In Benner's model, which level is characterized by a sense of mastery and efficiency after more experience but not yet expert?

• A. Proficient
• B. Competent
• C. Novice
• D. Expert

Answer: (B)

In Benner’s model, this level reflects a nurse who has gained enough experience to feel confident and capable in managing patient care. They can plan, prioritize, and organize tasks efficiently, applying learned rules and past experiences to guide actions. There’s a growing sense of mastery and the ability to handle typical patient situations more smoothly, but they haven’t yet reached the intuitive, highly flexible grasp of an expert. So they operate with competence and efficiency, yet still rely on deliberate thinking and established guidelines rather than the automatic, pattern-based sense an expert has. This is why the level described is Competent.