title: Introducing a career development pathway.
abstract: To respond to the career needs of nurses and midwives working in the fields of clinical practice, education, research and management in North Bristol NHS Trust, a professional development pathway was established. The pathway, which is similar to that followed by medical staff, allows nurses and midwives to identify their chosen career path and work towards it using a flexible scheme of planned clinical rotations supported by academic input. This article discusses the pathway, shows how it meets the needs of staff and service delivery, and closes the gap between education and practice.
authors.affiliation: Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burgess
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009726:Nurses; D013192:Staff Development; D006113:United Kingdom