Writing your Nurse 3 Proficiency (especially in the VA system) requires aligning your experience and accomplishments with the nine core dimensions that define proficiency at the Nurse III level. The goal is to demonstrate leadership, innovation, evidence-based practice, collaboration, and broad impact beyond your unit or immediate role.
Key Tips Before You Start
Use STAR format: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
Use strong, active language: “Led,” “Implemented,” “Collaborated,” “Analyzed.”
Quantify impact: Whenever possible, include metrics (e.g., “reduced readmission rates by 20%”).
Think beyond the unit: Highlight system-level or facility-wide impact.
Align with Nurse III expectations: Show leadership, policy influence, mentorship, and advanced clinical reasoning.
Structure for Each Core Dimension (VA Nurse 3 Proficiency)
1. Practice
Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care.
Example:
“I led the development and implementation of a sepsis alert protocol within our facility, training nursing staff on early recognition and initiating evidence-based interventions. This resulted in a 15% reduction in ICU transfers over six months.”
2. Quality of Care
Systematically evaluates and improves care quality.
Example:
“I co-chaired the Falls Committee, analyzed facility trends, and implemented hourly rounding protocols. Post-intervention data showed a 25% decrease in patient falls within three months.”
3. Performance
Self-directed improvement and professional accountability.
Example:
“I obtained certification in critical care nursing (CCRN) and served as a subject matter expert, supporting peers preparing for the exam, resulting in a 60% certification pass rate among participants.”
4. Education/Career Development
Facilitates learning for self and others.
Example:
“I created an evidence-based education module on central line care to reduce CLABSI rates. After implementation, unit CLABSI incidence dropped to zero over a 9-month period.”
5. Collegiality
Promotes professional environment and mutual respect.
Example:
“I mentored four new RNs during orientation, providing feedback and promoting clinical excellence. Each successfully completed orientation early and now serve as preceptors themselves.”
6. Ethics
Integrates ethical principles into decision-making.
Example:
“I advocated for ethical care planning in complex discharge cases, ensuring inclusion of patient preferences and interdisciplinary input, leading to increased patient satisfaction scores.”
7. Collaboration
Collaborates with others to enhance patient outcomes.
Example:
“I worked with pharmacy and medicine to create a pain management pathway for post-op patients, reducing opioid use by 30% without compromising pain scores.”
8. Research
Uses or contributes to evidence-based practice.
Example:
“I implemented a research-based turning schedule for pressure injury prevention and presented outcomes at a regional nursing conference, showing a 50% reduction in new pressure injuries.”
9. Resource Utilization
Manages resources to improve care and efficiency.
Example:
“I led a Lean project that reorganized supply usage in the ED, saving the facility $12,000 annually and reducing treatment delays.”
Here’s a basic layout you can fill in:
Name:
Title:
Proficiency Level: Nurse III
Date:
1. Practice
[Write your STAR-based example here.]
2. Quality of Care
[Write example.]
3. Performance
[Write example.]
…continue through all 9 dimensions.
