Incorporating Succession Planning Into an Advanced Practice Workforce Strategy

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Leadership Development
• Advanced Practice Providers

Background:

• The increasing need for skilled leaders in healthcare.
• The specific leadership development challenges faced by Advanced Practice Providers (APPs).
• The importance of succession planning in pediatric healthcare organizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and outcomes of a leadership program for APPs.
• To assess the program's effectiveness in preparing APPs for leadership roles.
• To evaluate the program's impact on internal advancement and leadership pipelines.

Main Methods:

• A 6-month Emerging Leaders Program was designed and implemented.
• The program incorporated targeted education and mentorship components.
• Program alignment with organizational succession planning strategies was ensured.

Main Results:

• The program significantly strengthened leadership readiness among participating APPs.
• A notable increase in internal advancement of APPs into leadership positions was observed.
• The program successfully reinforced a pipeline of leaders within the pediatric healthcare organization.

Conclusions:

• The Emerging Leaders Program is an effective model for developing APP leaders.
• Targeted leadership education and mentorship are crucial for APP advancement.
• Investing in APP leadership development strengthens organizational capacity and succession planning.