distinguishing various strategies.

distinguishing various strategies.

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Cash (1995) summarizes that although the theory is regarded as an easy to understand model, there still are some complexities when it is used for distinguishing various strategies. Benner’s theory has been proven to be useful, effective tool by various related bodies, including nursing faculties, hospitals, community organizations, and Nursing Continuing Education Programs (Oshvandi et al, 2016). Altmann (2007) states that the role of education is not considered as important as it should be in this theory. The reason behind this deficiency is because the main focus of the theory is on gaining knowledge through experience rather than education. Applying the Benner’s theory principles in clinical scope and hospital require financial resource application for holding training courses and detection of situations through which knowledge of nurses can be promoted (Oshvandi et al, 2016). Cash (1995) states that in the nursing management domain, the theory is used for developing the career ladder, staff development plans, and reward programs.

Article #3: Davis, A., & Maisano, P. (2016). Patricia Benner: Novice to expert-A concept whose time has come (again). Oklahoma Nurse, 61(3), 13-15.

Summary by Lissette Valcarcel:

According to this article, new nurses graduate from nursing programs every year and start working in clinical settings. As the new nurses continue to gain more insight into the field and acquire knowledge in their new careers, they become seasoned nurses. They mentor new generations of nurses who are joining the clinical settings (Davis, 2016). Patricia Benner gave a detailed discussion of how long-term career development is essential in the nursing field due to responsibility and complexity of clinical nursing practice. She came up with a theory known as Novice to Expert theory.

The Novice to Expert theory was established and introduced to nursing practice by Dr. Benner in the year 1982. The theory discusses how nurses develop their knowledge, skills, understanding of patient care with time (Benner, 1982). Dr. Benner derived the theory form Dreyfus skill acquisition model. She focused on providing an objective way of assessing the progress of nursing skills and knowledge. The theory describes how a person starts at the novice stage (Davis, 2016). As the person gain new skills and knowledge, he/she progresses through several stages up to the expert stage.

The five proficiency stages in this theory are novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert stages. In the first stage, novice, a person has no experience with any clinical situation. New nurses belong here, and they learn simple but objective attributes which they can identify easily (Davis, 2016). The second stage is advanced beginner. Nurses in this stage have participated in various real-world clinical situations which the recurrent element is identified easily. Nurses in this stage need help and support in the clinical area. The third stage is competent. The nurse can prioritize tasks or situations at hand using past experience. They can also work efficiently and in an organized manner. The next stage is proficient. Here, the performance of a nurse is guided and directed by maxims because of seeing a clinical situation as a whole (Benner, 1982). Nurses in this stage have a holistic understanding of clinical situations they face. The last stage is the expert stage. Nurses in this stage have substantial knowledge of various clinical situations, this allows for confidence as well as intuitive understanding of complex clinical situations.

The Patricia Benner theory has been applied in many areas of the nursing field. It has had a major impact on clinical nursing practices in the healthcare sector. The theory facilitates for gaining knowledge and acquiring skills as a person progresses through every stage (Davis, 2016). The theory also describes essential teaching strategies for all stages of the theory. An example of this would be how nurses in the advanced beginner stage would benefit from mentoring because support is required in discovering important things and setting priorities (Davis, 2016). The Patricia Benner theory has also been used in professional development for nurse leaders and managers.

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