A Model of Competency Development and Deployment for Nurse Academics and Clinical Educators

Abstract

Communication between nursing educational institutions and clinical settings is not optimal. The use of a common language shared by nurse academics and clinical educators, particularly about the notions of competency development and deployment, would make it possible to situate the expectations towards the students and the new graduates on a continuum beginning during pre-licensure education and continuing in the clinical setting. This article presents a model for the competency development and deployment in nursing practice, theoretically constructed by integrating the work of Patricia Benner on the development of professional expertise to competency-based education. This model places experiential learning and reflection as central elements in the process of nursing expertise development, influenced by the context in which the nurse is situated. Further studies will be needed to empirically enhance or validate this model, but its use could facilitate a dialogue between academics and clinical educators to optimize the integration of new graduate nurses at the beginning of practice.