An incentive program designed to develop and reward clinical competence

A conceptual model is presented for establishing a salary and classification plan which structures a separate career pathway for staff nurses and provides an economic incentive for incrementally achieving higher excellence as a staff practitioner. The plan establishes standard or behavioral norms for four discrete practice levels and systematically measures the content of both line and staff positions to determine their relative difficulty. Consequently equitable salary relationships are made available for all nursing activity, while simultaneously assuring a congruent and competitive posture in the health care community.