Expert nursing practice: a mathematical explanation of Benner's 5th stage of practice development.
BACKGROUND
Expert nursing practice: a mathematical explanation of Benner's 5th stage of practice development.


OBJECTIVE
This paper is a theoretical discussion of a mathematical explanation for Benner's theory of practice development.


BACKGROUND
Benner's practice development theory demonstrates how a nurse moves from a beginning, rule-based practice through to expert care. Her notion of expert practice as intuitive has not been well-accepted or understood in nursing. A new description of expert practice includes three types of intuitive practice (cognitive, transitional and embodied), the development of which are dependent on knowledge, experience and reflective time.


METHODS
This paper is based on phenomenological research conducted in 2000-2003 and Benner's publications, as well as recent discussions about the relationship between mathematics and phenomenology.


CONCLUSIONS
The mathematical explanation for Benner's theory of practice development relates reflective time and knowledge to the mathematical power of experience and links the unique components of intuitive practice to expert care. On reaching expert practice, the three types of intuition include previously identified themes (knowledge, experience, connection, feeling, syncretism and trust) as differentials along the reflective time axis. When graphically represented, expert practice becomes a three-dimensional figure as practice becomes more complex, rather than a two-dimensional one as seen in previous stages.


CONCLUSIONS
Having the intuitive component of expert practice further clarified from Benner's first vision confirms it as a valid component of practice. It is important to recognize that experience is a powerful component of practice and that it is essential to the development of expertise. Although this discussion has been nested within nursing practice, it has wide implications for medical, psychological and educational practice.
Lyneham
Joy
J
School of Nursing and Midwifery Monash University, Frankston, Australia. joy.lyneham@med.monash.edu.au
Parkinson
Camillus
C
Denholm
Carey
C
D002322:Career Mobility; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D019545:Intuition; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009742:Nursing Theory; D011214:Practice, Psychological