Staff support in continuing professional development.

This article reports on a training needs analysis (TNA) project, undertaken with three different hospital trusts in England, that uses a work-based and action-learning approach. It relates to the format of the projects and the identification of training needs for healthcare practitioners. A second article will report on the implementation of TNA in one trust after completion of the project. The work is important for nurse managers and leaders responsible for continuing professional development budgets. The project was targeted at the delivery of trust priorities and offered potential for a different way of working designed to meet new and emerging NHS organisational requirements. In addition, given its multidisciplinary nature, it offered the facility to work with multidisciplinary clinical colleagues to explore different learning and development opportunities and issues.