Training needs analysis - The essential first step for continuing professional development design

•Continuing professional development (CPD) remains critical for a responsive quality nursing service.•A training needs analysis is a recommended yet often missing first step in designing a CPD strategy.•Using a globally validated tool supports an evidenced based approach to nursing education practice.

Nursing services are expected to be dynamic in response to changing health care needs. This expectation requires the purposeful and effective development of nursing workforce capability through continuing professional development (CPD). An evidence based approach to training needs analysis (TNA) is a highly recommended yet often missing first step in designing a CPD strategy for service improvement. This study used the Hicks-Hennessey questionnaire, a validated TNA tool to inform regional educational commissioning to meet the aims of a community social sector trial (SST) project. The SST objectives were to improve access to appropriate primary care through reducing Ambulatory Sensitive Hospitalisations and Emergency Department attendances among people aged 0-74 years. Using a descriptive research approach with the Hicks-Hennessey questionnaire, ten priority training needs were identified by regional primary health care nurses to inform the design of a purposeful educational response and hence support an enhanced model of care.