Bruin Brief 2023-07-14 -- Essentials Transformation

Owned by Cynthia James
Last updated: Jul 17, 2023
3 min read

From Academic Affairs
July 14th, 2023

Summer quarter brings sunlight and relative relaxation. June graduates have moved on, leaving our halls emptier. Many of us find a little more time to read, replenish, and prepare. With deep appreciation for all the work of faculty, here are updates about the AACN Essentials Taskforce progress.

First, the Population Health Work Group.

Dr. Catherine Carpenter is leading the Faculty Work Group on Population Health. Faculty met with Dr. Susan Swider from Rush University this past week. Faculty members will accomplish two related objectives this summer:

a.       Explore how current population health / public health courses in the Prelicensure curricula might coalesce into an integrated and leveled sequence of courses that meet six competencies within the AACN Essentials Domain #3 on Population Health.

b.       Design competency-based measurement and teaching methods for Population Health.

The Faculty Work Group will offer an update on their progress at the next Essentials Faculty Workshop. Meanwhile we welcome faculty input – please contact Catherine Carpenter if you would like to provide relevant information or volunteer to participate in these sessions. The next Work Group meeting with Dr. Swider is scheduled for Wednesday, August 9 via zoom at 12:00-2:00 pm.

Second, the BS Pre-requisite Courses.

Information on BS pre-requisite courses is being collected and analyzed by members of the Essentials Task Force. Harmonizing UCLA requirements, our historical pre-requisite selection, peer nursing schools, and the new Essentials will yield recommendations. The primary question being considered is whether the current slate of prerequisite courses prepares students with “knowledge from other disciplines, including a foundation in liberal arts, and natural and social sciences” as described in AACN Domain #1 Knowledge for Nursing Practice (AACN Essentials, 2021, p. 27). This information will be available for program faculty and Curriculum Committee to review and discuss early fall 2023.

Third, End-of-Program Outcomes.

The Essentials Task Force greatly appreciates and supports the work of program faculty and members of the Curriculum Committee and Faculty Executive Committee as these groups have developed, reviewed, and revised the End-of-Program outcomes for the BS, MECN, and DNP curricula. These program outcomes are on the agenda for discussion at the July 18 Faculty meeting.

Finally, guidance about the process of curricular transformation.

  1. Faculty can change course objectives to competency statements aligned with the Essentials. We cannot change course title, course description, and other items. Talk with your Program Director and program colleagues to see examples of courses already transforming or ask any Taskforce member for guidance.

  2. Please coordinate with the Dr. Carol Pavlish, the SON Essentials Champion, if you wish to meet with either of our consultants.  Both Dr. Swider and Dr. Altmiller will meet with faculty individually or in groups only when approved and coordinated through Dr. Pavlish.

  3. A September Faculty Essentials Workshop will be held September 27, 28 or 29th. Let me know if you have a preference for any particular day or time, then watch for an announcement in coming weeks.

Enjoy the summer season.

Lauren Clark
Professor and Shapiro Family Endowed Chair in Developmental Disability Studies

Associate Dean, Academic Programs
Office: (310) 267-5923

Mobile: (801) 503-4755
nursing.ucla.edu