Creating a registered nurse advancement program that works.

Helping staff adapt to changing organizational and role demands is a key responsibility of nurse leaders. Using Benner's philosophy that identifies the importance of acknowledging one's accomplishments and being acknowledged by others, the authors present the design implementation, and evaluation of a Professional Nurse Advancement Program (PNAP). The PNAP offering a single job description that differentiates among three levels of horizontal advancement encompassing four do mains of practice is used in both the promotion and performance appraisal process.