This project examines managers' use of workforce planning and deployment technologies and their impact on nursing care. These workforce technologies predict the numbers and mix of nursing staff appropriate to guarantee safety and high quality patient care.

Deployment of such technologies depends on manager's capabilities and their local knowledge, organisational structures and the availability of nursing resources are also important influences. The review's findings will bring evidence and theory together to show how NHS managers can obtain maximum impact from the implementation of workforce planning systems and technologies. The findings will also identify and explain what particular aspects of workforce planning approaches are more likely to promote high quality care for patients.

The study used a realist review methodology; a novel approach to synthesising evidence on complex interventions to inform clinical practice and policy.

The study was completed in October 2017.