Meeting the AACN's Essentials for Competency-Based Education With Hands-Free Video-Recorded Skills Assessment

Abstract

Background: In the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's updated Essentials, competency-based education (CBE) is the expected standard for nursing curricula. CBE approaches include observation, practice repetition, demonstration, and video supervision guided by a framework of competency, feedback, and self-reflection. Method: The promotion of skills competency among nursing students was facilitated by self-regulated learning using video skills-based competency testing. Video surveillance enabled students to practice and self-test their competency skills. Results: Self-videotaping by students provided a comfortable learning environment for repeated practice and fostered clinical judgment and accountability. Students reported increased confidence, decreased anxiety, and improved performance. Students developed skills and attitudes regarding self-reflection and self-remediation. Additionally, faculty reported improved visibility, a more efficient workload, and greater achievement of student outcomes. Conclusion: Integrating CBE and incorporating video technology during skills testing enhances the opportunity for students to demonstrate skills competency and gain comfort in their own skills acquisition. [ J Nurs Educ . 2023;62(12):733–736.]