2210       Title: Case Management Professional Growth Via a Career Development Pathway Date: Friday, June 20, 2008 Time: 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Type: CONCURRENT Level: INTERMEDIATE Track: Hospital Sponsor(s): - Speaker(s): Jean A. McDonald Our institution began toward Magnet certification several years ago. As processes grew for the clinical nurses of our facility, a clinical ladder was developed to recognize the best bedside nurses. The nurse case-managers were included in nursing councils that were developed to facilitate self-governance and professional development. This distinguished an opportunity to recognize performers and to encourage excellence within their specialty. Using a clinical format, we developed out own. It was tailored specifically to the desired practice of  nurse case-managers and social workers in our work setting. It was imperative to provide the stretch for excellence. After two years, it is now available to our staff of approximately 30 nurse case-managers and 20 social workers. The goals of the program include; recognition of performers within present position, create an advance practice level, increase professional behavior, encourage certification, improve patient satisfaction, increased staff involvement in department/system participation in committee/project development, and a community benefit beyond the reaches of our health care system via community involvement within the pathway. Clinical ladders are typically reserved for the bedside nurse. This is an exciting and rewarding program for a department’s professional development. Objectives: Identify the building process, implementation, goals, and benefits of a CDP process.   Recognize at least three tools of the CDP process, and express how they can be used to qualify individual case management practice.   Identify how a CDP can be constructed from the presented outline.