Comparing and contrasting

nursing theorists: Florence

Nightingale and Patricia Benner
Confidence Nwogu
Athabasca University
Welcome
• In this presentation I will explore the significant contributions of two
influential nursing theorists: Florence Nightingale and Patricia Benner.
Florence Nightingale
• Born on 12th May, 1820
• The first nursing theorist
• The first to lay the foundation of modern nursing
• She recorded in her diary an interaction with God at age 16
• Her foundation is based on her devotion to God and spirituality
• She emphasized that natural laws if applied correctly, illness will be
prevented and health will be promoted
Seven philosophical assumptions of Florence
Nightingale that are basis for model development
• Natural laws
• Mankind can achieve perfection
• Nursing is a calling
• Nursing is an art and a science
• Nursing is achieved through environmental alteration
• Nursing requires a specific educational base
• Nursing is distinct and separate from medicine
Concepts of Nightingale
She emphasized that fresh air is needed for people to recover
She emphasized the need for clean environment
She also emphasized the need for proper nutrition
Patricia Benner
• She was born in Hampton Virginia
• She spent her childhood in California
• Her thinking in nursing was influenced by Virginia Henderson
• She came up with the Novice to Expert model perspective
• Her theory is specific to nursing and useful for the study of transition
of novice nurses
Concepts of Patricia Benner
• The quality of patient care is dependent on quality of nursing care
provided
• It is also dependent on the experience, skills, competence, knowledge
and compassion of the nursing staff
• Educators and administrators should appraise the quality of the
programs provided to nursing students
• Systematic evaluation of key components of nursing education is
required
Patricia Benner’s perception of care
• Individualized nursing care is an indicator for quality of care to
enhance positive patient outcome
• Individualized care is the basis of holistic philosophy, values and
ethical codes of nursing
• Individual characteristics, preferences, perceptions and opinions are
to be incorporated in care
• Nurses have the role of evaluating the development of individualized
care
 References
• Marath, U. (2019). Competence of novice nurses to enter nursing
practice as perceived by ward in-charges. Nursing Journal of India,
110(3), 135-137
• Ozdemir, N. G. (2019). The development of nurses individualized care
perceptions and practices: Benner’s novice to expert model
perspective. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 12(2), 1279-
1285
• Rahim, S. (2013). Clinical application of Nightingale’s environmental
theory i-managers, Journal on Nursing,3(1), 43.