AACN is compiling a list of of references for the AACN 2021 Essentials. If you have an article to share, please contact AACN's Chief Communications Officer, Robert Rosseter at rrosseter@aacnnursing.org. 

Altmiller, G. (2023). Curriculum Mapping for Competency-Based Education: Collecting Objective Data. Nurse Educator, 48(5), 287. DOI:10.1097/NNE.0000000000001462

Altmiller, G., Jimenez, F. A., & Wilson, C. (2023). Screen-Based Patient Simulation: An Exemplar for Developing and Assessing Competency. Nurse Educator. In Press. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000001585

Antonelli, M. T., Poza, R., Richards, R., & Vitello, J. (2024). Development of a Master of Science, Nursing and Interprofessional Leadership Program: AACN Essentials in Action. Journal of Professional Nursing, 51(1), 27–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.01.005

Barnes, R., Remick, J., Hughes-Gay, M., Opsahl, A., Townsend, C., Lash, R., & Bartlett Ellis, R. J. (2023). The AACN Essentials Journey. Journal of Professional Nursing, 46(X), 19–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.11.010

Beasley, B., Reeves, N., & Riley, E. (2023). Introduction to Digital Health Course. Journal of Professional Nursing, 49, 64–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.09.002

Cline, G. J., Rinaldi, K., Pryor, S., & Messer, M. (2024). Preparing Nurse Educator Students for the New National Council of State Boards of Nursing NCLEX and AACN Essentials. Journal of Nursing Education, 63(3), 192–196. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20231128-01

Cline, G., & Rinaldi, K. (2023). A Compelling Case for the Use of Backward Design to Advance Competency-Based Nursing Education. Nurse Educator, 48(5), E168-E169. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000001388

Coleman, C. (2023). American Association of Colleges of Nursing: New Essentials, Quality and Safety Domain. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 27(2), 199-203. https://doi.org/10.1188/23.cjon.199-203

Conklin, T. M. (2022). Improving Patient Outcomes While Applying New AACN Essentials to Clinical Nursing Education. Nurse Educator, 48(1), 57–57. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000001270

DeBlieck, C. J., Correa, P., Whitten, L. J., Gross, M., Blanchette, L. P., Darnall, T. E., & Hernández, C. (2023). A Crosswalk of Foundational BSN Population Health Documents and the AACN Essentials. Public Health Nursing, 40(5), 717–723. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13213

Dolansky, M. A., Dick, T., Byrd, E., Miltner, R. S., & Layton, S. S. (2023). The QSEN Competency Legacy Threaded Through the Entry-Level AACN Essentials. Nurse Educator, 49(2), 73–79. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000001511

Dugan, M. A., & Altmiller, G. (2023). AACN Essentials and Nurse Practitioner Education: Competency-Based Case Studies Grounded in Authentic Practice. Journal of Professional Nursing, 46, 59–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.02.003

Flaten, C. B., Pechacek, J. M., Potter, T. M., & Mueller, C. (2023). Planetary Health in Nursing Curricula: How One School Transformed Nursing Curricula as They Integrated Planetary Health Concepts with the 2021 AACN Essentials. Journal of Professional Nursing, 49, 52–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.08.010

Galura, S., & Warshawsky, N. (2022). Initial Evaluation of a Doctor of Nursing Practice – Executive Track Program: The Development of a Three-Year Process to Implement the New AACN Essentials. Journal of Professional Nursing, 42, 276–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.07.014

Giddens, J. (2020). Demystifying concept-based and competency-based approaches. Journal of Nursing Education, 59(3):123-124. https://doi: 10.3928/01484834-20200220-01

Giddens, J., Douglas, J.P. & Conroy, S. (2022). The Revised AACN Essentials: Implications for Nursing Regulation. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 12(4), 16-22.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155-8256(22)00009-6

Giddens, J. F., & Mullaney, S. (2023). Incorporating the AACN Essentials ‘Spheres of Care’ into Nursing Curricula. Journal of Professional Nursing, 47, 9–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.03.015

Gray, K., Miller, J. M., & Manning, M. L. (2023). Aligning the Post Master’s DNP with the 2021 AACN Essentials. Journal of Professional Nursing, 46, 65–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.11.007

Hampton, D., Melander, S., Tovar, E., Falls, C., Makowski, A., Grubbs, A. B., Chitwood, H., & Scott, L. (2024). Value of Miller’s Pyramid for Clinical Skills Assessment in the Evaluation of Competency for Nurse Practitioner Students. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 20(4), 104952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2024.104952

Jenkins-Weintaub, E., Goodwin, M., & Fingerhood, M. (2023). Competency-Based Evaluation: Collaboration and Consistency from Academia to Practice. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 35(2), 142–149. https://doi.org/10.1097/jxx.0000000000000830

Kavanagh, J. & Sharpnack, P. (2021) Crisis in competency: A defining moment in nursing education. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 26(1), Manuscript 2. Accessible online at https://www.doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol26No01Man02

Leaver, C., Stanley, J. & Goodwin Veenema, T. (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the future of nursing education. Academic Medicine, 97(3S), S82-S89. https://doi:10.1097/ACM.0000000000004528

Mainous, R. O., Dunlap, J. J., & Brewer, T. L. (2023). Realizing the DNP as Envisioned: Moving Toward Consistent Nomenclature, Curricula, and Outcomes. Nursing Outlook, 71(3), 101969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2023.101969

Martin, D. R., & Furr, S. B. (2023). Through the Lens of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) New Essentials: Integration of Human Trafficking Education and Simulation Within Baccalaureate Nursing Curricula. Journal of Professional Nursing, 47, 31–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.04.003

McCurren, C., Trautman, D., & Rosseter, R. (2024). Response to “DNP Preparation of Primary Care Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Chronic Conditions” (Nursing Outlook, May/June 2023). Nursing Outlook, 72(1), 102055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2023.102055

Moreau, K.A. (2021). Exploring the connection between programmatic assessment and program evaluation within competency-based medical education programs. Medical Teacher, 43(3), 250-252. https://doi:10.1080/0142159X.2020.1841128

Mueller-Burke, D., Bindon, S., Akintade, B., & Idzik, S. (2024). The AACN Essentials: An Intentional Framework for Successful Implementation. Journal of Professional Nursing, 52, 62–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.03.009

Norman-Eck, R., Chandler, T., Boyd, B., DeCotes, C., Winters, N., Palmer, L., & Levitt, C. (2023). Meeting the AACN’s Essentials for Competency-Based Education with Hands-Free Video-Recorded Skills Assessment. Journal of Nursing Education, 62(12), 733–736. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20231108-01

Potthoff, M., Kirkpatrick, A. J., & Jizba, T. A. (2023). Interprofessional Primary Palliative Care: Do the AACN Essentials Prepare Nurses for Collaborative Practice? Journal of Professional Nursing, 46, 197–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.03.017

Rivera-Burciaga, A. R., Palacios, M., & Kemery, S. A. (2022). Educating for Equity in Palliative Care: Implications of the Future of Nursing 2030 Report. Journal of Professional Nursing, 42, 134–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.06.012

Robinson, J., Jagiello, K. P., McElroy, L., LoVerde, J., Jowell, V., Good, P., & Brink, S. (2024). Competency-Based Education in RN to BSN Programs. Nurse Educator. In Press. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000001604

Saunders, M.M. (2022, May/June). The Implications of the New Essentials on the CNS Profession—Let's Respond! Clinical Nurse Specialist, 36(3), 129-130. https://doi:10.1097/NUR.0000000000000668

Sharifi, C., Alcorn, K., Downey, K., Hinton, E. G., Sender, J., & Ver Steeg, J. (2022). AACN Essentials: Librarians as Partners in Successful Implementation. Journal of Professional Nursing, 42, A3-A5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.07.019

Sirianni, G., Takahashi, S., & Myers, J. (2020). Taking stock of what is known about faculty development on competency-based medical education: A scoping review paper. Medical Teacher, 42(8), 909-915. https://doi:10.1080/0142159X.2020.1763285

Stachowiak, M. (2023). Using the DNP Project to Validate the AACN Essentials Level II Sub-Competencies. Nurse Educator, 49(3), 175–177. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000001531

Vortman, R., Stogis, S., & Kirkbride, G. (2022). Envisioning the New AACN Essentials in a Competency-Based DNP Strategic and Financial Business Planning Course. Journal of Professional Nursing, 42, 231–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.07.011

Welch, T. D., & Smith, T. B. (2022). AACN Essentials as the Conceptual Thread of Nursing Education. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 46(3), 234–244. https://doi.org/10.1097/naq.0000000000000541

Wells-Beede, E., Sharpnack, P., Gruben, D., Klenke-Borgmann, L., Goliat, L., & Yeager, C. (2023). A Scoping Review of Nurse Educator Competencies. Nurse Educator, 48(5), 234–239. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000001376

Wilson, M. L., Stover Nichols, L. M., & Rudner, N. (2023). Nursing and the Evolution of Population Health. American Nurse Journal, 18(6), 53–57. https://doi.org/10.51256/anj062353