From Novice To Expert: Excellence And Power In Clinical Nursing Practice
Theorist Dr. Patricia Benner
Tricia Ulferts
Northern Illinois University
Introduction
Dr. Patricia Benner is a nursing theorist whose experience with the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition has earned her many awards and honors for her contribution to the nursing profession. In her work From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice, Dr. Benner introduced the concept that expert nurses develop skills and understanding of patient care over time using a sound educational base and having prior experiences(Benner, 1982). Her theory proposed that one could learn knowledge and skills by “knowing how” without ever learning theory “knowing that.”(Parker Jones, 2007)
Dr. Benner stated that “Increased acuity levels of patients, decreased length of hospitalization, and the proliferation of health care technology and specialization have increased the need for highly experienced nurses. The complexity and responsibility of nursing practice today requires long-term and ongoing career development.” (Benner, 1982, p. 402). She believed experience in the clinical setting is the key to nursing because it allows a nurse to continuously expand their knowledge base and to provide holistic, competent care to the patient. Even after thirty-two …show more content…
“The expert nurse, with his/her enormous background of experience, has an intuitive grasp of the situation and zeros in on the accurate region of the problem without wasteful consideration of a large range of unfruitful possible problem situations” (Benner, 1982, p. 405). They no longer rely on principles, rules, or guidelines to connect situations and determine actions. They have a deeper background of experience and a better perspective grasp of clinical situations. Their performances are fluid, flexible, and highly proficient. Benner’s writings explain that nursing skills through experience are a prerequisite for becoming an expert nurse (Parker Jones,
Tricia Ulferts
Northern Illinois University
Introduction
Dr. Patricia Benner is a nursing theorist whose experience with the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition has earned her many awards and honors for her contribution to the nursing profession. In her work From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice, Dr. Benner introduced the concept that expert nurses develop skills and understanding of patient care over time using a sound educational base and having prior experiences(Benner, 1982). Her theory proposed that one could learn knowledge and skills by “knowing how” without ever learning theory “knowing that.”(Parker Jones, 2007)
Dr. Benner stated that “Increased acuity levels of patients, decreased length of hospitalization, and the proliferation of health care technology and specialization have increased the need for highly experienced nurses. The complexity and responsibility of nursing practice today requires long-term and ongoing career development.” (Benner, 1982, p. 402). She believed experience in the clinical setting is the key to nursing because it allows a nurse to continuously expand their knowledge base and to provide holistic, competent care to the patient. Even after thirty-two …show more content…
“The expert nurse, with his/her enormous background of experience, has an intuitive grasp of the situation and zeros in on the accurate region of the problem without wasteful consideration of a large range of unfruitful possible problem situations” (Benner, 1982, p. 405). They no longer rely on principles, rules, or guidelines to connect situations and determine actions. They have a deeper background of experience and a better perspective grasp of clinical situations. Their performances are fluid, flexible, and highly proficient. Benner’s writings explain that nursing skills through experience are a prerequisite for becoming an expert nurse (Parker Jones,