The career ladder - Research Paper Example

Career ladder is a concept where allied health field workers have to work to achieve a better position. Specific goals are set up for these health workers which they have to achieve so that they can become successful. After completing the goals of the career ladder the individual can advance to a better position along with a better salary. Career ladder has been implemented in many fields and it has been found that it is quite successful. It has its own benefits and drawbacks which are discussed subsequently (Zellmer 2002; Swanson et al 1991; Fitzgerald 2006).

Benefits and Drawbacks of the Career Ladder The career ladder concept in the allied health disciplines is very important to practice clinical knowledge. Patients who are coming for treatment require expertise of all the departments so that they can be cured and every allied health field worker has to play his specific role to cure the patient. The career ladder concept helps the workers to work with integrity so that they can achieve a better grade in the society. It also helps the workers to become familiar with the concepts of health care so that they can excel in their particular field.

Being a pharmacist the career leader would help him to achieve clinical knowledge which he can implement in his practice. . A career ladder helps the individuals to go through different tasks where he can accomplish different goals. These goals would help him to receive a variety of rewards and perks. In other words career ladders are possibly a way through which different workers can advance in their field. Career ladders also help to increase job satisfaction as has been found through different researches.

On the other hand it can be seen that career ladder can also bring drawbacks to the allied health field workers. The workers who do not go through this career ladder concept would not be able to excel in their field and would remain on the position that they have joined. Some people do not want to take part in this concept and would make them lose interest in their job. Similarly people who cannot qualify this ladder concept would be further discouraged in trying to excel in this field. A career ladder gives way to specific individuals so that they can progress whereas some are still left behind because every individual in the field cannot be a leader.

The workers have to take extra load in order to achieve the goals of a career ladder and this can result in dissatisfaction (Smith & Shane 1989; Zellmer 2002; Buchan 1997). Career Ladder as Implemented in DVA Career ladder has been used by many organizations and one of the organization which is using it is the Department of Veteran Affairs. The Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) has such a career ladder established for pharmacists where they can advance in their field with specific requirements.

It is seen that pharmacists are required to produce effective clinical knowledge and expertise and if these are not integrated in their