As the healthcare sector grapples with persistent nurse burnout and staffing shortages, AdventHealth has initiated a promising solution through its clinical ladder program. Launched in August 2023 at AdventHealth Castle Rock, this program aims to enhance career advancement for nurses while simultaneously improving patient care.
The clinical ladder program encourages nurses to engage in various professional activities beyond their day-to-day responsibilities. According to Ellery Reed, Chief Nursing Officer at AdventHealth Castle Rock, the initiative is designed to combat burnout, which has significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. “When you do the same thing, day in and day out, you can get burned out as well,” Reed noted, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to keep nurses motivated.
Participants in the program earn points by taking on roles such as committee members, leading improvement projects, continuing their education, and achieving relevant certifications. These points help nurses ascend through different levels of the clinical ladder, each associated with additional compensation. Reed added, “For all these points that they obtain, they go into a different level of the clinical ladder, which has a different additional payment assigned to it.”
The financial incentives have proven to be a significant draw for nurses. Currently, 70% of the nursing staff at AdventHealth Castle Rock have completed the clinical ladder program and are at various levels within it. Registered Nurse and nurse leader Sarah Sachs highlighted that the organization also offers reimbursement for certification tests, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder professional development.
The outcomes of the program are compelling. Reed reported that in some units, turnover rates have decreased by 75% since the program’s implementation. “It’s just a difficult job, emotionally and physically. I just needed something new and something different to be more engaged with and learn more,” said Nichole Searle, an acute care RN and charge nurse, reflecting on her experience with the initiative.
Beyond enhancing job satisfaction, the clinical ladder program has directly benefited patient care. “What you’re doing behind the scenes to further yourself as a nurse makes a huge difference in your patient care,” Sachs remarked. The program not only uplifts the morale of the nursing staff but also fosters a culture of continuous improvement in patient services.
Given the success of the clinical ladder program at AdventHealth Castle Rock, the organization is now preparing to extend similar initiatives to other healthcare professionals within its system. The focus on career advancement and nurse engagement could serve as a model for healthcare institutions facing similar challenges nationwide.
