Objective: Perceived readiness to transition to nurse manager roles and demonstrated leadership behaviors were evaluated among participants in a nurse manager succession planning pilot cohort.
Background: Equipping nurses within an organization with the leadership competencies to transition to the next role is essential as we face an impending nurse and nurse leader shortage.
Methods: Quasi-experimental and correlational design methods were used to measure changes in readiness of nurses to enter nurse manager roles over a 90-day pilot.
Results: Participants' perceived readiness to transition to nurse manager roles and demonstrated leadership behaviors increased between days 1 and 90 of the program. Statistically significant increases were attributed to their participation in the nurse manager succession planning pilot cohort.
Conclusions: This study contributes to the literature regarding nurse manager succession planning. Further research should be conducted so that succession planning for nurse managers becomes not only achievable but also expected.