Patricia Brenner's Stages of Nursing Expertise

Patricia Brenner’s Stage of Nursing Expertise

model that portrays a nurse’s journey from novice to expert as they gain personal experience and a proper educational background

Stage 1: Novice

no professional experience

Stage 1: Novice

needs to be told what to do in order to complete a task; inflexible

"knowing how”

concept of *personal/concrete experience*

“knowing that”

concept of *abstract principles*

Stage 2: Advanced Beginner

has some experience

Stage 2: Advanced Beginner

*has idea* of what outcome of a situation should be

Stage 2: Advanced Beginner

starts to *form basic principles based on limited experience*

Stage 3: Competent

begins to *understand actions in terms of long-term goals*

Stage 3: Competent

2-3 years of experience

Stage 3: Competent

able to *create a deliberate plan*

Stage 3: Competent

organization and efficiency improved

Stage 3: Competent

still *lack prioritization; move slowly*

Stage 4: Proficient

perceives *situations as wholes*, rather than aspects

Stage 4: Proficient

can *anticipate client needs based on prior experience*

Stage 4: Proficient

sees *“big picture”* of what’s going on

Stage 4: Proficient

sees *intricacy in situations*

Stage 5: Expert

has *intuitive grasp of situation*

Stage 5: Expert

no longer relies on rules to govern decicisons

Stage 5: Expert

has extensive experience

Stage 5: Expert

now relies on now *very developed intuition*

Stage 5: Expert

can see *entire situation*

Stage 5: Expert

expert level prioritization, *no hesitation in making decisions*

Stage 5: Expert

ability to *analyze and problem-solve if things go awry*

Deductive Reasoning (“top down approach”)

big picture comes to conclusion based on evidence (gen idea to specific conclusion)

Inductive Reasoning (“bottom up approach”)

begins as observation then works way up to theory/hypothesis