Creating Competency Statements

Creating Competency Statements for Your Nursing Program: Models, Tips and Tools

At some point, nearly every nurse educator has written a reference letter describing a student as “competent”. Likewise, when discussing students who are struggling, we might say “She hasn’t yet reached the expected level of competence.” While we usually know what we mean by “competent”, it’s not always clear to others. This lack of clarity, along with the complexity of the current health care system, is driving the shift toward Competency-Based Education (CBE) in nursing programs.

Although some nursing programs—like other health professions —have incorporated competency-based approaches for many years, it has become more common. One catalyst was the AACN’s 2021 publication: The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. (https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Publications/Essentials-2021.pdf). Other nursing/accreditation organizations are also encouraging the use of competencies to prepare and evaluate nursing students. For example, NLN has published a Competency -Based Education Toolkit to support nursing faculty in implementing this approach. (https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Publications/Essentials-2021.pdf).

Competency-Based Education (CBE)

As promised in our February 2025 Collaborative Momentum Consulting blog, we’re diving deeper into CBE- starting with a discussion of competency statements. Traditionally, nursing programs have used program goals, or student learning outcomes, to define the knowledge, skills and attitudes students should demonstrate by graduation. However, these outcomes are frequently too broad or abstract to support reliable measurement. In addition, course objectives are often not aligned with program goals, making it difficult to accurately assess learners’ competency.

Clear, measurable exit competency statements help faculty develop desired competencies which articulate behaviors necessary for successful practice post-graduation. Once these exit competencies are established, more specific competence statements (often referred to as sub-competencies) can suggest assessment measures to evaluate learners’ abilities as they move through the course of study. This backward design of the curriculum provides a roadmap to guide learners and faculty in assessing the knowledge and behaviors necessary for practice.

How to Develop Effective Competency Statements in Nursing Education

Creating effective competency statements requires three essential actions: Continue reading “Creating Competency Statements”

Competency-Based Education in Nursing

In this episode we discuss the shift to CBE. Tune in to hear expert advice to guide your program forward. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

Many nursing programs are working to integrate competencies into their curriculum to meet new accreditation standards — but the shift to competency-based education (CBE) can feel overwhelming. In this episode Susy talks with Dr. Jan Jones-Schenk, a nationally recognized expert in competency-based nursing education.

Dr. Jones-Schenk shares practical advice to help nurse educators align curricula with the AACN Essentials, meet accreditation requirements, and support student success through a CBE model. Whether you’re just starting or already deep into the transition, this episode offers clarity, direction, and expert insight you can trust.

Tune in and subscribe Nurse Educators Now on YouTube , Apple Podcasts, or Spotify for expert insights and actionable advice to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of nursing education.

#competencybasededucation #nurseeducator #nursingfaculty #nurseeducatorsnow #janjonesschenk #collaborativemomentumconsulting #susansportsman

We offer effective nursing education consulting services to programs throughout the U.S. Reach out and let us know what we can do for your program.

Competency-Based Education (CBE)

The Shift Toward Competency-Based Education

Competency-Based Education in Nursing — **Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN**

Introduction

The challenge of preparing novice nurses to deliver safe, effective care is not new. New graduates, faculty and practice partners alike have all recognized that safety should be the hallmark of a nurse entering the profession- regardless of their practice setting. However, in today’s complex health care environment, accurately assessing whether a novice nurse is truly prepared is no simple task. With increasing patient acuity, expanding scopes of practice, and evolving healthcare roles, nursing education must continuously adapt to ensure graduates have the necessary capabilities for real-world practice. For the last 25 years, a variety of efforts have been made by the profession to quantify specific competencies essential for nurses. Table A gives examples of efforts to evaluate the behaviors of a competent nurse in various roles and settings.

Table A: Selected Efforts to Support Integration of Nursing Competency into Practice

Current literature suggests the Nurse Competency Scale (both the original and shortened version) is the most commonly used self-assessment instrument to measure the generic competence of registered nurses. The scale, based on Benner’s from Novice to Expert model, is used to evaluate the nurse’s ability to integrate knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values in specific context. The nursing behaviors identified in the scale includes the nurse’s helping role, teaching-coaching, diagnostic functions, managing situations, therapeutic interventions, ensuring quality, and worker role. (Meretoja, et. al, 2004).

The Shift Toward Competency Based Nursing Education

In response to the 2021 of American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, many baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs seeking accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) today are in the process of integrating Competency Based Education into their curriculum. AACN recognizes that complete integration of these competencies into baccalaureate and graduate education will take time. As a result, Continue reading “Competency-Based Education (CBE)”

AI for Nurse Educators

In this episode we discuss the pros and cons of ChatGPT in the classroom and unpack practical strategies that nurse educators can use today.

Curious about how AI can streamline the workload for nurse educators? Join us as we talk with Dr. Hovar about how AI can support and challenge traditional teaching. We’ll explore the pros, cons, and practical ways to use ChatGPT in your program. Listen on YouTube or Spotify.

Subscribe to our Nurse Educators Now YouTube channel or find us on Spotify for expert insights and actionable advice to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of nursing education.

We offer effective nursing education consulting services to programs throughout the U.S. Reach out and let us know what we can do for your program.