Benner’s Model vs. Parse’s Human Becoming Paradigm

Nursing education has long relied on theoretical models to guide curriculum development and practice. Two theories that define how nurses progress in their careers and how they deal with others include Benner’s Model of Skill Acquisition and Parse’s Human Becoming Paradigm. Benner’s model provides knowledge concerning skills and clinical competence, while Parse’s model is based on pars plane and nursing care adventures: Benner’s Model vs. Parse’s Human Becoming Paradigm.

Similarities and Differences

Both models clearly encompass the dynamic process of learning and adaptation of an individual but differ in the approach being followed. Benner’s model is a line concept that revolves around clinical competence and learning through experience (Sterner et al., 2021). On the contrary, Parse’s paradigm represents the modern nonlinear, existential human experiences in which nurses practice the client-relationships with the patient (Guven, 2019).

Aspect	Benner’s Model	Parse’s Paradigm
Foundation	Skill acquisition through experience	Humanistic, patient-centered nursing
Perspective	Linear development from novice to expert	Nonlinear, evolving human interactions
Focus	Competency-based learning	Quality of life and meaning-making
Patient Relationship	Task-oriented, improving technical expertise	Holistic approach, respecting patient choices
Application in Nursing Education	The curriculum is structured by level of expertise	Encourages open-ended, interpretive learning

Reflection on Undergraduate Education

Looking back at my undergraduate nursing education, it was more aligned with Benner’s Model. The focus was on skill acquisition, clinical decision-making, and competency-building through progressive exposure to clinical environments. I recall transitioning from a novice, where I relied on rigid guidelines, to an advanced beginner, where I started recognizing meaningful clinical patterns. While aspects of patient-centered care were incorporated, Parse’s human becoming perspective was not a dominant focus.

Pros and Cons of Each Model for APRN Education

As an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), education must balance clinical expertise with holistic, person-centered care. Here’s how each model contributes:

Aspect	Benner’s Model (Skill Acquisition)	Parse’s Paradigm (Humanbecoming)
Pros	Provides structured learning for clinical decision-making and competency-based progression.	Encourages deeper patient engagement, fostering empathy and understanding.
Cons	May prioritize clinical proficiency over the patient’s lived experience.	Lacks a structured pathway for skill acquisition, which is essential for APRNs.
Best Use in APRN Education	Ideal for training in technical and diagnostic skills.	Best suited for promoting patient-centered care and ethical nursing practice.

Improving the Future of Nursing with Parse’s Paradigm

I advocate for Parse’s Human Becoming Paradigm to enhance nursing’s future. As healthcare shifts toward holistic, patient-centered care, nurses must recognize patients’ unique values and experiences (Salzmann-Erikson, 2024). This paradigm fosters collaboration, improving patient satisfaction and outcomes.

A key sub-competency, “cotranscending with possibles,” enables meaningful dialogue and shared decision-making (Salzmann-Erikson, 2024). This approach ensures nursing evolves beyond technical skills, integrating respect, presence, and ethical care in every patient interaction.

Conclusion

Benner’s Model and Parse’s Paradigm have important functions to play in the effective process of shaping the professional nurse. Benner’s framework is a useful road map for nursing practice, while Parse’s theory lends value to the practice by promoting human-valued relationships. When it comes to practice, both the clinical and patient-centered models can cohesively be adopted to enhance patient care in the future practice as an APRN.

References

Guven, N. (2019). The Development of Nurses’ Individualized Care Perceptions and Practices: Benner’s Novice to Expert Model Perspective. International Journal of Caring, 12(67), 3–1906. https://www.internationaljournalofcaringsciences.org/docs/65_ozdemir_review_12_3.pdf

Salzmann-Erikson, M. (2024). The intersection between logical empiricism and qualitative nursing research: a post-structuralist analysis. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2315636

Sterner, A., Ramstrand, N., Palmér, L., & Hagiwara, M. A. (2021). A study of factors that predict novice nurses’ perceived ability to provide care in acute situations. Nursing Open, 8(4), 1958–1969. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.871

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Week 7-5120 Discussion attached