Career Advancement

The Reading Hospital's Career Advancement Program is designed to provide Registered Nurses who wish to remain actively involved in direct, bedside patient care with the opportunity for advancement and promotion.

The objectives of the Career Advancement Program are:

1. To improve the quality of patient care and organizational outcomes.

2. To provide career opportunities for nurses who demonstrate advanced clinical knowledge and skills.

3. To provide nurses increased opportunity to achieve autonomy and accountability while remaining in a direct patient care role.

4. To promote the recruitment and retention of clinical nurses by increasing job satisfaction, opportunities for expanded nursing roles, and recognition for advanced education, clinical proficiency, and expertise.

The opportunities for advancement and promotion are provided through five levels of increased advanced skill and proficiency. Level definitions are based loosely on the model of nursing proficiency developed by Patricia Benner. Progression through these levels will be determined by successfully demonstrating criteria for advancement, which include clinical expertise, professional accomplishments, professional contributions, education and certifications, and organizational contributions. Advancement through the levels, through a series of applications, or challenges, will be determined by a review panel of nursing managers and staff.