Topic 8 DQ 2

Topic 8 DQ 2
Patricia Benner’s Model of Skill Acquisition utilizes five stages of development include novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert (McEwen & Wills, 2014). Benner’s model describes the importance of retaining and rewarding nurses for achieving expert status. As nurse’s transition from one level to the next, they evolve in their practice, which benefits patient care. This will also trickle down and lead to further professional development of the staff (McEwen & Wills, 2014). Per Benner, you learn from different situations and then transmit that information to others. “Expertise develops when the clinician tests that refines propositions, hypothesis, and practice-based expectation in actual practice situations” (McEwen & Wills, 2014, p. 232). A mix of novice to expert nurses is the norm on most units today. The expert nurses lead the less experienced nurses. However, the novice nurses also have an important place. They can bring with them new ideas and reinfuse the excitement of the more experienced nurses.
Benner’s model can be used in all areas of nursing. Examples of this include education, management, and preceptorship. Using Benner’s model, education can be tailored to the individual. “Benner’s Novice to Expert concept provided the stimulus to recognize the need for in-depth specialty knowledge and skill development for medical-surgical nurses to provide optimum patient care to current and recently hired nurses for the vascular and plastics medical-surgical unit” (Marzen-Groller, 2007, p. 86). Although this study dealt with vascular surgery nurses, this method is applicable to all fields of nursing. Providing knowledge decreases anxiety and increases self-confidence. This can further increase patient and staff satisfaction and retention.
References
Marzen-Groller, K.D. (2007). Article: Orienting nurses to a vascular nursing specialty. Journal of Vascular Nursing 25(4):85-89. Doi:10.1016/j.jvn.2007.09.003
McEwen, M., & Wills, E.M. (2014). Theoretical bases for nursing (fourth Edition). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins