Every semester, a new wave of students begins their journey into nursing. They’re driven by a calling to have a positive impact on health, make a difference in the lives of patients and their families, and promote the health of communities. Strong demand for nurses offers job security and career growth, while the profession’s flexibility opens doors to diverse roles—from bedside care to leadership and research.
Yet, as health care grows more complex, nursing education continues to evolve, equipping future nurses with clinical skills, communication skills, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment, as well as the critical thinking and adaptability needed to meet the demands of modern health care.
“When we look at workforce trends, a lot of health care is moving out of acute care settings [like hospitals] toward supporting overall health. Nurses are now part of care teams focused on preventing and managing chronic disease,” says Melody Krahulec, DNP, assistant dean for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and curriculum facilitator at the University of Utah College of Nursing (CON). “Nurse practitioners (NPs) are taking on an important role as primary care providers, with increasing autonomy to practice medicine at a high level.”
For decades, nursing education has focused on teaching specific tasks, such as administering medications or providing wound care. These skills remain essential, but they alone cannot prepare nurses for the complexity of modern health care. Nurses are called upon to make critical decisions about patient care, often in unpredictable situations. The ability to think critically, synthesize information, and adapt quickly has always been a cornerstone of nursing practice. It is now more vital than ever.
A SHIFT IN NURSING EDUCATION
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), representing over 875 schools of nursing nationwide, has long been at the forefront of advancing nursing education. Since 1986, AACN’s The Essentials series has provided an academic framework informed by higher education, nursing practice, and insights from diverse health care environments. The most recent update, The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, released in 2021, marks a transformative move toward competency- based education (CBE).
Rather than focusing solely on classroom content, CBE emphasizes outcomes—what students can demonstrate and apply in real-world health care settings. This approach addresses gaps in traditional nursing education, ensuring students are prepared for clinical practice, leadership, research, and system-level challenges.
“The most effective nurses are those with the ability to adapt to new situations, resolve problems as they arise, and take on more responsibility to make critical decisions in high-stakes clinical and leadership settings,” says Krahulec.
STRENGTHENING EDUCATION THROUGH CORE COMPETENCIES
At the heart of The Essentials framework are eight core concepts that guide nursing education from baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs:
- Clinical Judgment
- Communication
- Compassionate Care
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Ethics
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Health Policy
- Social Determinants of Health
These concepts represent the knowledge, skills, and attitudes nurses need to succeed in today’s health care environment. It is important for nurses to understand how social determinants of health (SDOH) such as education access and quality, economic stability, transportation, access to healthy food, and housing affect patient outcomes. Integrating SDOH into nursing curricula empowers future nurses to deliver more holistic, patient-centered care.
Another significant goal of The Essentials standardize the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of graduates earning the same degree, regardless of the college or university they attended.
By establishing clear, standardized outcomes, The Essentials ensures that health care employers can confidently understand the skills and knowledge nursing graduates bring to the workforce.
The most effective nurses are those with the ability to adapt to new situations, resolve problems as they arise, and take on more responsibility to make critical decisions in high-stakes clinical and leadership settings.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN NURSING EDUCATION
The CON is actively working to implement the updated framework, leveraging its position as an R1 research institution and its connection to a leading academic health system to design a comprehensive and forward-thinking curriculum. This work reflects a longstanding commitment to educating our graduates to deliver safe, patient-centered, evidence- based care, both today and in the future.
“We created a focused warehouse of relevant information, attended and even hosted AACN workshops about The Essentials and competency- based education, and collaborated with colleagues from other schools around the country regarding curriculum design,” Krahulec says.
The newly revised curriculum emphasizes active learning, where students are accountable for mastering competencies before advancing to a higher level. This model shifts the focus from faculty-centered lectures to student-driven learning.
“Students are at the center of this new learning experience,” said Sue Cantarini, DNP, director of the RN to BSN program and curriculum facilitator for undergraduate education at the CON. “We are holding students accountable to demonstrate that they understand these concepts fully, and if not, we are offering remediation until they do. The students must take responsibility for their learning in this new model.”
Designing assessments to evaluate competency is no small task. Faculty provide continuous feedback, role modeling, and guidance to help students refine their skills. These efforts ensure graduates are prepared to meet industry standards and confident and capable of adapting to a shifting health care landscape.
THE FUTURE OF COMPASSIONATE, COMPETENT NURSES
The CON’s purposeful curriculum development reflects its enduring leadership in nursing education. Through a focus on critical competencies like clinical judgment, compassionate care, and evidence-based practice, the college equips graduates to address the most pressing needs of patients and communities with confidence and skill.
By maintaining a focus on holistic, patient-centered care and cultivating leadership at every level, the CON continues to deliver unparalleled education. Its commitment to excellence ensures graduates are prepared to make an immediate and meaningful impact in health care while also shaping the future of the nursing profession.
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