AACN Essentials

The Essentials

Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice

Descriptor: Integration, translation, and application of established and evolving disciplinary nursing knowledge and ways of knowing, as well as knowledge from other disciplines, including a foundation in liberal arts and natural and social sciences. This distinguishes the practice of professional nursing and forms the basis for clinical judgment and innovation in nursing practice.

Contextual Statement: Knowledge for Nursing Practice provides the context for understanding nursing as a scientific discipline. The lens of nursing, informed by nursing history, knowledge, and science, reflects nursing’s desire to incorporate multiple perspectives into nursing practice, leading to nursing’s unique way of knowing and caring.

Preparation in both liberal arts and sciences and professional nursing coursework provides graduates with the essential abilities to function as independent, intellectually curious, socially responsible, competent practitioners (Tobbell, 2018). A liberal education creates the foundation for the development of intellectual and practical abilities within the context of nursing. Further, liberal education is the key to understanding self and others; contributes to safe, quality care; and informs the development of clinical judgment.

Entry-Level Domain 1 Competencies

1.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the discipline of nursing’s distinct perspective and where shared perspectives exist with other disciplines

  • 1.1a Identify concepts, derived from theories from nursing and other disciplines, which distinguish the practice of nursing.

  • 1.1b Apply knowledge of nursing science that develops a foundation for nursing practice.

  • 1.1c Understand the historical foundation of nursing as the relationship developed between the individual and nurse.

  • 1.1d Articulate nursing’s distinct perspective to practice.

1.2 Apply theory and research-based knowledge from nursing, the arts, humanities, and other sciences.

  • 1.2a Apply or employ knowledge from nursing science as well as the natural, physical, and social sciences to build an understanding of the human experience and nursing practice.

  • 1.2b Demonstrate intellectual curiosity

  • 1.2c Demonstrate social responsibility as a global citizen who fosters the attainment of health equity for all.

  • 1.2d Examine influence of personal values in decision making for nursing practice.

  • 1.2e Demonstrate ethical decision making.

1.3 Demonstrate clinical judgment founded on a broad knowledge base.

  • 1.3a Demonstrate clinical reasoning.

  • 1.3b Integrate nursing knowledge (theories, multiple ways of knowing, evidence) and knowledge from other disciplines and inquiry to inform clinical judgment.

  • 1.3c Incorporate knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to support clinical judgment.

Advanced-Level Domain 1 Competencies

1.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the discipline of nursing’s distinct perspective and where shared perspectives exist with other disciplines

  • 1.1e Translate evidence from nursing science as well as other sciences into practice.

  • 1.1f Demonstrate the application of nursing science to practice.

  • 1.1g Integrate an understanding of nursing history in advancing nursing’s influence in health care.

1.2 Apply theory and research-based knowledge from nursing, the arts, humanities, and other sciences.

  • 1.2f Synthesize knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to inform education, practice, and research.

  • 1.2g Apply a systematic and defendable approach to nursing practice decisions.

  • 1.2h Employ ethical decision making to assess, intervene, and evaluate nursing care.

  • 1.2i Demonstrate socially responsible leadership.

  • 1.2j Translate theories from nursing and other disciplines to practice.

1.3 Demonstrate clinical judgment founded on a broad knowledge base.

  • 1.3d Integrate foundational and advanced specialty knowledge into clinical reasoning.

  • 1.3e Synthesize current and emerging evidence to influence practice.

  • 1.3f Analyze decision models from nursing and other knowledge domains to improve clinical judgment.