CLINICAL LADDER SYSTEM IN NURSING: A PROGRAM EVALUATION.
Contributors: Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.)
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 219
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study is a program evaluation of a clinical ladder system for nurses in a large teaching hospital. The clinical ladder system was initiated in 1979 to provide guidelines for development, evaluation and advancement for staff nurses. The framework used for the program evaluation was a responsive and naturalistic methodological approach. Data sources included documentation and records, participant-observation and interviews. Results indicated that nurses participating in the system perceived that the clinical ladder system increased their professionalism, motivation and self-evaluation. Six concern areas regarding the system were identified: fairness, structure of the levels, efficiency, program review, program design and organization and applicability of behavior statements. Six issue areas that affect the clinical ladder system were identified: individual development versus institutional development, program cost versus productivity and quality of care, adequate versus inadequate rewards, peer review versus review by managers, external credentialing versus internal criteria and a one track versus multi-track system. Conclusions supported the continuation of the clinical ladder system for nurses as an important motivation, professional development and evaluation tool. Thirteen recommendations were made regarding redesign of the program.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-08, Section: B, page: 2266.

Thesis (PH.D.)--NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, 1987.

School code: 0163.