Clinical Ladder
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The UAMS Nurses Clinical Ladder provides a framework for the nurse on a professional journey. This program describes the roles and competency expectations within each practice level (i.e., RN NG, RN I, RN II, RN III, RN IV and RN V). Upon hire, all UAMS nurses are placed on the clinical ladder based on years of experience, achievement of skills, and competencies. The basis for progression of the clinical and leadership expectations in the performance appraisal documents are based upon “Benner’s Model” which delineates the nurse’s career path from novice to expert.
While every UAMS Health RN will be expected to attain and maintain the RN III level of proficient practice, progression beyond that level is optional. This voluntary progression allows each RN to determine whether the promotion to RN IV (requiring a BSN degree) or RN V (requiring a Graduate Degree) is right for their own work-life balance and professional development goals.
View the UAMS Clinical Ladder Graphic
View the Advancement Requirements and Opportunities.
Tuition Discount (up to 50%) for BSN or RN to BSN.
RN NG – Novice/Beginner (0 – 12 Months experience)
The Novice or beginner has no experience in the situations in which they are expected to perform. The Novice lacks confidence to demonstrate safe practice and requires continual verbal and physical cues. Practice is within prolonged time period and he/she is unable to use discretionary judgement.
RN I – Advanced Beginner (12 – 24 Months experience)
Advanced Beginners demonstrate acceptable performance because the nurse has had prior experience in actual situations. He/she is efficient and skillful in parts of the practice area requiring occasional supportive curs. May or may not be within a delayed time period. Knowledge is developing. Opportunities: Bachelor or Graduate degree in nursing and National Certification (hourly differential).
RN II – Competent (24 – 36 Months experience)
Competence is demonstrated by the nurse who has been on the job in the same or similar situations for at least 2 to 3 years. The nurse is able to demonstrate efficiency, is coordinated and has confidence in his/her actions. For the Competent nurse, a plan establishes a perspective, and the plan is based on considerable conscious, abstract, analytic contemplation of the problem. The conscious, deliberate planning that is characteristic of this skill level helps achieve efficiency and organization. Care is completed within a suitable time frame without supporting cues. Opportunities: Bachelor or Graduate degree in nursing, National Certification (hourly differential) and Resource Nurse (compensation upon completion of 9-month project).
RN III – Proficient (3 or greater years experience)
The Proficient nurse perceives situations as wholes rather than in terms of chopped up parts or aspects. Proficient nurses understand a situation as a whole because they perceive its meaning in terms of long-term goals. The Proficient nurse learns from experience what typical events to expect in a given situation and how plans need to be modified in response to these events. The Proficient nurse can now recognize when the expected normal pictures does not materialize. This holistic understanding improves the Proficient nurse’s decision making; it becomes less labored because the nurse now has a perspective on which of the many existing attributes and aspects in the present situation are the important ones. Opportunities: Bachelor or Graduate degree in nursing, National Certification (hourly differential) and Resource Nurse (compensation upon completion of 9-month project).
RN IV and V – The Expert (optional) (4 or greater years in specialty)
The Expert nurse has an intuitive grasp of each situation and zeroes in on the accurate region of the problem without wasteful consideration of a large range of unfruitful, alternative diagnoses and solutions. The Expert operates from a deep understanding of the total situation. His/her performance becomes fluid and flexible and highly proficient. Highly skilled analytic ability is necessary for those situations with which the nurse has had no previous experience.
Required for RN IV: Bachelor degree in nursing, National Certification (hourly differential) and completion of RN IV requirements.
Required for RN V: Graduate degree in nursing, National Certification (hourly differential) and completion of RN V requirements.