Identifying the learning needs of senior nurses

•This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

Many nurses are encouraged to consider leadership roles, but senior nurses' learning needs are often overlooked. A health board undertook a project to identify these needs

Abstract Cerinus M (2016) Identifying the learning needs of senior nurses. Nursing Times; 112: 20, 20-23.

There has been a drive to encourage nurses into positions of leadership but, despite the importance of considering how the senior nurse role should be developed and the needs of senior nurses, little literature exists on the subject. To explore senior nurse development, one health board in Scotland invited senior nurses to participate in a “development conversation”. Key points were noted during each conversation and themed. This article outlines the needs identified and explores how they could be addressed.