Benner’s Model of Skill Acquisition in Nursing is a high middle-range theory that uses the Dreyfus model of skill acquisition in nursing to identify stages of skill attainment in professional practice. The principles outlined in the model concentrate on the nurse in relation to his or her environment. Additionally, it examines how knowledge, experience, time and exposure steer the professional nurse’s competencies from a lower level of understanding to one of a higher operative standard. Throughout this paper the significance of theory in nursing is explored; along with the relationship of Benner’s model will be investigated as it relates to the growth of the professional nurse and its necessity for continuous education and …show more content…
Practice without theory cannot yield a fully skilled behavior in a complex domain such as nursing, alone; nor can theory without practice function in the same situation. Benner’s Model of Skill Acquisition in Nursing demonstrate the essentials of care that moved from an abstract form for functionality to concrete principles of understanding and knowledge. These elements are unique to the metaparadigm of professional nursing as it correlates the skills, knowledge and expertise of a nurse to that of his or hers ability to make safe clinical judgments. This theory alters the professional’s perception of what is required to be considered a field expert; using quality of care and ability to make appropriate clinical judgment as precursors to defining when a professional moves from one level to the other. Furthermore, with additional education and practice a professional moves through Benner’s model of skill acquisition quicker. Whereas, professional nurses with post-baccalaureate degrees, master 's certificates or doctoral specification with an addition to having more than ten years of experience report the highest levels of skill acquisition (Ramsburg, 2010); validating a positive correlation between education, experience and skill