Teaching Resources

AACN's education resources, curriculum guidelines, and tool kits provide a framework for positioning baccalaureate and graduate-degree nursing programs to meet the healthcare challenges of a new century. Nursing deans and faculty nationwide have used the following resources produced by AACN to prepare practice-ready nurses.

APRN Education

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Resources

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Competency-Based Education

Principles and benefits of competency-based education (CBE)

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Curriculum Guidelines

Guidelines to prepare highly qualified nurses for a healthcare system in continual change

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End-of-Life-Care (ELNEC)

Resources in palliative care for students, practicing nurses, and healthcare professionals

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Essentials Tool Kit

Resources designed to assist in implementing the 2021 Essentials

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Faculty Tool Kits

A collection of tool kits for academic nursing faculty

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Interprofessional Education

Competencies, publications, and resources in interprofessional education

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Online Learning Center

Webinars and modules exclusively for nurse educators

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Quality & Safety Education

QSEN module series and resources on quality and safety competencies

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Start Your Essentials Journey

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.

Get Started

Featured Publications

Advancing Healthcare Transformation - A New Era for Academic Nursing

New Era for Academic Nursing

Advancing Healthcare Transformation: A New Era for Academic Nursing addresses how schools of nursing with baccalaureate and higher degrees can amplify their role in improving health and health care at the local, state, and national levels. Read more about the power and possibilities connected to effective academic-practice partnerships.

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Recommended CNL Practice Experiences

AACN has released a list of 24 experiences deemed critical for preparing CNL graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to perform effectively in diverse practice settings and systems upon graduation. The list was developed by an Expert Panel comprised of CNL faculty and practicing CNLs.

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Standards for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education

The National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education, a coalition of 19 national nursing organizations, has developed a new set of standards designed to ensure quality in graduate programs that prepare nurse practitioners (NPs). Criteria will help programs update curriculum and clinical experiences to better prepare graduates for contemporary NP practice.

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Essentials Coaching Program

Does your school of nursing need guidance on how to adapt your curriculum to align with the 2021 AACN Essentials and transition to competency-based education (CBE)? AACN’s Essentials Coaching Program is here to help! Offered on a contract-basis, this program provides expert coaches on request to help meet institution-specific needs for schools at all stages of Essentials implementation.

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