In this episode of NLN Nursing EDge Unscripted, hosts Drs. Kellie Bryant and Raquel Bertiz are joined by Dr. Rose Rossi and Dr. Stephanie Jeffers to explore leadership and innovation in nursing education. The conversation centers on competency-based education (CBE) as a framework for rethinking and redesigning clinical education in undergraduate nursing programs. Drs. Rossi and Jeffers discuss how clinical competencies are defined, assessed, and aligned with program outcomes to better support student readiness for practice. They highlight the role of academic leadership, faculty collaboration, and data-informed decision-making in advancing competency-based approaches. Together, the discussion offers practical insights for nurse educators seeking to modernize clinical education while maintaining quality, consistency, and meaningful outcomes.

For additional insights on Widener University’s approach to competency-based clinical education, visit Dr. Stephanie Jeffers’ faculty page on the Widener University website, where her contact information is available: https://www.widener.edu/about/faculty-directory/stephanie-jeffers.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the leading organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. Find past episodes of the NLN Nursing EDge podcast online. Get instant updates by following the NLN on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube. For more information, visit NLN.org.

This episode of Nursing EDge Unscripted explores how nursing education can better prepare students to care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Dr. Suzanne Smeltzer and Ms. Colleen Meakim discuss the significant gaps in nursing curricula and emphasize the importance of integrating IDD content throughout undergraduate and graduate programs. They highlight practical tools such as the IDD Toolkit and ACE scenarios, which offer faculty guidance and simulation resources to enhance student learning. The conversation also addresses ableism in healthcare and the need for person-centered care that respects the lived experiences of individuals with IDD. Finally, the guests advocate for universal design and inclusive practices to support both patients and nursing students with disabilities.

Additional Resources

Advancing Care Excellence for Persons with Disabilities

Intellectual and Developmental Disability: A Toolkit to Enhance Education of Health Care Professionals to Provide Quality Health Care to Persons with IDD

Inclusion of Disability in Nursing Education: Rationale and Guidelines

ACE.D Unfolding Cases: Mary Lou & Rob Brady and Patrick and Gloria Lake

ACE.D Teaching Strategies on Communication and Care Management for People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability: Sandy Case Study and Jason Case Study

Smeltzer, S. C., Dolen, M. A., Robinson-Smith, G., & Zimmerman, V. (2005). Integration of disability-related content in nursing curricula. Nursing education perspectives, 26(4), 210–216.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the leading organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. Find past episodes of the NLN Nursing EDge podcast online. Get instant updates by following the NLN on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube. For more information, visit NLN.org.

In this milestone 150th episode of Nursing EDge Unscripted, hosts Dr. Kellie Bryant and Dr. Raquel Bertiz welcome internationally recognized simulation pioneer Dr. Suzie Kardong-Edgren. Dr. Kardong-Edgren reflects on the early days of nursing simulation, from unpacking the first manikins to shaping standards and research that transformed nursing education. She shares lessons learned from early challenges and emphasizes the importance of mentorship, innovation, and perseverance in advancing simulation practice. The conversation explores her vision for competency-based, learner-centered education and the need to retain nursing’s humanistic focus on caring and spirituality. Listeners gain insight into Dr. Kardong-Edgren’s enduring impact as a trailblazer who continues to inspire educators to challenge convention and lead with purpose.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the leading organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. Find past episodes of the NLN Nursing EDge podcast online. Get instant updates by following the NLN on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube. For more information, visit NLN.org.