Clinical Career Ladder

Welcome to the guide for the University of Virginia Health System's Professional Nursing Staff Organization Clinical Career Ladder. The Ladder was initiated at UVA in 1988 and is based on Patricia Benner's work From Novice to Expert published in 1984. The Ladder continues to evolve based on nursing feedback and the needs of the organization. The decision to pursue advancement beyond the entry level is an individual choice based on interest in professional development, increased responsibility and accountability. Click the links below for more detailed information about UVAHS's Clinical Career Ladder.

Find Career Ladder information for 2013 in:

The full Clinical Career Ladder Reference Handbook     (52 page PDF, web & printer-friendly; 2013 version)
[IMPORTANT: updates posted February 2013] 

Submission Deadlines depend on your goal:

Quick Links to Specific Handbook Sections:

PNSO Clinical Career Ladder Overview
    - Overview of Clinical Career Ladder
    - Key Concepts
    - General Regulations

Career Ladder Processes - Clinician I to Clinician IV Levels
   - Mandatory Clinician 1 to Clinician II Advancement 
   - External Applicants to Clinician II validate 5 months post-hire
   - Advancement Clinician II to III and Clinician III to IV  
   - Timelines for Portfolio Submission 
   - Step by step process for Portfolio Submission 
   - Clinician IV Revalidation of Practice
   - The Clinician III/IV Panels (information about the panels) |   2013 Panelists 
    -  Appeals process related to Clinician III and Clinician IV Advancement  

Career Ladder Processes - Advanced Practice Levels
   - Process for Applicants Seeking APN positions
   - Timeline for Portfolio Submission
   - Step by step process for Portfolio Submission (Internal Applicants)
   - APN Revalidation of Practice
   - The APN Panel (information about the panel) | 2013 Panelists
    - Appeals process related to APN Advancement

Clinician Behaviors
   - Clinical Career Ladder Behaviors Clinician I to Clinician IV
   - Clinical Career Ladder Behaviors APN 1 to APN 3


Notice of Intent

   Now web-based:  Notice of Intent to Advance form

Portfolio Submission

SPECIAL NOTICE:
Electronic portfolio submission is NOT required. Instead, create a single hardcopy of all portfolio materials, looseleaf, bound together with a binder clip (no staples, page protectors, or notebooks). Bring this packet to the PNSO Office by the submission deadline, and we will scan into electronic format for you. [McKim Hall rm 2099, phone 4-9357]

 
       - Instead of a full portfolio, submit a CV and applicable checklist to your Manager
         (not to the PNSO Office), if you are...
               - Clinician 1 advancing to Clinician 2 | checklist 
               - externally hired Clinician 2 validating post-hire | checklist
       - Submit your hardcopy portfolio to the Human Resources Nurse Recruiter, if you
         are...
               - an EXTERNAL applicant for APN 1, 2, or 3 positions

Make sure to include the appropriate Checklist when submitting your portfolio:

PRE-HIRE:
   - Pre-Hire Portfolio Checklist (For external applicants to APN 2 and 3 positions)

ADVANCEMENT:
   - Advancement Portfolio Checklist (Clinician I to II)
        - Clinician II Validation Assessment Tool 
   - Advancement Portfolio Checklist (Clinician II to III and Clincian III to IV) 
    - Advancement Portfolio Checklist (APN1-to-2 and APN 2-to-3) 

VALIDATION (post-hire situations, within 6 months):
   - Validation Portfolio Checklist (Newly-hired Clinician II) 
        -  Clinician II Validation Assessment Tool
   - Validation Portfolio Checklist (For external & wage hires to Clinician 3 and
     Clinician 4)

REVALIDATION (every 2 years, Clinician IV & APN roles):
   - Revalidation Portfolio Checklist (Clinician IV)
        - Clinician IV Revalidation Assessment Tool
   - Revalidation Portfolio Checklist (APN)

(tip: if a "SSL / Secure Sockets Layer" popup appears, just click NO, and the document opens fine) 


APPLICANTS FOR ADVANCEMENT, any level:
   - Career Ladder Processes Tip Sheet Summary
   - List of Potential Mentors (Updated for 2013)     
   - Examples of Portfolio Development Materials

ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES:
   - APNs' & Administrators' Toolkit for Advanced Practice ladder
   - Orientation resources for New APNs
   - APN Outcomes editable template | process overview & examples

MANAGERS & ADMINISTRATORS:
   - Managers' Toolkit    
   - Administrators' & APNs' Toolkit for Advanced Practice ladder

PANELISTS:
   - APN Panelist Resource Page  (access restricted to current panel members)
   - Clinician III/IV Panelist Resource Page (access restricted to current panel members)

 

Contact the PNSO with questions!