Patricia Benner

This essay will outline Patricia Benner’s nursing model novice to expert also included, will be the development of the model. In addition, an evaluation and discussion of the major components of this model that consists of five levels, first the novice which will be discussed in detail, second the advanced beginner, third the competent, and fourth the proficient, finally the expert. Furthermore, examples of how the strengths surrounding this model assist the nurse to build on the levels that help them to reach their potential of excellence also, some critics indicate weaknesses of this model they appear to consider important. For the purpose of this essay, the primary focus will be the role of the mentor/tutor in relation to the student nurse and applying this to my first clinical experience on the surgical ward. The mentor has invaluable knowledge to help the student nurse build on their skills, utilizing the mentor’s knowledge and Benner’s five levels allows the student opportunities of becoming the expert. Illustrations relating to this are in the examples of my first clinical placement on the surgical ward. This clinical placement will express the benefits of good mentoring for a student nurse. Benner, Tanner, Chesla (2009) describe this model, novice to expert as a model that is progressive and measurable over time because of the performance changes that occur for the nurse in specific situations. Benner’s model has five levels the nurse builds on to become an expert, the novice and advanced beginner levels, the competent and proficient levels then finally the expert level. However, Ericsson and Smith (as cited in Gobet & Chassy, n.d.) maintain that Benner’s documentation of the five levels of novice to expert are not adequately documented. For example, the measures Benner uses in relation to years do not coincide with the expert level. Furthermore, the development of this model has occurred in many countries within nursing, also other fields of practice,