1. Professional Advancement While Serving
PAWS
Professional Advancement While Serving

2. Descriptions White Level Black Level This is your new nurse
In process of completing 1st year
Successful evaluations by preceptors
Has completed house-wide orientation, including AIDET, PFCC…
Functions independently in role
May be asked to be a preceptor
Can take a charge role
May be on committee or collecting data
Attends educational opportunities to advance knowledge
Working on BSN or certification

3. Descriptions GOLD Level STRIPES Level
Seen as leader, often takes a charge role
BSN with Certification
Functions as a resource nurse
Active participation in committees, collection of data, quality improvement
Shares knowledge with others, preceptor, mentor
Looks at unit/hospital issues for improvement
Submits posters, specific education at unit levels, CED
Seen as leader, takes a charge role
BSN with Dual Certification or MSN/PhD with Certification
Functions routinely as a resource nurse
Leads committees, Participates in collection of data, quality improvement
Shares knowledge with others, preceptor, mentor
Looks at system issues for improvement
Published,
Provides education at system level for staff

4. STRIPES LEVEL GOLD LEVEL BLACK LEVEL WHITE LEVEL
Each level builds on the next. You may fall into different categories i.e. a black level nurse may have some gold qualities and a gold level nurse may have some stripes qualities.

5. Example: White Level Able to identify recourses
Has completed AIDET and PFCC training
Able to identify culture of yes behaviors
Has completed mandatory competencies
Successful feedback from preceptors
Compliant with bedside shift report, hourly rounding and nurse/physician rounding
Asks for help appropriately
Able to identify policies and protocols specific to practice
Understands diversity needs of patient population
Protects patient rights
Completes all orientation feedback
Maintains positive attitude
Able to identify recourses
Develops plan of care on admission
Can find online and printed education
Independent with power chart, documents appropriately and timely
Participated as member of 2 focus PDSA projects
Reviews articles relevant to practice
Acquires 10 CEUs per year
Participates in huddles
Attends 80% of staff/committee meetings
Shows engagement by attending Town Halls and other events
Donates time to community (1 event per year)

6. Examples: black level Maintains enough CEUs to maintain certification
Builds collaborative relationship with the team
Function as preceptor
Provides patient education and prepares for discharge
Participates in unit committees or focus groups
Attends daily huddles, rounding, team conferences
Updates care plans to meet changing needs of patients
Able to identify QI projects, patient satisfaction scores and understands where unit is at in performance improvement goals
Maintains enough CEUs to maintain certification
Seeks out learning opportunities
Completes projects in a timely manner
Member of a professional organization
Coaches staff to manage up and demonstrates positive image

7. Examples Gold Level Preceptor and mentor
Participates in hospital committees, improvement projects, looks for ways to initiate change
Provides education to unit/hospital staff
Participates in reviewing/developing policies and procedures
Trainer (i.e. ACLS, CPI…)
Looks for opportunities for improvement, collects data, recommends changes
Resource to other staff or units
BSN with certification
Encourages and coaches staff
Identifies ethical dilemmas and reports approriately
Provides community education
Volunteers at least 2 x year OR plans 1 event
Holds office in local/regional organization

8. Examples Stripes Level
Participates in system wide committees, improvement projects
Provides system wide education
System wide resource
BSN with dual certification
Masters or PhD
Able to float to other facilities
Floats as house manager as needed
Develop system wide policies, process improvements…
Committee chair
Holds office at national level in professional organization
Develops community activities, coaches others to plan events
Fosters a professional communication with multidisciplinary team, able to coach others to meet expectations

9. Formatting your binder
Start at beginning of year and add throughout so it is not overwhelming
Exemplars just need to tell a story or “paint a picture” ½ page to 2 page max
Identify patients by number i.e. patient # 3 / date and track with patient information (do not take home….must stay secure)
Look for opportunities to “shine” you will find more than you realized. Some things you just take for granted as part of the job
Brag on yourself
Make copies of tiger cards, nominations, complimentary s…. And put in book
Track attendance to committee meetings, staff meetings….
Track CEUs, seminars
Keep records of education done, objectives, material and sign up sheet, even if simple education to staff meeting, or bulletin board or formal
Tag on letters of support i.e. identifying you as a project leader, resource, etc.

10. Formatting your binder
Knowledge: explains the key qualities
Action: shows how you can demonstrate that knowledge
Measurement: is where you put the “meat” of what you do
Give examples
Tell a story (exemplar)
Show attendance records
When reviewing
ASK YOURSELF:
IS THIS NORMAL STANDARD OF CARE? IS THIS WHAT I WOULD EXPECT A NURSE CARING FOR A PATIENT TO DO?
If the answer is yes….it is not GOLD or STRIPES

11. REmember
It is way easier to do a little a time rather than trying to remember later!