Compensation for higher degrees non bedside

[DeCogRN12]

Do any of your hospitals offer a "clinical ladder" for non bedside RN's. I just recieved my BSN and coincidentally my yearly evaluation. I was told that because I am an "administative type RN" ( I am an Infection Prevention nurse) there is not a "ladder" for me. Yet my director expects me to continue on and get a CIC certificate in infection prevention (not part of the job description) I looked up our ladder and it is very specific to bedside nurses. I am at the top of my payscale and have been for several years. I feel as though I stagnant in a pond, and moving is not an option in my life right now and we have only 1 (mine) hospital within a 2 hour drive.

I would like to develop a plan to present to the C suite but was wondering if I was way off my rocker in thinking that there should be some incentive to contimuing mine ( and other RN's in the "adminstrative" position) To be clear I am not a Director, manager, supervisor just an IP.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Are you salary or hourly? My clinical ladder only applies to those who are hourly- meaning pretty much anyone not in a bedside/direct care position is not eligible for the clinical ladder program.

[elkpark]

I haven't worked anywhere that has had a "clinical ladder" for anyone but the bedside RNs. However, as a professional, "clinical ladder" or not, and especially in a professional, non-bedside nursing role, you are expected to take the initiative to continue to grow and develop professionally (and not expect any special reward for doing so). You say that getting CIC certification isn't "part of the job description," but most of the places I've worked over the years have expected the infection controls folks to be or get certified.

Consider the alternatives; if you don't want to independently take the initiative to continue to develop your skills and knowledge in your specialty, your employer is well aware that there are plenty of other nurses "out there" who would be happy to do so. Do you want to keep your job? (You could always go back to bedside nursing, and be able to work your way up the "clinical ladder" -- but I assume you're in your current IC position because you wanted to get away from bedside nursing ...) Best wishes!

[klone, MSN, RN]

Yes, our facility offers the clinical ladder for all RNs who are not management/salaried.

I would still get certified in my specialty even if I didn't receive any compensation for it. Just because I want to show the world at large that I am an expert at my specialty.

[DeCogRN12]

My job is not not at risk . No I did not want to get away from bedside nursing . I was a chemo nurse for years, but our IP up and left and the hospital was due for a survey and I stepped up to the role because no one else would. Our small infusion clinic has since shut down because we no longer have an oncologist. I am starting a FNP program in the fall. Regardless of that there are several nurses in the hospital that are non bedside that have gone back to school and earned there BSN or MSN and because they are at the top of the wage scale they are not given any compensation for it. I don't believe that that just because you are no longer at the bedside you do not deserve compensation. Their/my job is just as important, and it is just as important that we do continue education