Table 1

Theory areas

Elements of workforce planningImplementation

  • The identification of patient needs and acuity23 24

  • The nature of nursing work25

  • Scope of workforce planning (eg, reflecting integrated care and skill mix changes)26 27

  • Contracting and rostering practices28–31

  • Deployment, skill mix and nursing workload tools8

  • Strategic management and human resources for health32 33

  • Technology adoption34

  • Professional decision-making and judgement35

  • Organisational and other contextual influences affecting the implementation of learning and practices36–38

  • Organisational learning and knowledge management39

  • Implementation and knowledge mobilisation40–42