Nursing Career Ladder: The N-CARE Program

The Nursing Career Advancement and Recognition of Excellence (N-CARE) program supports professional growth and development among MSK nurses. N-CARE follows the framework “From Novice to Expert” put forward by nursing theorist and author Patricia Benner, which calls for a four-tiered ladder of frontline clinical nurses. MSK Clinical Nurse IVs declare one of three differentiated career pathways aimed at enhancing professional development, empowering nurses, and ensuring succession planning for advanced leadership roles. Eligible advanced degree nurses may apply for an annual award based on criteria.

The N-CARE program encompasses the mission and vision of the Department of Nursing and provides consistency and standardization for professional development. The individual components of the N-CARE program also support our professional practice model: Relationship-Based Care. Consistent with the tenets of Relationship-Based Care, N-CARE acknowledges the role of professional nurses and supports lifelong learning and professional growth. N-CARE empowers staff to engage in decision-making that impacts our practice and work environment, and fosters professional responsibility, integrity, accountability, and resourcefulness.

N-CARE also incorporates the concept of organizational citizenship, which requires professional nurses to reach beyond our unit and contribute to the greater goals of the organization. Our N-CARE Review Board is responsible for administering a centralized, peer-reviewed promotional approval process to ensure that the requirements and process for promotion are administered fairly and with consistency.

Advanced Practice Nursing

Advanced practice nurses are members of the care team who work with doctors to provide clinical care. MSK patients may see them instead of their doctor. These nurses are healthcare providers who have specialized training and include nurse practitioners and certified registered nurse anesthetists.