Patricia Benner’s Novice To Expert Theory – Reflective Essay

Levels of nursing experience

This essay will discuss my personal development during the nursing program regarding Benner’s theory. It will explore how I have developed personally and professionally and how this has impacted my nursing practice and clinical judgment. The essay will also reflect on my plans for personal and professional development. This will be integrated into my chosen management topic – Benner’s stages of clinical competence. In 1984, Patricia Benner proposed a model for nurses’ professional development. According to this model, nurses progress through five stages of development: novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert. At each stage, nurses acquire new knowledge and skills and develop greater levels of sophistication in their practice. Each stage in Benner’s theory is essential in developing a nurse’s career and expertise. Ultimately, the competent and expert nurse provides the best care to their patients.

5 Stages of proficiency in Benner’s Theory

The novice stage by Benner

Dr. Patricia Benner describes the novice stage as lacking understanding and experience. The nurse in this stage is still learning the basics of nursing and has little to no clinical experience. As a nurse, I have undergone this stage in my career, and I am still familiar with what it feels like to be a novice. Novices are characterized by their lack of knowledge and experience. They are also highly dependent on others, as they are not yet confident in their abilities or set long-term goals. This was certainly the case for me when I started as a nurse. I constantly asked questions and sought guidance from those more experienced than me. Although the novice stage can be challenging, it is a model of skill acquisition and an important time for learning and professional growth. Without going through this stage, we would never be able to reach the level of clinical competence necessary to be successful nurses.

The advanced beginner stages

The advanced beginner stage is characterized by a growing understanding of nursing and some clinical experience. In this stage, the progressive beginner nurse leader is becoming more confident in their abilities but is still limited in their knowledge. As a nurse, I constantly strive to improve my skills using the Dreyfus model of skill and expertise in leadership development to provide the best possible care for my patients. When I was at the advanced beginner stage of Benner’s stages of clinical competence, I was reflecting on my progress so far. I had achieved professional growth and was beginning to develop greater sophistication in my practice. The main problem at this stage was applying my knowledge to real-life situations. There was often a big difference between what I learned in nursing theory and what I encountered in practice. I constantly learned different levels of skills and adapted to new situations, and I knew that this would continue to be a challenge for me long-term as I moved forward in my career. Despite the challenges, I was confident in my abilities, and I was making progress. I was constantly learning and growing as a nurse and committed to providing the best possible care for my patients.

The competent stage

The competent stage is characterized by a good understanding of nursing and a fair amount of clinical experience. The nurse in this stage is qualified in their abilities and can provide quality patient care using self-assessment tools. Clinical competency is the ability to provide care informed by knowledge and skills and delivered with compassion and skill. The competent stage of Benner’s stages of clinical competence is characterized by a deep understanding of the concepts and principles of nursing and a high level of skill in applying those concepts to patient care. As a nurse, I found that I was most effective when in the competent stage of clinical judgment. I deeply understood nursing concepts and principles and could apply those to patient care with confidence and skill. I also drew on my previous experience with life support and ICU patients to provide care informed by best practices and evidence-based research in clinical settings. I am grateful to have reached the competent stage of clinical competence and am committed to continuing to grow and develop as a nurse.

The proficient stage

The proficient stage is characterized by a deep understanding of nursing and a wealth of clinical experience. The nurse in this stage is highly skilled and can provide expert care focusing on important patient needs. When considering my level of clinical competence, I have to reflect on the work I have done thus far in my career. I have been a registered nurse for five years, and in that time, I have worked in various settings. I have worked in medical-surgical units, the intensive care unit (ICU), and the emergency room. I have also worked as a school nurse. I have gained a lot of experience in those five years, and I feel that I am now at the proficient stage of Benner’s stages of clinical competence. In my past experiences, I have cared for patients independently and deeply understood patient care and the disease process with the ability to think critically and make sound judgments. I have also taught patients and families about their conditions. I feel that I have all of these skills and more.

The expert stages

The expert stage is characterized by a deep understanding of nursing, a wealth of clinical experience, and the ability to think critically. The nurse in this final stage is an expert in their field and can provide quality care to patients. Reaching the expert stage is my major accomplishment, but I have in mind that it is not the journey’s end. Even experts must continue to learn and grow to keep up with the ever-changing healthcare landscape. Self-reflection is an important part of continuing to develop as a competent nurse. By taking the time to reflect on my clinical practice, I can identify areas that need improvement. This ongoing process of reflection and growth allows nurses to maintain their high level of competence and to make a positive impact on the lives of their patients.

Personal Reflection

It has been a fantastic journey taking the Nursing program and reflecting on my personal development over these past five years. As a proficient nurse, it is only through looking back at my journey that I can see how much I have grown as a person and how my nursing practice has developed. I remember feeling so overwhelmed starting the program. I was unsure if I could cope with the workload and the challenges that nursing would bring. But I am proud to say that I persevered and am now nearing the end; I have grown in confidence and know I can be a great nurse. Looking back, I can see how much I have learned and developed my practice. I can now provide care that is informed by evidence and based on best practices and acceptable performance. I can also critically reflect on my practice and identify areas where I can improve. I know this will be an ongoing process, and I will continue to learn and develop throughout my career.

A few key moments stand out as I reflect on my journey. The most important aspect was when I completed my clinical placement in the palliative care setting and neonatal intensive care unit. This was a very challenging placement, but it was also an enriching experience. Caring for dying patients is not easy, but it significantly impacts nurses. It was during this placement that I learned the importance of providing holistic care. I also learned how to deal with death and dying, which is something present in each day situations and that all nurses need to be able to do. Another critical moment was when I completed my research project on the prevalence of obesity in pregnant women. This was an excellent opportunity to use my research skills to investigate a topic that is very pertinent to nursing practice. Conducting this research has helped me to understand the prevalence of obesity in pregnant women. It has also given me some ideas on improving the critical care we provide to these women.

Lastly, I would say that one of the most important moments in my journey was when I graduated from nursing school. This was a very proud moment for me and a time when I realized I had accomplished something I never thought possible. Graduating from nursing school was a significant milestone in my life and is something I will never forget.

Conclusion

In summary, the novice-to-expert model has been used in healthcare systems as abstract principles to develop leadership programs, and mentor programs, provide teaching aids for staff nurses, and increase nurse retention. In developing leadership programs, self-assessment guides and mentorship may allow for continued growth for healthcare industry leaders. Effective leadership preparation and commitment improve quality outcomes through enhanced staff retention and reduced turnover costs. Providing professional development based on Dr. Benner’s novice-to-expert model for nurse leaders allows healthcare systems to build confident, capable leaders who increase staff retention and contribute to quality and safe patient care.

FAQs

What are the five stages in Benner’s model?

According to this model, nurses progress through five stages of development: novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert. At each stage, nurses acquire new knowledge and skills and develop greater levels of sophistication in their practice.

What is Benner’s novice expert theory?

Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory is a systematic way to understand how learners in the nursing profession develop skills and understand nursing practice as they move forward in their careers.

Why is Benner’s theory important?

Benner’s theory guides how professional nurses understand patient care over time and how they can acquire the necessary skills to offer optimum care to patients. This is learned through a combination of past experiences.

References

Benner, P. (1982). From novice to expert. American Journal of Nursing, 82(3), 402-407

Benner, P., & Wrubel, J. (1982a). Skilled clinical knowledge: The value of perceptual awareness. Part 1. Journal of Nursing Administration, 12(5), 11-14.

Benner, P., & Wrubel, J. (1982b). Skilled clinical knowledge: The value of perceptual awareness. Part 2. Journal of Nursing Administration, 12(6), 28-33.

Benner, P. (1984). From novice to expert: Excellence and power in clinical nursing practice. Menlo Park, CA: Addison-Wesley.