Essentials Committees and Working Groups

Essentials Implementation Steering Committee
Domain Tool Kit Working Groups
Concept Tool Kit Working Groups
Assessment Expert Working Group
Practice-Ready Advisory Group
Technology Working Group

Essentials Implementation Steering Committee

Committee Charge:

Finalizing the plan for the Implementation Roadmap of the 2021 Essentials
Providing broad-based oversight for the implementation process
Making ongoing recommendations for actions and activities related to the Roadmap,
Overseeing the work and progress of the Essentials Ad Hoc Work Groups
Monitoring for issues that impact significant sections of AACN membership or present major challenges for the implementation process
Ongoing evaluation of the implementation processes and phases

	Maureen Swick, PhD, Co-Chair Atrium Health Senior Vice President and System Nurse Executive

	Julie Zerwic, PhD, Co-Chair University of Iowa Dean

	Bimbola Akintade, PhD, First Term East Carolina University Dean

	Jackie Dunbar-Jacob, PhD University of Pittsburgh Dean

	Shelly Johnson, PhD Florida A&M University Dean

	Kristine L’Ecuyer, PhD, First Term Saint Louis University Associate Dean

	Kathryn Wirtz Rugen, PhD, First Term Veterans Health Administration Deputy Director - Clinical Practice

	Susan Ruppert, PhD, First Term University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston Associate Dean and Chair of Graduate Studies

	Jean Giddens, PhD, Board Liaison Virginia Commonwealth University Dean

	Susan Corbridge, PhD, Staff Liaison Chief Essentials Program Officer scorbridge@aacnnursing.org

	Joan Stanley, PhD, Staff Liaison Chief Academic Officer jstanley@aacnnursing.org

Domain Tool Kit Working Groups

Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice

	Marlaine Smith, PhD Florida Atlantic University Professor

	Peggy Chinn, PhD University of Connecticut Professor Emerita of Nursing

	Leslie Nicoll, PhD Maine Desk, LLC President

Domain 2: Person-Centered Care

	Sandy Rajamohan, PhD Roberts Wesleyan College Associate Professor of Nursing

	Rick Zoucha, PhD Duquesne University Professor/Chair of Advanced Role and PhD Program

	Adrian Hordon, PhD Landmark Health Executive Director, Clinical Education & Operations

	Susan Brasher, PhD Emory University Assistant Professsor

	Catherine Johnson, PhD Duquesne University Clinical Associate Professor

Domain 3: Population Health

	Susan Swider, PhD Rush University Director, Advanced Public Health Nursing Program & Transformative Leadership: Population Health Program

	Lisa Campbell, DNP (she, her, hers) The University of Texas at Tyler Professor, Director Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, Student Advisor Graduate Program

	Judy Didion, PhD Oakland University Dean and Professor

	Marva Price, DrPH Duke University Associate Professor Emerita

	Gina Johnson, MS The University of Kansas Clinical Assistant Professor

	Susan Harrington, PhD Grand Valley State University Associate Professor

Domain 4: Scholarship

	Robin Newhouse, PhD Indiana University Dean and Distinguished Professor

	Rosanne Burson, DNP University of Detroit Mercy Associate Professor

	Katherine Moran, DNP Grand Valley State University Associate Dean

Domain 5: Quality and Safety

	Gerry Altmiller, EdD The College of New Jersey Professor

	Gail Armstrong, PhD, DNP Oregon Health and Science University Professor

	Marjorie Godfrey, PhD University of New Hampshire Research Professor

Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships

	Jane Kirschling, PhD University of Maryland Dean and Professor, School of Nursing

	Brenda Zierler, PhD University of Washington Professor

	Mayumi Willgerodt, PhD University of Washington Associate Professor / Vice Chair of Education

	Lisa Singleterry, PhD Western Michigan University Interim Director and Associate Professor

Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice

	Rachel Start, MSN Rush University Medical Center Associate Vice President

	Jerry Mansfield, PhD Mount Carmel Health System/Trinity Health Chief Nursing Officer, Ohio Region

	Kimberly S. Glassman, PhD New York University Clinical Professor, Senior Associate Dean

	Lydia Rotondo, DNP University of Rochester Associate Dean and Professor

	Shannon Sapp Layton, DNP The University of Alabama at Birmingham Assistant Professor

	Ana Stoehr, PhD, RN George Mason University Term Assistant Professor

Domain 8: Information and Healthcare Technologies

	Marisa Wilson, DNSc The University of Alabama at Birmingham Associate Professor / Chairperson

	Alvin Jeffery, PhD Vanderbilt University Assistant Professor

	Susan Newbold, PhD Nursing Informatics Boot Camp Healthcare Informatics Educator and Consultant

	Dan Weberg, PhD The Ohio State University Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice

	Dorcas Kunkel, DNP Jacksonville University Adjunct Professor

	Debra Wolf, PhD Chatham University Director and Professor

Domain 9: Professionalism

	Nelda Godfrey, PhD The University of Kansas Associate Dean

	Darlene Del Prato, PhD SUNY Polytecnhic Institute Chair, Department of Nursing

	Susan Strouse, PhD Grand Valley State University Associate Professor

	Amy Hite, DNP Pittsburg State University Professor

Domain 10: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development

	Debra Albert, DNP New York University - Langone Health Chief Nursing Officer

	Curry Bordelon, DNP University of Alabama Birmingham Associate Professor

	Jose Rodriguez, DNP Uniformed Services University Assistant Professor

Concept Tool Kit Working Group

Concept: Clinical Judgement

	Mary Ann Cantrell, PhD Villanova University Professor

	Laura Klenke-Borgmann, MSN University of Kansas Medical Center Clinical Assistant Professor

Concept: Communication

	Joy Goldsmith, PhD University of Memphis Professor, Communication Studies

	Smita Banerjee, PhD Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Behavioral Scientist

	Laureen Donovan, PhD Shepherd University Assistant Professor

	Elaine Wittenberg, PhD California State University - Los Angeles Assistant Professor, Communication

Concept: Compassionate Care

	Lisa Beasley, DNP University of Tennessee Health Science Center Assistant Professor

	Weihua Zhang, PhD Emory University Professor

	Ab Brody, PhD New York University Associate Professor

	Tina Antill Keener, PhD West Virginia University Assistant Professor

Concept: Diversity Equity and Inclusion

	Margo Brooks Carthon, PhD University of Pennsylvania Associate Professor

	Brigit Maria Carter, PhD Duke University Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion

	Billie Vance, PhD West Virginia University Clinical Associate Professor

	Lisa Muirhead, DNP Emory University Associate Professor

Concept: Ethics

	Carol Taylor, PhD Georgetown University Professor

	Pamela Grace, PhD Boston College Associate Professor

	Sarah Vittone, DBe Georgetown University Assistant Professor

Concept: Evidence-Based Practice

	Kim Olszewski, DNP Bloomsburg University Associate Professor

	Lynn Gallagher-Ford, PhD Ohio State University Director of Transdisciplinary Evidence-based Practice and Clinical Innovation

	Julie Slade, DNP Chatham University Associate Professor

	Sheila Quinn, PhD Stockton University Associate Dean and Chief Nurse Administrator

	Cindy Zellefrow, DNP Ohio State University Director, Academic Core, Fuld Institute for Evidence-Based Practice

Concept: Health Policy

	Mikki Meadows-Oliver, PhD New York University Clinical Professor

	Garrett Chan, PhD HealthImpact President & CEO

	Nancy Rudner, DrPH University of Alabama Birmingham Associate Professor

	Alex Hoyt, PhD MGH Institute of Health Professions Assistant Professor

Concept: Social Determinants of Health

	Sabita Persaud, PhD Notre Dame of Maryland University Associate Dean, Associate Professor

	Marisa Wilson, DNSc University of Alabama Birmingham Associate Professor

	Kumhee Ro, DNP Seattle University Assistant Professor

	Dula Pacquiao, EdD Rutgers University Professor

Assessment Expert Working Group

Working Group Charge:

The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education provides a framework for preparing nurses using a competency-based approach to education. Methods to best measure competency in nursing education need further exploration and a design that will challenge students and prepare them for practice. A working group comprised of multidisciplinary competency-based education (CBE) assessment experts has been created to guide this work. The working group will help to identify the role AACN should take in addressing competency assessment as well as possible strategies for competency assessment. The group understands that while educational approaches may vary, outcomes should not. Additionally, the working group will provide guidance regarding AACN’s role in faculty development in the area of assessment and evaluation.

	Bimbola F. Akintade, PhD, Chair East Carolina University Dean

	Jonathan Amiel, MD Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Senior Associate Dean for Innovation in Health Professions Education

	David Cella, PhD Northwestern University Chair, Department of Medical Social Sciences

	Phil Dickison, PhD National Council of State Boards of Nursing Chief Operations & Examinations Officer

	Carol Fowler Durham, EdD University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Professor and Director, Education-Innovation-Simulation Learning Environment

	Robert Englander, MD University of Minnesota Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education

	Kara Hedvig Evans, MSN Atrium Health Director of Nursing Professional Development

	Suzan Kardong-Edgren, PhD MGH Institute of Health Professions Associate Professor

	Cynthia O'Neal, PhD University of Texas Health San Antonio Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies

	Margaret Rauschenberger, MSN Alverno College Dean Emerita

	Janelle Sokolowich, PhD Western Governors University Academic Vice President and Dean

	Susan Corbridge, PhD, Staff Liaison Chief Essentials Program Officer scorbridge@aacnnursing.org

Practice-Ready Advisory Group

	Susan Ward, PhD, Chair Nebraska Methodist College Accreditation Specialist

	Debra Barksdale, PhD University of North Carolina Greensboro Dean

	Greg Eagerton, DNP University of Alabama at Birmingham Associate Professor

	Denise Neill, PhD Texas A&M University - Commerce Associate Professor

	Kristen Ostrem-Niemcewicz, DNP University of New Mexico Interim Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education Executive Director of Undergraduate Programs

	Tricia Templet, DNP University of Louisiana at Lafayette Director of BSN Program

	Susan Corbridge, PhD, Staff Liaison Chief Essentials Program Officer scorbridge@aacnnursing.org

Technology Working Group

Working Group Charge:

With the adoption of the new AACN Essentials in April 2021, schools of nursing are expected to transition to competency-based education (CBE) and prepare graduates of professional nursing programs, entry-level and advanced level, with delineated core competencies. This transition, although expected to occur over three or more years, is significant and will require multiple changes in nursing programs, curricula, and learning/assessment strategies. Changes in higher education and health profession education are also occurring at a rapid pace, including the use and applicability of technology.

Based on a review of the potential applications, uses, benefits, and barriers/challenges for the use of technology to support the implementation of the new Essentials, the Working Group will:

Develop recommendations regarding the use of technology within academic nursing, including for the association, accreditation, nursing education programs, and students.
Develop recommendations regarding existing or needed technology/digital tools to support the implementation of the new Essentials, such as for curriculum mapping, data collection and reporting, and competency attainment/tracking.
- Tools that support the needs of AACN, member schools, accreditors, and students.
- Tools/products should be accessible to all member schools.
- Recommendations should be prioritized and include potential costs (fiscal and human resources).
- Recommendations should include appropriate standards for the technology, tools, and products to allow access and sharing.
Consult with others who have applicable expertise, as needed.
Provide input/oversight for the development/selection of technologies to support nursing education.

View the report: Vision for Sharing Data and Information Across Nursing Education, Practice, and Regulation

	David Bowersox, MBA Duke University Vice Dean, Finance and Administration

	Mary Joy Garcia Dia, DNP New York Presbyterian Hospital Director, Nursing Informatics

	Tao Le, MD University of Louisville Professor of Medicine

	Janelle Sokolowich, PhD Western Governors University Academic Vice President and Dean

	Melissa Stec, DNP Emory University Professor

	Dan Weberg, PhD The Ohio State University Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice

	Alison Whelan, MD Association of American Medical Colleges Chief Academic Officer

	Marisa Wilson, DNSc University of Alabama at Birmingham Associate Professor and Chairperson

	Joan Stanley, PhD, Staff Liaison Chief Academic Officer jstanley@aacnnursing.org

Become an Essentials Champion

AACN is looking for each member school to identify one lead faculty member to serve as an Essentials Champion. These individuals will be your school’s resident contact and communication liaison who will have access to a new network of leaders engaged in Essentials implementation. Champions will be encouraged to bring forward issues, ask questions, and share ideas during virtual Q & A sessions held each quarter with AACN staff leaders.

How to Sign Up

Deans are encouraged to identify their school’s champion by contacting:

Sandra Maroa, Essentials Program Assistant
smaroa@aacnnursing.org

Contact AACN

For questions about Essentials programs, implementation efforts, resources, and more, please contact the following AACN staff members for assistance.

Susan Corbridge, PhD
Chief Essentials Program Officer
scorbridge@aacnnursing.org

Sandra Maroa
Essentials Program Assistant
smaroa@aacnnursing.org