What is the relationship between the Essentials and baccalaureate nursing education

Abstract

In April 2021, member deans of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing approved new standards for nursing education, with competency-based education as its foundation. The revised Essentials framework includes competencies organized within 10 domains at two levels of nursing education: entry level and advanced level. An advantage of this approach is greater clarity and confirmation regarding the knowledge and skills of nursing school graduates. Implementation of the new Essentials will occur over the next several years, and substantial changes to the curriculum, learning activities, and learner assessment is expected. The revision of the Essentials presents a significant opportunity for regulators to collaborate with schools and practice partners. To that end, this article provides an overview of the newly revised Essentials, discusses considerations and implications for nursing regulation, and puts forth recommendations for boards of nursing.

Keywords

  • Nursing education, competency-based education
  • nursing regulation
  • curriculum development

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Article Info

Footnotes

Conflicts of Interest: None.

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or positions of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Identification

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(22)00009-6

Copyright

© 2022 National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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What is the purpose of the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice?

The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice provides the educational framework for the preparation of professional nurses. This document describes the outcomes expected of graduates of baccalaureate nursing programs.

What is the role of the baccalaureate prepared nurse in relation to research?

Baccalaureate programs prepare nurses with a basic understanding of the processes of research. Graduates can understand and apply research findings from nursing and other disciplines in their clinical practice.

What is a baccalaureate prepared nurse?

A standard basic or generic baccalaureate program in nursing is a four-year college or university education that incorporates a variety of liberal arts courses with professional education and training. It is designed for high school graduates with no previous nursing experience.

Who created the AACN?

That same year, three nurse pioneers — Mrs. Norma Shepard, Penny Vaughan and Vee Rice — gathered at a kitchen table and shared a vision to create a better future for patients, and AACN was born.