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Used to define quality in nursing education, the AACN Essentials outline the necessary curriculum content and expected competencies of graduates from baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. AACN is dedicated to providing resources and support to facilitate this shift in nursing education. Whether you're an educator, student, or healthcare professional, explore this microsite to stay informed and engaged as we shape the future of nursing education together.
This video is an essential starting point for those new to The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. It provides a comprehensive overview of the Essentials website, guiding you through key resources and tools for implementing competency-based education (CBE). Watch now to take your first steps with confidence.
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Build New Relationships to Support Your Essentials Implementation Efforts
March 18, 2026 AACN is committed to offering sessions at all our national conferences focused on facilitating educational transformation and the move to competency-based education. At the Deans Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, March 29-31, AACN is hosting a panel presentation on Strengthening Academic-Practice Partnerships: From Shared Vision to Action that will be of interest to those looking to expand or create partnerships to help prepare more practice-ready nurses. Participants will:
The session will conclude with a dean’s perspective on applying the Playbook in collaboration with a practice partner, offering practical insights into how intentional partnerships can strengthen alignment, support healthy work environments, and advance outcomes across education and practice. Register now.
New Competency Assessment Section Added to the Web
March 11, 2026 AACN’s Essentials Tool Kit provides a variety of resources for faculty engaged in transitioning to competency-based education and adapting their programs to prepare more practice-ready graduates. This online hub offers guidelines for schools working to integrate the 2021 Essentials into curricula and highlights a range of faculty development options and teaching resources. New to the site is a special section on competency assessment featuring links to AACN’s Guiding Principles for Competency-Based Education and Assessment, and the Essentials Competency Assessment Framework. The site also aligns the recently released Progression Indicators and Nursing Practice Scenarios to the AACN approach to competency assessment. Explore the new section.
Highlight Your School’s Essentials Work in a Video Spotlight
March 4, 2026 AACN is interested in hearing from schools about their efforts to adapt nursing programs to meet the 2021 Essentials and transition to competency-based education. We are compiling school spotlights to share lessons learned and success strategies. What to Spotlight
Submit a Short Video AACN has created an online tool to help you record and submit videos about your program’s Essentials journey. Videos submitted will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of News Watch and posted on the AACN website. Submit a video.
Faculty Development Workshop on Student Coaching and Curriculum Design
February 25, 2026 On April 8, AACN will host an online faculty development workshop focused on student coaching and technology-enhanced curriculum design. Unlocking the Power of Simulation - Coach for Competency will explore how to adapt instructional strategies through experiential learning using various forms of simulation in the lab, classroom, and clinical setting. Participants will also learn how to take their coaching and debriefing techniques to the next level. Program sessions include Simulation’s Role in Competency-Based Education; Simulating Success: Scenario Development and Assessment; Coaching Conversations; The Art of Facilitation; Building a Resource Toolbox; and Creating a Learning Oasis: Psychological Safety and Engagement. Register now.
New Seminar Series: Integrating AI into Nursing Education and Practice
February 18, 2026 Prime your students to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) across healthcare environments with AACN's new AI seminar series. Sessions will equip faculty and curriculum specialists with the foundational knowledge needed to prepare students to use AI to streamline clinical workflows and enhance their nursing practice. Seminar participants will be able to:
Upcoming seminars include AI in Healthcare on February 24 from 1:00-2:00 pm (ET) and AI at the Bedside on February 26 from 1:00-2:00 pm (ET). Fee is $75 per seminar. Registration is open now. Click here for more details.
Nursing Practice Scenarios Available to Facilitate Essentials Implementation
February 18, 2026 Last week, AACN announced the release of new Nursing Practice Scenarios to assist faculty in clustering Essentials competencies and sub-competencies in experiential learning activities. These simulation scenarios were developed by an expert team, led by Dr. Carol Fowler-Durham from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and have been mapped to the recently released Progression Indicators. There are currently four scenarios available—two for entry-level and two for advanced-level nursing programs. Additionally, an on-demand webinar, Designing Nursing Curricula for Competency-Based Education: The Role of Simulation Scenarios, is available to assist faculty in using the scenarios. Explore the Nursing Practice Scenarios.
New Faculty Workshop on Bringing Competencies, Outcomes, and Assessment into Focus
February 4, 2026 On March 6, AACN will host a virtual mini-workshop titled The Competency Design Studio: Aligning Outcomes, Progression Indicators, and Assessment featuring Essentials Coaches Dr. Dawn Mueller-Burke and Dr. Jacquelyn McMillian-Bohler. Using Progression Indicators as the guiding lens, participants will explore how developmental expectations shape what learners need to know and demonstrate. Faculty will examine course elements for alignment, apply backward design to strengthen connections between outcomes and assessments, and translate competencies into observable indicators that reflect student growth. Through guided design sessions, participants will create or refine rubrics that make expectations explicit, measurable, and equitable. Participants will leave with practical tools and well-aligned syllabi and assessment elements that accurately capture learner progression toward competency. Register now.
Faculty Development Workshop on Student Coaching and Curriculum Design Now Offered in Virtual Format
January 28, 2026 On April 8, AACN will host an online faculty development workshop focused on student coaching and technology-enhanced curriculum design. Titled Unlocking the Power of Simulation - Coach for Competency, faculty will explore how to adapt instructional strategies through experiential learning using various forms of simulation in the lab, classroom, and clinical setting. Participants will also learn how to take their coaching and debriefing techniques to the next level. Program sessions include Simulation’s Role in Competency-Based Education, Simulating Success: Scenario Development and Assessment, Coaching Conversations, The Art of Facilitation, Building a Resource Toolbox, and Creating a Learning Oasis: Psychological Safety and Engagement. This workshop was originally scheduled as a regional event in Minneapolis, MN, and will now be offered in a virtual format. Register now, space is limited.
Review the Latest Scholarship on the Essentials and CBE
January 21, 2026 As nursing schools nationwide align their programs to the 2021 Essentials and transition to competency-based education (CBE), faculty have documented this transformational work in scholarly journals focused on nursing, healthcare, and higher education. AACN maintains an updated list of Essentials References online for those wishing to learn more about how schools are navigating curriculum redesign and leading innovation. Refreshed each month, recently posted articles focus on navigating artificial intelligence, leveraging simulation, transforming BSN-DNP curriculum, and leadership skill development in the context of CBE. Faculty interested in suggesting journal articles for the reference list may send citations to rrosseter@aacnnursing.org.
Integrating Nursing Practice Simulation Scenarios into Nursing Curriculum
January 14, 2026 On January 28 from 2:00-3:00 pm (ET), Dr. Carol Fowler-Durham with The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill joins a distinguished group of simulation leaders in a webinar titled Designing Nursing Curricula for Competency-Based Education: The Role of Simulation Scenarios. In the Essentials Competency Assessment Framework, AACN recognizes that effective assessment requires educational methodologies that support faculty in creating meaningful experiential learning opportunities. To advance this work, the AACN Assessment Expert Working Group established the Scenario Subgroup to design templates for entry- and advanced-level simulation experiences that foster learner development. This webinar will highlight the resources, core tenets, and strategies for incorporating formative assessment through the use of these nursing practice simulation scenarios to support the development and assessment of AACN competencies. Register now.
Register Now for an Online Workshop Focused on Essentializing Your Curriculum
January 7, 2026 Back by popular demand, AACN is hosting a virtual program for faculty seeking strategies, resources, and solutions for adapting their nursing programs to meet the 2021 Essentials. Titled Essentializing Your Curriculum: Moving Forward with Competency-Based Education (CBE), this workshop provides an introduction to CBE, in-depth training on curricular transition, and instruction on how to use AI to develop assessment rubrics based on progression indicators. Held February 3 and 5, 2026 from 12:00-4:00 pm (ET), the two-day event features instruction from AACN’s Essentials Coaches and experts with the Competency-Based Education Network. Participants will engage in collaborative learning through virtual breakout rooms to apply concepts and develop practical solutions. Click here to register. Seats are limited to allow for more personalized instruction.
Tools for Utilizing Progression Indicators to Assess Student Learning
December 17, 2025 Progression Indicators (PIs) are used at the Essentials sub-competency level to provide clear descriptions of what a learner should be able to do at specific points in their education, helping faculty assess student success on the road to competency. PIs translate sub-competencies into clear, observable behaviors that faculty, preceptors, and students can use as a shared roadmap for learning. AACN has developed resources to help faculty use the PIs to strengthen experiential learning opportunities and promote readiness for practice. In addition to instructional videos and implementation guides, two on-demand webinars are also available:
The webinars are free to faculty at AACN member schools and award continuing education credit. Non-members may also access the webinars for a $59 fee.
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April 8, 2026 | Virtual Workshop Unlocking the Power of Simulation - Coach for Competency
The AACN/AONL Academic-Practice Partnership Playbook: From Shared Vision to Action