American Nurse Journal (ANJ)Nursing Education at a Crossroads

🎓 Expert Commentary / Peer Perspective

A nursing education commentary examines growing concerns about clinical preparedness, faculty-practice gaps, competency-based education, and generative AI. The author argues that nursing programs must adapt while maintaining their core mission of developing competent, ethical nurses.

What’s at Stake

• The author argues clinical education may not adequately mirror the workload and complexity encountered after graduation.
• Expanded simulation use raises questions about long-term effects on clinical proficiency and professional development.
• Competency-based education remains widely endorsed, but implementation and assessment approaches vary substantially.
• Generative AI is challenging traditional methods used to evaluate student learning and original thinking.

What to Watch

• Track efforts to increase real-world clinical exposure.
• Watch how nursing programs operationalize competency-based education.
• Follow faculty development initiatives focused on AI literacy.
• Observe models that keep nursing faculty engaged in clinical practice.