Developing relationships with the board of directors

As a nurse administrator, you want to attend, or perhaps have already been invited to attend, meetings of your hospital's board of directors or trustees. What personal and professional strategies can you use, outside the board room, to foster your image as a powerful and competent administrator? Once in the board room, what is appropriate board etiquette? How can you contribute most effectively to board deliberations? The authors present strategies for establishing yourself as an influential, powerful, and valuable contributor to the executive management team as well as the board of directors.