both the nursing profession and healthcare as a whole. Recurrent themes about integration, capacity, human resources, access and quality surfaced as ongoing and real challenges for nursing leaders. As well, delegates were asked to participate in a variety of group conversations to identify their values, major issues and opportunities and to create shared strategies for action at the individual, professional and health system levels. Eight key issues were identified: