Colquitt Regional recently announced that 78 nurses advanced on its nursing clinical ladder during its inaugural year.
The nursing clinical ladder is a structured system that allows direct-care nurses to advance their careers while remaining in a clinical setting and continuing to provide patient care.
Colquitt Regional’s clinical ladder was established in October 2018 as a formal way of promoting professional development and engagement. The ladder was developed by the Staff Nurse Advisory Committee, a dynamic staff-leader partnership that provides collaboration, shared decision making and accountability for improving quality of care, safety, and enhancing work life.
“We have worked hard to incorporate professional development into the culture at Colquitt Regional,” said Jim Matney, Colquitt Regional president and CEO. “The implementation of the clinical ladder has been extremely beneficial to our organization and gives nurses a clear path for growth.”
In order to advance, nurses must demonstrate involvement by guiding improvements in quality of care or patient experiences, or by actively contributing to a healthy and positive work environment through professional activities.
While the specifics of each organization’s ladder may vary, the fundamentals remain the same across the industry. Colquitt Regional’s ladder has various levels of advancement, all of which are based on education, certification and engagement activity.
“Putting this clinical ladder in place has helped us carry out our vision – being recognized as a superior provider of quality and compassionate healthcare,” said Dena Zinker, Colquitt Regional CNO. “Having 78 nurses advance in the first year speaks volumes of the dedication and commitment of our nurses.”
One of the primary goals of the clinical ladder is increasing engagement outside of the typical nursing role. Colquitt Regional nurses have the opportunity to engage in multiple activities to qualify for advancement, such as acting as a preceptor for nursing students and staff and serving in leadership roles on committees and initiatives.
Colquitt Regional will continue encouraging advancement up the clinical ladder by making continuing education for nurses more accessible and attainable. Colquitt Regional currently offers benefits such as student loan repayment, flexible scheduling, and competitive compensation plans.
Colquitt Regional is a 99-bed teaching hospital located in Moultrie, Georgia. With over 90 providers, more than 30 specialties and 1,350 employees, Colquitt Regional is committed to providing exceptional healthcare that exceeds expectations for Colquitt County and the surrounding areas.
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