Competency-based education and the AACN Essentials

NP curriculum is guided by several curricular standards from multiple organizations. The main curricular standard is the Essentials, a document from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the leading authority in nursing curriculum. The Essentials outlines competency-based education standards for NP education. As preceptors are critical partners in NP education, this article serves to provide foundational knowledge about competency-based NP curriculum, including the Essentials, to help preceptors strengthen their approach to teaching NP students.