RN–Baccalaureate Myth Busters: Separating CBE Fact from Fiction
Webinar Details
Faculty engaged in RN–Baccalaureate education are invited to a high-level exploration of common myths and key considerations about competency-based education (CBE) to help participants prepare for deeper, hands-on curriculum design and implementation. By first addressing misconceptions and clarifying what CBE is—and is not—participants will be better positioned to engage in more applied work focused on aligning RN–Baccalaureate programs with the AACN Essentials and designing meaningful learning and assessment strategies. This webinar serves as a precursor to an upcoming workshop, in November, focused on CBE implementation led by members of the National RN-Baccalaureate Faculty Forum.
Learning Outcomes:
- Distinguish common misconceptions about competency-based education from evidence-informed principles.
- Explain key considerations for aligning RN–Baccalaureate programs with the AACN Essentials within a competency-based education framework.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen competency-based education within RN–Baccalaureate programs.
Speakers
Jamie Robinson, PhD, RN, CNL
Associate Professor/Associate Director, School of Nursing
James Madison University
Dr. Jamie Robinson is an Associate Professor and Associate Director for Undergraduate Nursing at the School of Nursing at James Madison University. She provides leadership for undergraduate nursing education across BSN and RN to BSN pathways and brings extensive experience in nursing practice, higher education, and academic leadership. Her scholarship focuses on competency-based nursing education, curriculum transformation, authentic assessment of clinical judgment, and operationalizing the AACN Essentials to strengthen nursing education. Through this work, she develops practical strategies that align curriculum, assessment, learner progression, and program outcomes to prepare nurses for evolving healthcare environments and advance professional nursing practice. Dr. Robinson has contributed to national efforts to advance competency-based nursing education through scholarship and faculty development and has collaborated internationally on innovative educational partnerships and global learning initiatives. Her current research explores competency measurement, educational innovation, and academic-practice partnerships that strengthen nursing education, workforce readiness, and healthcare outcomes.
Rhonda Williams, DNP, RN, CNE
RN-BSN Program Coordinator and Teaching Professor
Ascension Via Christi-Wichita State University School of Nursing
Dr. Rhonda Williams is a Teaching Professor and Coordinator of the RN to BSN Program at the Ascension Via Christi-Wichita State University School of Nursing. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Educational Leadership and a Master of Science in Nursing Education and is a Certified Nurse Educator. As RN to BSN Program Coordinator, she provides leadership for curriculum development, program evaluation, accreditation alignment, faculty support, student success initiatives, and academic partnerships with associate degree nursing programs across Kansas and the region. Dr. Williams teaches and serves as lead faculty for several RN to BSN courses and has been instrumental in advancing online nursing education through course redesign, implementation of innovative learning technologies, and adoption of evidence-based teaching practices.
Nationally, Dr. Williams serves as Co-Director of the National RN to Baccalaureate Faculty Forum (NRFF) and has contributed extensively to initiatives supporting RN to Baccalaureate education. She co-led a national crosswalk and gap analysis of the AACN Essentials and NCLEX test plans and is co-editor of the 2025 NRFF Position Statement published through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Her scholarship includes publications on RN to Baccalaureate faculty needs, curriculum implementation, and educational innovation. Dr. Williams is an active member of planning teams and an invited speaker for national RN to Baccalaureate conferences, workshops, and webinars, including programs focused on implementing the AACN Essentials, reimagining RN to Baccalaureate education, and addressing emerging trends in academic progression for registered nurses.
Stephen D. Heglund, PhD, MSN, RN, APRN
Professor & RN-BSN Program Coordinator
AdventHealth University
Dr. Steve Heglund currently serves as a Professor at AdventHealth University in Orlando, Florida where he coordinates the RN-BSN Program. He brings more than 30 years of critical and emergency care experience as a bedside nurse and nurse practitioner to nursing education. In previous roles as a Coordinator, Director, and Assistant Dean, he gained extensive experience in the management of BSN completion programs including RN-BSN, RN-MSN, and Concurrent ASN-BSN programs in both fully distant and hybrid modalities for the past 25 years. During this time, he has managed the growth of programs from partially to fully online with opportunities for students to partake in face-to-face learning as an available option. He has also broadened the practice experiences of the RN student completing the BSN that address the demands of highly varied needs for nursing in the communities they will serve as BSN prepared Registered Nurses. Dr. Heglund also serves AACN as an Essentials Coach and consults with member schools to fine tune curriculum and provide professional development for faculty. He is an award-winning faculty advisor, course designer, instructor, author, and speaker on subjects pertaining to innovative learning, advising, and nursing program management.
Pricing and CE Credit
This webinar is free to deans, faculty, staff and students from AACN member schools of nursing. All non-member audiences will be required to pay a $59 webinar fee.
Continuing Nursing Education
One nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) credit is associated with this webinar; attendees must be present for the entire webinar and complete the evaluation to receive a certificate of completion.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.