Contributor: Melanie Morton, MSN, RNC-OB, CBC

Introduction

If you are a nurse, you have inevitably experienced Benner’s From Novice to Expert Theory. You may experience this theory many times throughout your career. In 1984, Patricia Benner coined the Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory. This theory includes five progressive stages: novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert. This theory aids nurses in understanding the trajectory of their knowledge, skill, and learning as well as providing a framework for professional growth. If you have changed career paths, sought higher nursing education, or simply moved nursing units within a hospital – you will inevitably find yourself in the novice learner stage of Benner’s From Novice to Expert Theory. This reflection discusses the experiences of a PhD in Nursing Science student as a novice learner utilizing Benner’s From Novice to Expert Theory.

PhD Journey: Novice Learner

In Fall 2024, I began my journey as a PhD in Nursing Science student at Texas Woman’s University. The beginning of the semester was brimming with excitement for this new journey. New learning opportunities. New growth. New networking. New, everything. The fear of the unknown was overpowered by my eagerness for what was to come. I am now a PhD student. The idea I once only dreamed about was now a reality.

Once I began my first semester courses, I quickly realized I was not in my comfort zone. In fact, I am nowhere near my comfort zone. This is when I realize I have found myself at the beginning of Benner’s Theory – I am a novice learner again. The novice learner stage should not be frowned upon or acquire a negative connotation, but rather, it should be accepted with open arms knowing that you are in the place where true learning begins. The novice level is a foundational stepping stone to where you are headed, and if not one of the most important steps of the process. In this phase, you will either set yourself up for failure or success. The novice learner relies heavily on routines, guidelines, support, and the awareness that you are a novice learner (Benner, 1984).

Six Tips for Surviving the Novice Level

Step 1: Identify your Why
The first step is to identify your “why.” Why did you want to pursue a PhD in Nursing? Was it to better the field of nursing research? Improve patient outcomes? For professional achievement? Future career opportunities? It is important to identify and distinguish your “why” early on in your doctoral program. When the semester becomes difficult – which it inevitably does – you will need a concrete answer to why you are accomplishing this dream. This “why” will motivate you and ground you to continue on in your journey. Simon Sinek’s TED Talk, How Great Leaders Inspire Action, offers valuable insights on this concept of “Start with Why” (Sinek, 2010). Once you have reflected and grounded yourself in your “why,” now we must develop some concrete routines to ensure our success as a PhD nursing student.

Step 2: Identify Time Management
As a PhD student, time management can be one of the most challenging aspects of the journey. When will we find time to complete assignments? How can we balance work, doctoral studies, professional obligations, and personal life? Is there time to have dinner with friends? What even is time? Time management can feel overwhelming, but with the right tools, you can organize your schedule to prioritize what matters most. Using a physical or electronic calendar can be incredibly helpful. Platforms like Google Calendar offer free, easy-to-use electronic options.

No matter which method you choose, one thing is certain: your calendar will become your best friend throughout your doctoral program. By keeping track of work, classes, appointments, family commitments, extracurricular activities, and self-care, your calendar provides structure and helps you stay organized, even when life gets busy.

Step 3: Networking and Support System
Network opportunities are endless in a doctoral program. However, they are only available if you seek them out. First, identify your person. This is your peer or colleague who is in the same courses as you. This person is going to be your lifeline. The one who understands the difficult assignments. The one you can go to when you have a question. The one you can message and say, “What was I thinking when I thought this was a great idea??” and they simply respond, “You can do it. You can’t quit now.” That is your person, friend, colleague, and one of your biggest motivators to continue. You have to find a peer that you can count on to help you through those hard times. Of course, you can accomplish this feat alone, but it is encouraging when you feel supported by those around you. Other networking opportunities include reaching out to faculty members during office hours, finding a mentor in an upper-level class, locating a free mentorship program, and having your personal support system. Remember, support is endless as long as you seek it out.

Step 4: Embrace the Hard
Embracing this season can be difficult at times – especially when life pulls you in 100 other directions. It is important to remember your purpose. That you are pursuing this degree for a reason. That this is not just happenstance, but rather a reflection of your hard work, grit, and determination. Embrace the hard. Lean into it. It will only be this way for a season.

Step 5: Prioritize Self-Care
Self-care is vital to your health and well-being in the midst of juggling the responsibility of being a doctoral student. Remember to take time for yourself, even when you feel as if you have no time. This can be a small addition to your routine to increase your mental and physical well-being. Go for a short, brisk 10-minute walk. Practice breathing techniques. Incorporate a quiet time. Drink water. Eat nutritious foods. Journal. Practice your hobbies. Make time to prioritize the people you love and the activities you enjoy to balance stressful seasons.

Step 6: Resources for Success
As a doctoral student, there are many free resources and workshops available to support you throughout your journey. Nursology offers Writer’s Camp, an online community designed to strengthen scholarly writing skills. This program also hosts an annual conference and seminar specifically for the nursing community, providing meaningful opportunities for academic growth and professional networking.

Another valuable resource is membership in the Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA), available at no cost to students enrolled in graduate nursing programs at AACN member schools. GNSA provides access to free resources, professional development, and leadership opportunities, while also connecting students with peers and mentors across the United States.

In addition to these national resources, it is equally important to explore the workshops, mentorship programs, and support services available at your own university to maximize success as a graduate nursing student.

PhD Journey: Advanced Beginner and Beyond
As I enter my second year as a PhD nursing student, I recognize that I am progressing into the next stage of Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory—the advanced beginner stage. In this phase, aspects of the doctoral journey begin to feel more familiar. While each semester brings new courses and new faculty, my time management, support system, resources, and self-care routines are more established. I now recognize patterns in assignments, expectations, and available support systems that sustain me throughout the program. I view this journey as attainable, as well as the five stages of Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory.

I encourage every reader to feel empowered and confident in applying Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory to their own professional nursing journey. You may not be pursuing a PhD, but you may be entering the nursing profession for the first time, starting a new role as a labor and delivery nurse, or working toward your master’s degree. Benner’s theory is applicable to any nurse pursuing a new role. This theory can help you, as it has helped me to embrace the experience of being a novice learner. Being a novice is only a season, but it is foundational to your journey. Embrace your role as a novice learner and view the novice learner stage as a positive experience – one that allows you to grow, stretch, and expand your skills. You may find yourself, as I have, thinking, “I am a novice learner again”—and that thought is where growth begins and stagnation ends. Embrace it. Own it. I am a novice learner again.

References

Benner, P. (1984). From novice to expert: Excellence and power in clinical nursing practice. Addison-Wesley Publishing.

Sinek, S. (2010, September). How great leaders inspire action [Video]. TEDxPugetSound. https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action

Graduate Nursing Student Academy: Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA) https://www.aacnnursing.org/students/gnsa

Writer’s Camp: Writer’s Camp – An Online Resource for Nursologists: Excellence in Writing, Publishing, & Editing https://writers-camp.org/

About Melanie Morton, MSN, RNC-OB, CBC

I’m Melanie, a PhD nursing student at Texas Woman’s University. With experience as a nurse and educator, beginning my doctoral journey has reminded me what it feels like to be a novice learner. Benner’s From Novice to Expert Theory has helped me view this stage as an opportunity to grow, reflect, and build skills. Being a novice learner is not a weakness—it is a necessary step that lays the foundation for future success. Embracing the role of the novice learner has deepened my appreciation for learning and strengthened my commitment to personal and professional growth.