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Heart & Vascular Clinical Career Program
Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
The Heart & Vascular Clinical Career Program (HVCCP) is designed to provide the
direct care, regular full time, non-salaried clinical nurse with an opportunity for career
advancement within the various departments of the Heart & Vascular Service Line. This
program recognizes the accomplishments and the clinical expertise of the Registered
Nurse in providing care that reflects the mission of the Heart & Vascular Service Line,
the hospital and the mission, vision and values of the Phoebe Putney Health System.
The Heart & Vascular Clinical Career Board is the oversight body for the HVCCP
program. The Board is comprised of representatives from the following areas:
1) 2 Physicians actively practicing within the departments of Cardiac
Catheterization, Angiography and/or Electrophysiology
2) Vice President, Heart & Vascular Services
3) Administrative Director, Heart & Vascular Services
4) Cardiac Educator
The Board welcomes any feedback, changes or recommendations in the program. The
group is also the review body for candidates seeking HVCCP recognition.
Application Process / Timeline
August 1st
New Portfolio Year Begins
September 1st
Intent to Level Letters Due
February 1st
Last day to withdraw from program
October - November
Interviews with Heart & Vascular Clinical
Career Board Scheduled
December
Notification of Level Achievement
January
Incentive Pay to begin the first pay period in
January
December
Incentive Pay Stops last pay period in December
of same year of Award
Goal: To provide an opportunity for the nurses to be rewarded for their nursing
excellence.
Mission: To promote, reward, and recognize RNs for advancing their careers in ways
that benefit patients, themselves as professional, the practice of nursing, the Heart &
Vascular Service Line and the community of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.
By implementing the Heart & Vascular Clinical Career Program (HVCCP), Phoebe
Putney Heart & Vascular Services recognizes that Registered Nurses are one of its most
valuable resources and assets. Phoebe seeks to foster a work environment that enriches
and promotes the professional nurse.
The clinical career program enhances the hospital’s commitment to promote clinical
excellence by recognizing and rewarding Registered Nurses who proactively and
consistently expand their professional role in patient care. Registered Nurses have long
valued their role in caring for patients and families. HVCCP provides a way to formally
recognize the Registered Nurse for their Clinical expertise in multiple departments and
roles within Heart & Vascular Services.
Purpose: The HVCCP recognizes nursing skills of the Registered Nurse practicing in
direct patient care, non-salaried positions. RNs participating in this program will
exemplify professionalism, self-motivation, and critical thinking skills, be an active
participant in unit leadership, serve as a role model for other staff, and offer
compassionate patient care.
Philosophy: Phoebe Putney Heart & Vascular Services believes patient outcomes are
improved when care is delivered by a professional team that is highly skilled, motivated
towards continued learning, committed to the mission and goals of the hospital and
dedicated to furthering the profession. Professional nursing is leadership, art, and science
and is a reflection of a nurse’s practice, quality and competence.
A practice environment that includes a strong practice model that encourages and
enhances these professional values:
 Integrity
 Compassion
 Accountability
 Respect
 Excellence
HVCCP Basic Information
This model is designed to keep talent within the various departments of Heart &
Vascular Services and reward that talent for excellence in clinical practice.
Nurses achieve Clinical Career advancement according to their experience
performance, education and professional nursing excellence.
This is a dynamic program that encourages nurses to constantly strive to move
forward, expand their skills, and not remain static. The criteria are multifaceted
and encompass a spectrum of criteria that affords the nurse the opportunity to
pursue personal interests and knowledge enhancement.
Candidates must:
 Meet or Exceed performance on their annual evaluation
 Be a regular Full Time employee as set forth by Human Resources
 Be a direct care, non-salaried Registered Nurse
 75% of job responsibilities are Direct Patient Care
The Heart & Vascular Clinical Career Board meets quarterly for purpose of conducting
review board business, reviewing HVCCP Portfolios, and Letters of Intent to Level. The
Board also meets additional days during the October thru November time line to perform
the annual review / award process.
RN Clinical Advancement Process:
1) Candidates will submit their Letter of Intent to Level to the Administrative Director,
Heart & Vascular Service no later than September 1st.
a) The Letter of Intent to Level is considered a Professional Agreement between
the candidate and the HVCCP Board.
The candidate will utilize their Professional Portfolio notebook. Appropriate
dividers for the HCVVP portion will be provided.
b) If the candidate is unable to level, the candidate may withdraw their Letter of
Intent by February 1, by notifying the HVCCP Board in writing.
c) Applicants that fail to complete/ maintain the clinical advancement
commitment as agreed upon will not be eligible for review until the next
HVCCP year. The applicant’s Manager / Director will notify Human
Resources and discontinue the corresponding Potential incentive per hour.
d) Eligible candidates will be notified in writing of the review date before the
HVCCP Board.
2) A candidate’s Letter of Intent will be reviewed for the level pursued. The candidate
must appear personally before the HVCCP Board as needed. The meeting days /
times are standardized to accommodate staff schedules.
The candidate should be prepared at that time for a 10 – 15 minute professional
presentation highlighting their accomplishments.
3) As the minimum requirements to achieve each level is dependent upon the
candidate’s ability to perform basic clinical care roles throughout various areas with
the Heart & Vascular Center, when the candidate presents the HVCCP required
material, all items within the Professional Portfolio will be included in the review
process. The candidate needs to have all information contained within the Portfolio
accurate and current. Once the candidate has submitted their Portfolio for review he /
she may not modify the information or documents; no extensions are permitted for
obtaining information or documents.
4) The candidate will be notified by the HVCCP Board of their Level of Achievement
within 30 days of the review / interview.
5) Pay incentives will begin the first pay period in January following the review /
interview and will stop the last pay period in December of that same year.
6) The candidate must reapply on an annual basis (by September 1st) to remain in
the program.
7) The Heart & Vascular Clinical Career Program will follow the same review period as
the Professional Portfolios (July – June).
Four Levels of Potential Achievement
Clinical Nurse I has acquired experience in caring for patients and has
developed a sound understanding about care of a particular patient population.
Clinical Nurse II has acquired in-depth knowledge about the care of a
particular patient population and an appreciation of the many factors influencing
care. In caring for a patient, they consider not just the possibilities – or what
could happen – but the probabilities – or what is likely to happen given the
clinical and organizational factors at hand. Instinctively, they use this information
to continually tailor their patients’ care to ensure the best outcomes.
Clinical Nurse III demonstrates foresight in planning patient care and is
recognized as an expert in their areas of specialization and is adapt at negotiating
conflict and in collaboration with others. This RN reflects clinical expertise and
leadership abilities in the various departments of Heart & Vascular Services.
Clinical Nurse IV reflective by nature and readily integrates knowledge
gained by reflection into their practice. They are able to respond intuitively to
patient needs and to comfortably engage in clinically sound evidence based
practice. They welcome new perspectives and seek out opportunities to share
knowledge and insight with colleagues. Skilled at creative problem solving and
in working with others, they routinely lead efforts to strengthen the many
organizational systems that support patient care. Reflects advanced clinical
expertise and leadership across the Heart & Vascular Service, Phoebe Putney
Memorial Hospital and the community.
Potential Incentive for Achieving Clinical Career Advancement
(the $$ amounts were removed for sharing – Contact Scott Hamrick
at Phoebe for more information)
Level
Clinical Nurse I
Annual Bonus
Hourly Increase
Clinical Nurse II
Clinical Nurse III
Clinical Nurse IV
(All monies above are subject to state and federal taxes)