Advancement in a Nursing Career

Clinical ladder

In an effort to provide professional growth and development for recognizing excellence in clinical nursing and to encourage commitment to nursing professionalism, MUSC Health adopted Dr. Patricia Benner’s novice-to-expert model. The model focuses on recognizing nurses whose clinical practice integrates clinical excellence into the practice environment.

The advancement process is a choice that nurses take as an opportunity to showcase their clinical excellence. Their professional contributions to the practice environment are shown through preparation of a portfolio that includes a clinical narrative, a unit-based or hospital-based project along with other requirements, and a dialogue with the Clinical Advancement Review Committee. Advancing nurses receive a 5% monetary bonus for their advancement.