Dr. Patricia Benner’s is a nursing theorist and author whose Novice to Expert model provides useful insights into evaluating the needs of nurses at various stages in the careers (Fitzpatrick & Gripshover, 2016). Besides nursing, she is also a lecturer and health researcher whose works influenced clinical ethics and practice.

The theory suggests that nurses gradually understand patient care and develop useful interactional skills through education and experience. Nurses gain skills and knowledge without knowing it. The Novice to Expert model borrows from the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition that underscores the role of experiences in learning (Strickler, Bohling, Kneis, O’connor & Yee, 2016). Benner argues that nurses learn from experiences and daily interactions and improve their practices progressively. Nurses engage in many situations and become familiar with family and patients, skills that help them to be ethical. They also learn to support each other and value the role of experience.

The Novice Stage describes student nurses in the first year of study with limited behavior in a clinical environment. They cannot predict different patient situations because of limited exposure and only learn common signs after interacting with patients. Advanced Beginner Stage comprises new graduates in their initial jobs. They have little experience to diagnose recurrent situations but still need deep experience ((Strickler et al., 2016). Nurses in the Competent Stage are slow and inflexible compared to expert nurses but have organizational and advanced planning skills. Proficient Stage nurses are competent enough to deal with situations holistically after some experience. Finally, the Expert Stage nurse wisely chooses conditions and resources to attain goals. They know what to do and concentrate on the most relevant situations. Overall, a nurse acquires skills and knowledge gradually and ultimately makes independent decisions according to prevailing circumstances.