title: Building foundations for the future: the NHS Scotland advanced practice succession planning development pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To highlight implications for managers from the implementation of a national advanced practice succession planning development pathway within Scotland.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Internationally, advanced practice posts have often developed in an ad-hoc manner, with little organizational attention to succession planning. Evaluation of a pilot national succession planning development pathway identified mechanisms which facilitate or hamper effective planning for advanced practice roles.
  
  
  METHODS
  A responsive evaluation design incorporating semi-structured questionnaires to pathway participants (n = 15) and semi-structured telephone interviews with case-site pathway participants (n = 7) and their line managers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Managers believed the development pathway was worthwhile; however, there was limited strategic planning to match individuals' development to service need. Practitioners generally perceived managers as interested in their development, although levels of practical support varied. There is concern from both managers and practitioners regarding ongoing funding for advanced practice development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present evaluation study reiterates the need for organizational commitment to succession planning including robust service needs analysis mechanisms and adequate funding for development processes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse managers are viewed as the 'gatekeepers' to opportunities for developing advanced nurse practitioners; scare resources must be targeted effectively to support succession planning through the development of selected individuals for future advanced practice posts, justified by service need.
authors: Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK. k.currie@gcu.ac.uk
authors: Kay
authors: K
authors: Currie
authors: Maggie
authors: M
authors: Grundy
mesh_terms: D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010934:Planning Techniques; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012606:Scotland; D013192:Staff Development / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends