FOCUS ON WORKFORCE AND PEOPLE
Clinical Advancement Program
The intentional and evidence-based revision of a Clinical Advancement Program ( CAP ) engages and empowers clinical nurses through obtainable , objective practices in clinical expertise , leadership , innovation and education , resulting in measurable career advancement . In April 2022 , the CAP revision launch was led by co-chairs Alexandra Hamby , MSN , RNC-NIC , Clinical Practice Specialist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children ’ s Hospital Colorado , Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , and Meghan Worley- Morse , BSN , RN , CCRN , Clinical Nurse IV in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Children ’ s Hospital Colorado , Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora .
CAPs introduce professional practice environment structure and process to recognize and promote nursing excellence . The limitations of such programs include complexity , leader stewardship and objective evaluation measures . The voice of clinical nurses , participant leveling data and literature informed the revision . The revised program leverages existing strengths , while building new opportunities for comprehensive recognition across contributions of the profession .
A workgroup was formed to conduct a literature review and externally benchmark . The CAP is modeled after Dr . Benner ’ s novice to expert continuum , framed in the Magnet ® Model components , and aligns with the organization ’ s Professional Practice Model . The program ’ s guiding principles underscore the key aims : accessible , evidence-based and benchmark informed , transparent process and outcomes , integrated with professional practice and performance evaluation , and engage , retain , and inspire nursing professionals . With implementation , the workgroup hosted CAP Champion training for leaders across the organization to ensure consistent , equitable leadership practice to support advancement .
Initial results in this launch year indicate significantly improved clinical nurse engagement in the CAP . New applications for advancement post-implementation have increased 103 % compared to 2019-2021 . The distribution of tenured clinical nurses voluntarily seeking advancement at the tiered levels is being monitored . Retention rates continue to be analyzed , including the detection of direct relationship and attribution to this program . Professional certification , a criterion for program entry , has notably increased in rate amongst eligible nurses by 12 %. The initial success of the program has led to the assessment of replication for allied health colleagues in the division of patient care services .
The CAP redesign was grounded in literature review , benchmarking , and built through collaborative exploration . The new CAP is a feature of structural empowerment , with objectivity , diversity of professional contribution , and accessibility that values clinical expertise and increases engagement .
Total number of new clinical advancements by year
160 140 120 100
134
0
2019 2020 2021 2022
42 2022 PCS Annual Report