Novice to Expert: Applying Benner's Stages to My Career Paper Example

Introduction

Nursing is more practical career than theoretical. As such, experience is fundamental to realizing growth and expertise in the field. But before becoming an expert, one has to go through different levels of knowledge as elaborated in Benner's Novice to Expert Theory. In my nursing career, I have experienced several stages and now I practice at the competent level and planning to progress to an expert level.

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Benner's Stages

Benner explains that there are five different stages through which a nurse goes through when elevating the career. The first stage is novice where the new graduate nurse lacks practical experience and relies on rules taught to perform (Benner, 1984). I remember I used to rely on my seniors to instruct me on what to do when I was at this stage. The second stage is advanced beginner whereby the nurse has gained some experience though still limited. The nurse demonstrates marginally acceptable performance and begins to establish principles to guide actions based on experience (Benner, 1984). The nurse then progresses to the competent level where one sees his or her actions in terms of long-range goals or plans of which he or she is consciously aware (Benner, 1984). The plan is based on considerable, abstract, conscious, analytic contemplation of the problem that establishes a perspective. The nurse is enriched with a feeling of mastery and ability to cope with and manage various contingencies of clinical nursing (Benner, 1984). From competent, the nurse enters the proficient level where situations are perceived as wholes instead of chopped up parts, and performance is based on maxims. From experience, the nurse knows what to expect in various situations and how plans need to be modified to suit those variations (Benner, 1984). The last stage is expert where the nurse no longer relies on rules and guidelines, rather relies on an enormous background of experience to determine an accurate region of the problem and provide the solution (Benner, 1984).

Current Stage of Practice

Based on Benner's explanation, I believe am practicing at the competent level because I have been working as a registered nurse for three years and I have gained a significant amount of experience that has allowed me to see my actions long-range goals. Nonetheless, for the last three years, I have practiced in different clinical settings including Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit, and the Progressive Cardiac Unit. Although the skills from these settings are applicable to my current clinical setting, some new situations still arise but I am able to apply past experiences to handle arising problems. I still chop up parts of my nursing care which informs me that I am not yet an expert. I have not developed the ability to handle care as a whole and this perhaps hinders my efficiency as it owed to be.

Progression to the Next Stage and Support Needed

My ultimate goal is to become an expert nurse. To reach there, I am focusing on three core areas which area enriching knowledge, experience, and mentorship. I intend to stay in my current area of practice (neurology) to broaden my knowledge base and experience to be able to rely on such experiences to address the problems instead of relying on rules and guidelines. I also plan to further my education to master's degree and be able to gather as much research knowledge as possible to support my practice. To walk this journey, I need support from my manager, mentor, and my family. All these people will provide moral and material support to motivate and steer me ahead in my career.

Conclusion

My aim in nursing is to an expert who is guided by a pool of knowledge and experience when devising solutions to complex nursing problems. My three years of practice have been fairly successful and have seen me reach the competent level of practice. I still aim higher and my plan is to get attached to a mentor in the clinical setting where I practice to help me gain further experience as I also pursue further certification through continuous learning in higher education levels.

References

Benner, P. (1984). From novice to expert: Excellence and power in clinical nursing practice. Menlo Park: Addison-Wesley, p. 13-34. (Classic)