LAUSR

BACKGROUND Succession planning in nursing is a new concept with limited evidence found in nursing education. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive summary of the descriptions of succession planning, as self-reported by administrators over an academic nursing division. METHODS A qualitative descriptive methodology was utilized to obtain descriptions of succession planning from participants having personal experience with succession planning. FINDINGS The categories discovered in the data included strategies for succession planning implementation, advantages of succession planning, and obstacles to succession planning. DISCUSSION Succession planning can provide growth plans, leadership development, and mentoring programs allowing for positive relationships that cultivate, inspire, and assist faculty to develop the necessary skills to be successful in a leadership role. Succession planning requires adequate financial and human resources to develop potential leaders to meet the future needs of an organization, and ultimately, nursing education.