Transfer of competencies : construction of an action language in a professional nursing apprenticeship context
The transfer of competencies from an academic setting to professional institutions appears to be a case of action language transfer. Such a model is proposed, followed by an empirical validation within the final practicum in nursing techniques. This model is composed of schemes constructed from one situation to another. A rich knowledge structure with varied conceptual and procedural elements favours the transfer process. New practices and meanings are negotiated using this language during the apprenticeship scaffolding episodes. Reflective thinking promotes the re-representation of action. However, not all components of a competency are transferred in an identical way : some parts of a competency are not very prone to transfer.