Nursing theory is a vital part of solving problems faced by nursing professionals. “The legitimacy of any profession is built on its ability to generate and apply theory” (McCrae, 2011, p.20). In the complex changing world of healthcare there is an increase focus on nursing leaders ability to engage, motivate and mentor staff. To improve professional nursing education, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) (2011) called to identify and refine educational strategies and processes to focus on compliance. Patricia Benner's theory of novice to expert is an excellent theory that is easily applied in training, education, and verification of competency in nursing. Benner's theory is focused on the importance of practice in the clinical environment to gain experience and ultimately achieve competency. The IOM (2011) recommended that all nursing practice settings offer nurse residency programs (NRP's) for new graduate nurses (p. 3).
