From Clinical Practice to Nursing Education: Using Old Skills in a New Way

Transitioning from an expert clinical nurse to a novice nurse educator can be challenging. Skills used in both positions are not always apparent. Skills that were transferable were identified using Benner’s (1984) competency themes and seven domains of an expert clinical nurse. Identifying skills that the expert clinical nurse is already comfortable with assists in the ease of transitioning to the novice nursing educator role. Realizing that the skills that the expert nurse has been using and is confident with allows for the application of these skills to the new realm of teaching. This knowledge will foster confidence and lay the foundation for a successful transition into the novice educator role. Identifying ways to assist in this transition will promote retention of new educators as well as satisfaction with the role change. Finding ways to assist the expert clinical nurse will allow for a faster progression to expert nurse educator