| Recognizing Excellence
Because patient care is the #1 priority at Methodist
Healthcare, our STEPP (Steps To
Excellence in Professional Practice) Clinical Ladder Program
recognizes those nurses on our staff whose practice is
characterized by the highest standards of professionalism
and excellence.
Philosophy
We believe nursing is a practice discipline and that the
essence of professional nursing is clinical practice.
Believing this, it is only natural that nurses who continue
to practice in a clinical setting and who continue to
advance in clinical knowledge and expertise should receive
recognition and rewards. The STEPP program provides these in
meaningful, tangible ways.
Objectives
1. To make explicit our commitment to excellence in
patient care.
2. To recognize those members of our nursing staff whose
practice is characterized by excellence.
3. To permit nurses to advance within the profession
without leaving patient care.
4. To provide our nurses with meaningful incentives
for continuing to advance professionally through
education and the upgrading of their clinical skills.
Foundation
The primary underlying concept of our STEPP program is
the nursing process. Associated concepts are leadership and
professionalism. As you advance in clinical expertise, the
scope broadens (e.g., from the individual patient and
his/her immediate family to groups of patients and to the
community).
Behavioral criteria are developed for each step of the
nursing process:
Assess, Plan, Implement, Evaluate
In addition, there are behavioral criteria for the
components of leadership, communication and professionalism.
Finally, education, experience and successful completion of
the Employee Performance Feedback Process are considered.
Model
The STEPP program at Methodist Healthcare consists of
five steps: Registered Nurse (RN) I, RN II, RN III, RN IV
and RN V. There are no limitations on the number of nurses
who may attain these positions.
Application Process
Newly hired RNs may be eligible to participate in the
STEPP program. Nurse managers work with new hires to decide
the appropriate level for entry into Methodist Healthcare.
The STEPP program requires the completion of an
application and submission of supporting material related to
the appropriate criteria, including written documentation,
projects, peer evaluation and recommendations. Completed
applications and supporting material are then evaluated by
the system-wide STEPP committee.
If successful, you will be awarded an upgraded status and
a substantial increase in salary. Subsequent Employee
Performance Feedback Processes include the criteria in the
appropriate level of the STEPP program.
|
