Retirements and succession of nursing faculty in 2016-2025.

BACKGROUND: Faculty retirement has been a growing concern for the nursing education community given the impact it may have on preparing the future nursing workforce.

PURPOSE: To estimate faculty retirements in 2016-2015 and to assess the impact of retirements on the faculty workforce.

METHOD: The Least-Squares Regression and the Cohort Component Methods were used to project retirements.

DISCUSSION: The study projected that total retirements in 2016-2025 would equal one third of faculty in 2015. Retirees are likely to come from current faculty aged 60 or older, and faculty aged 50-59 are likely to be their replacements. The impact of the retiring faculty on the faculty workforce will be huge given their overrepresentation in doctoral attainment, senior rank, and ability for graduate-level teaching.

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest a sense of urgency for the nursing education community to address the impending exodus of senior faculty and to develop younger faculty for their successful succession.