title: Supporting the learning curve for contemporary nursing practice.
abstract: Contemporary patient care demands expert nurses with advanced clinical judgment and reasoning abilities. Expertise develops for an extended experiential learning process of 5 years or more and cannot be accomplished through educational preparation alone. Current approaches to orientations, residencies, and care delivery do not support the learning curve to expert practice. The authors outline strategies for change in the practice setting to facilitate expertise development and safeguard patients while learning occurs.
authors.affiliation: Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burritt
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steckel
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000639:trends; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards