Passing the Chief Nursing Officer Baton: The Importance of Succession Planning and Transformational Leadership.

In today's dynamic healthcare environment, it is more important than ever that the chief nursing officer (CNO) possesses transformational leadership skills. This includes the cultivation of leaders whom the CNO can partner with to advance strategic priorities that benefit patients, families, clinical nurses, and others within a strong, supportive practice environment. A collaborative partnership not only ensures the advancement of an agenda for change but also enhances communication and visibility and provides an opportunity for development of key individuals on the executive team. By supporting partnerships, the CNO has the opportunity to keep talented leaders in the pipeline and to identify those who should be a part of the succession planning process. This is a critically important concept that can lead to a smooth leadership transition.