The Essentials: The Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education 4. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) describes competency-based education more broadly than the definitions above. The AACN defines competency-based education as “ a system of instruction, assessment, feedback, self-reflection, and academic reporting that is based on students demonstrating that they have learned the knowledge, attitudes, motivations, self-perceptions, and skills expected of them as they progress through their education.” This broader definition does not require students to move through the content based solely on their ability to demonstrate specific competences. Instead, the assessment of competence may be integrated into specific courses. (AACN, 2021) In addition, Giddens, et al. (2023) set forth four statements which provide a description of a competency, as follows: A Competency: § Provides a set of expectations which, when taken collectively, demonstrate what learners can do with what they know. § Represents clear expectations made explicit to learners, teachers, employers, and the public. § Is visibly demonstrated and assessed over time in different contexts and settings. § Crosses all areas of professional nursing practice. In 2021, in response to the need to prepare nursing students at the BSN level, including RN to BSN students, and various Advanced Practice roles, the AACN developed The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. The Essentials serve as a developmental framework as students move through increasing education and experience. The Domains 1. Knowledge for Nursing Practice 2. Person-Centered Care 3. Population Health 4. Scholarship for Nursing Discipline 5. Quality and Safety 6. Interprofessional Partnerships 7. Systems-Based Practice 8. Informatics and Healthcare Technologies 9. Professionalism 10. Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development The ten domains above represent the unique essence of professional nursing practice, including the diversity of practice that may be required in multiple settings available to nurses. Competencies categorized in each domain are designed to be applicable across the lifespan and with diverse patient populations in four spheres of care: § Disease Prevention/Promotion of Health and Well-being § Chronic Disease Care
§ Regenerative or Restorative Care § Hospice/Palliative/Supportive Care
Each domain outlines several competencies appropriate for both entry-level Professional Nursing Practice (BSN, RN-to-BSN) and Advanced-Level Nursing Education. Each of the competencies also lists sub-concepts that further delineate the actions required in each competency. (AACN, 2021) Eight concepts, important in all nursing practice, are integrated in all of the domains. These concepts are:
§ Clinical Judgment § Communication § Compassionate Care § Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
§ Ethics § Evidence-Based Practice § Health Policy § Social Determinates of Health
(AACN, 2021)
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