Tweaking clinical ladder annually helps to meet nurses’ needs, leader says

Nurse leaders should tweak clinical ladders annually to ensure they address individual nurse needs, says Cathy Stankiewicz, DNP, RN, CNO, AdventHealth Central Florida Division. Stankiewicz, who oversees more than 10,000 nurses in her division of the Altamonte Springs-based system, says she prioritizes listening to front-line nurses’ concerns. Changes she has made include offering tuition assistance upfront instead of requiring nurses to pay out of pocket first, creating career navigators who aid nurses in reaching their goals and adding more career pathways. She has added wellbeing options to professional excellence programs, including giving nurses points for participating in a race. She stresses clinical ladders should offer flexibility to account for the varying needs nurses have at different stages of life. (Becker’s Hospital Review article, 10/26/26)