AACN competency-based essentials revisit: Evidence-based validation of entrustable professional activities in Asia

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Competency-Based Education
• Pedagogical Strategies

Background:

• Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are recognized for enhancing nursing skills, particularly in Western graduate programs.
• The effectiveness of EPAs in Eastern undergraduate nursing education remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the competency-based approach using EPAs in Taiwan's undergraduate nursing education.
• To assess the impact of EPAs on nursing students' perceived competency, learning satisfaction, and clinical skills.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was employed with 72 nursing students in Taiwan.
• The intervention involved implementing an EPA in a Wound Care Nursing course.
• Outcomes were measured using competency inventories, learning satisfaction surveys, and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations.

Main Results:

• Students in the EPA group showed significantly higher perceived competency and clinical examination scores.
• Both groups reported increased learning satisfaction, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

• Competency-based pedagogy, exemplified by EPAs, should be integrated into nursing curricula.
• This approach aligns with evolving standards, such as those from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, providing compelling evidence for its efficacy.