AACN Releases New Vision to Guide the Use of Technology in Academic Nursing

WASHINGTON, DC, January 10, 2023 – The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is pleased to announce the release of a new Vision for Sharing Data and Information Across Nursing Education, Practice, and Regulation. Approved by the AACN Board of Directors, this document calls for developing an integrated information system - supported by technology, people, and processes – that facilitates the sharing of data and information among schools of nursing, healthcare settings, and regulatory bodies. The new statement provides recommendations for schools to consider when evaluating technologies, including those focused on the implementation of the AACN Essentials, as well as for companies looking to offer solutions to meet the needs of nursing schools and the larger healthcare community.

Transitioning to competency-based education and assessment in nursing has sparked a new wave of innovation focused on assisting nursing schools in adapting their programs to meet contemporary standards and quality expectations,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, AACN President and Chief Executive Officer. “AACN offers this new vision to help guide the development of new technology and digital tools, while providing guidance to schools looking to discern which solutions are best able to meet their program’s specific needs.”

The new vision was developed by AACN’s Technology Working Group, an interdisciplinary group of experts, who were charged with developing recommendations on the use of technology within academic nursing, including for the association, accreditation, nursing education programs, and students. A key emphasis in this work was on existing or needed technology to support the transition to the 2021 AACN Essentials, such as for curriculum mapping, data collection and reporting, and competency attainment/tracking.

The overarching vision calls for developing an interoperable system that supports the needs and promotes the best use of resources for schools of nursing, faculty, students, practicing nurses, employers, and regulators, including licensing, accrediting, and certifying bodies. The resulting statement identifies the goals and purpose of this preferred system, provides scenarios to illustrate the new vision, identifies products that would support Essentials implementation, and offers criteria for the development and modification of technologies to meet the needs of academic nursing.

Webinar Planned on New Vision for Technology

On January 24, 2023 from 12:00-1:00 pm (ET), members of the Technology Working Group will provide an outline of the new vision during a webinar titled Using Technology and Data to Support the Move to Competency-Based Education (CBE). Transitioning to CBE requires new ways of teaching and learning, which can be facilitated by technology. Join Dr. Janelle Sokolowich from Western Governors University and Dr. Marc Triola from New York University, who will present an overview of AACN’s vision for technology, including how faculty can use criteria to identify and/or develop technology to support implementation of the 2021 Essentials. The webinar is free to faculty, staff, and students from AACN member schools. Click here to watch webinar on-demand. 

Licensing Use of the AACN Essentials

AACN supports the efforts of companies to develop products and services to assist schools of nursing in the implementation of the new Essentials and the move to a competency-based approach to education. Though AACN has not endorsed any products or services related to the Essentials, we are requiring all companies, organizations, and individuals offering products using content from the Essentials to sign a licensing agreement and comply with all terms as outlined. To find out more about the no-cost licensing agreement, please contact Sandra Maroa, Essentials Program Assistant, at smaroa@aacnnursing.org.