Guest Author - Helen V. Clalang-Javier, MSN, RNC, IBCLC

In 1986, American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) developed the core standards for the Baccalaureate Nursing Education. Then, in 1998, the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice was revised to meet the rapid changes in the health care industry and to manage the patient’s needs. Seven years later, AACN revisited these core standards in order to redesign a more appropriate preparation for nurses to meet the new demands of the health care industry. The new advances in the health care system, the fast growing scientific and technological advances, and the shifting demographics necessitate the reevaluation of the current Baccalaureate Essentials to prepare a new breed of nurses, to meet the new expectations of the consumer, and to uphold the standards of the nursing profession to the highest level.

On February 14, 2007, the president of AACN, Jeanette Lancaster gave report on the on-going revision of the Baccalaureate Essentials. This new revision project started last October 2006 and foresee its completion by 2008. The Joint Commission of Nursing Advisory Council created a task force with various representatives from nursing education and representatives from the different practice settings will be involved in this project.

Through collaborative partnership, the task force will develop the documents recommending the revision for the Baccalaureate program. The task force will explore the various workplace needs, complexities, and various competencies in the practice settings. This will address the creation of more suited nursing competencies, an array of role expectations, and professionalism based on changing patient care issues and new scientific advances. These data and patient outcome-driven inquiry and analysis will address the new nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes to better prepare the new generation of nurses. The task force will look into more realistic learning experiences for pre-licensure program and learning experiences after graduation to facilitate the newly graduated nurse to transition for a new entry-level nursing position.

The goal of this Task Force is to complete the revision of the Baccalaureate Essentials by July 2008. This will give the members of AACN to review the new program and ready to be presented on the upcoming annual meeting in October 2008.

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