Succession Planning in Nursing Academia: A Scoping Review

Purpose The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the range of literature about succession planning in nursing education. Background Succession planning establishes leadership continuity and inherent knowledge within an institution and nursing education. Most of the literature on succession in nursing is focused in the healthcare setting with limited information of succession planning in nursing education discovered. Method Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) framework was used to guide this review. Results Emergent categories in the charted literature representing succession planning in nursing education included discouraging factors to assuming a leadership role, encouraging factors to assuming a leadership role, and strategies for successful succession planning. Conclusion There are many factors that discourage and encourage a faculty member when pursuing a leadership position. Developing and implementing a successful succession plan that includes the development of leadership abilities and traits could foster the development of future leaders in nursing education.