An Outlook of Banner's Theory: From Novice to Expert

This report provides an outline of Banner's theory 'from novice to expert' and the way it applies to nursing practice. It discusses the stages of clinical competence and the transition from novice to expert. It also explores the concept of advanced practice and its link to nursing standards.

An outlook of banner’s theory
from novice to expert

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................2
Outline Benner’s Theory “from novice to expert”.................................................................2
Stages of clinical competence as well as the way nurses transition through in order to become
an expert.................................................................................................................................2
Discussion of the term “advanced practice”...........................................................................3
novice versus an advanced practice nurse functions..............................................................4
Link of Benner’s theory to Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia standards of practice5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
..........................................................................................................................................................6
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INTRODUCTION
The Benner's Novice to Expert theory is an organised way of understanding the way a
learner develops practice situation and skills understanding over time. This theory or model has
been pertinent to various different of situations involving nursing management, nursing
education, administration and retention of graduate nurse (G Nur, Tri, & Hidayat, (2017). This
project is based on the discussion of Banner's theory "from novice to expert" and the way it
applies to nursing practice. This report provides an outline of theory along with the 5 phases of
clinical competence along with the manner nurses transition through in order to become an
expert. It also explains the term 'advanced practice' and ascertain the novice versus advanced
practice nurse functions. At last, it relates the theory to Nursing and Midwifery Board of
Australia standards of practice.
MAIN BODY
Outline Benner’s Theory “from novice to expert”
The Benner's theory was presented by Dr Patricia Banner and developed the concept "from
novice to expert" which explains that the nurses develop skills as well as understanding of care
od patient over the time from mixture of personal experiences and strong Foundation of
education. Dr Banner stated that a nurse could gain skills and knowledge without theory of
learning. She explains this as a nurse 'knowing how' deprived of 'knowing that' and further
explains that knowledge development in areas like nursing is made up of knowledge extension
by research as well as understanding by clinical experience (Marti, (2019). The novice to expert
model of Dr Banner was resultant from Dreyfus model of skill acquisition as well as adapted to
administer a more objective way for examining progress of nursing skills and subjects. This
model deliberates the way an individual initiate in Novice stage as well as new skills and
knowledge are acquired, progresses through various phases to end in expert realm. The
development through these stages is affected through working time length and clinical
experience in profession.
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Stages of clinical competence as well as the way nurses transition through in order to become an
expert
The five stages of clinical competence in the Benner's theory comprises of novice,
advanced beginner, competent, proficient as well as expert. These levels of experience of nursing
are discussed below -
1. The novice - it is the initial stage where the beginner has no prior experience that making
them fight to decide that which tasks are much relevant to attain. In this stage, the
learners are imparted general rules to help perform tasks as well as their rule governed
behaviour is inflexible and limited. In other words, it can be said that the learners are told
what to do and they simply follow the instructions provided to them.
2. Advanced beginner - this is the second stage where the nurse has enough situations of
real world that recurrent element is easily determined when it is associated with
guidelines and rules. They demonstrate satisfactory performance and has acquired
experience in actual situations of nursing. This assist nurse in recognising recurring
meaningful elements so that the principles initiate to develop to guide the actions
(Charles, (2017).
3. Competent - in this stage, the nurses have experience of 2 or three years and is enable to
see the actions in terms of plans or goals in the works in organised and efficient manner.
The nurses have experience in similar field and it may be similar to daily situations. They
are aware of goals which are long term and acquire perspective from planning the own
actions which assist in attaining greater efficiency.
4. Proficient - this is the stage in which nurses performs through utilizing pieces’ evidence
which administer directions to see an event or situation as a whole. Nurses perceives as
well as understand the situations and has more holistic understanding regarding nursing
which in turn improves their decision making. Nurses learn from experiences about what
to expect in some situations and the way to modify plans as required. In order to
stimulate the critical thinking in the situations with rule or principles that are
contradictory, these learners use case studies (Ryan, & McAllister, (2020).
5. Expert - this is the last stage where the nurses grasp the situation as well as understand
what requires to be attain beyond the guidelines, rules and maxims. Here, the nurse no
longer relies on guidelines, rules or principles to connect situations as well as determine
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actions. They have deep experience background and intuitive grasp of the situations or
events. Their performances are highly proficient, flexible and fluid. Their emphasis is on
relevant issues only, not irrelevant ones.
Discussion of the term “advanced practice”
An advanced practice in nursing is defined as a practice in nursing with postgraduate
education. The advanced practice nurses are set with advanced clinical as well as didactic
education, practice scope, skills, and knowledge in nursing. The nurses who are practicing at this
level might work with generalist or specialist capacity. These nurses offer various benefits to the
people and Health Services. Advanced practice nurse brings more holistic care to individuals,
supports continuity of care as well as extend their practice scope across traditional boundaries.
The nurses are intended to depict proper integration of theory, experiences and practice with
rising extent of autonomy in interventions and judgements, when remaining under the
supervision of physician.
novice versus an advanced practice nurse functions
The functions of a novice nurse and an advanced practice nurse are different as a novice
nurse is new and have no prior experience of situations whereas an advanced practice nurse have
good experience and understanding of situations and they are proficient in their working
(Oshvandi & et. al., (2016). Some of the functions of advanced practice nurse in the clinical
settings include -
1. Performing physical examinations
2. Diagnosing patients
3. Performing other examination types like functional, psychosocial, psychological and
developmental diagnostics.
4. Developing differential diagnosis
5. Maintaining the records of patients and make sure their privacy.
6. Providing counselling to patients as well as their families.
7. Evaluating the progress of patient and responses to different treatments to modify them
and developed care plans as required.
8. Referring patients to treatment facilities.
9. Dispensing medications to the patients.
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On the other hand, the functions of the novice nurse within the clinical settings are provided
below -
1. Recognising aspects of situation.
2. They combine situational information with non-situational one in order to figure out what
to do.
3. They understand the context of situation and take decisions accordingly.
Link of Benner’s theory to Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia standards of practice
The NMBA has set some standards of nursing practice for nurses which guide them to
ensure professional and safe practice. A separate safety and quality guidelines was developed in
order to administer strong regulatory structure and make sure that nurse practitioners have
admittance to Medicare benefits schedule as well as pharmaceutical benefit scheme. NMBA has
published guideline for nurses executing for endorsement as nurse practitioner which define
advanced practice nursing as execution of advanced level of skills, knowledge and experience
through nurse to nurse patient relationship. A registered nurse depicts competence in delivery of
care as specified by requirements of registration, standards and quotes, relevant legislation as
well as context of care. It is very much necessary for the nurses to follow the standards provided
by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia in their nursing practice and ensure that effective
and high quality care can be provided to patients. Application of Banner's theory enable nurses to
engage in therapeutic and professional relationship, be attentive as well as responsive to the
perspectives of patient and develop their skills and knowledge to provide high quality care
services to the patient.
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that the Benner's theory has been
utilised in the health care systems in order to develop leadership programs, mentor programmes,
maximize nurse retention and administer teaching aids for the nurses. In the health care settings,
effective leadership preparation as well as commitment can lead to improved retention of staff
and declines turnover cost. It also helps in improving the quality of outcomes. Based on the
novice to expert model, providing professional development for nurse leader enable healthcare
system to develop capable and confident leaders who maximize the retention of staff and
contribute in safe and quality care to patient.
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REFERENCES
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Reading Skills: Comparison between the Students of Expert and Novice
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Marti, E. (2019). A phenomenologic study: Novice nurse experience in facing patients with red
triase labels in emergency department (ED). Jurnal Keperawatan Muhammadiyah, 4(2).
Charles, S. (2017). Attunement and involvement: how expert nurses support patient
autonomy. IJFAB: International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics, 10(1),
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