Template 3: NLN and QSEN ADN Program Learner Outcomes
National League for Nursing. (2010). Outcomes and competencies for graduates of
practical/vocational, associate degree, baccalaureate, master’s practice doctorate,
and research doctorate programs in nursing. NLN.
Template developed by:
Susan Field DNP, RN
Director of AD Mobility Nursing
Northland Community and Technical College
Thief River Falls, MN
218-683-8737
sue.field@northlandcollege.edu
Consultant
June Larson, MS, RN, CNE, ANEF
Chair of the NLN Nursing Education Advisory Council Competency Work Group
Associate Dean & Professor; Director, Health Sciences Major
School of Health Sciences
The University of South Dakota
605-677-5000
june.larson@usd.edu
NLN Associate Degree and QSEN Program Learner Outcomes and Competencies
1. NLN Human Flourishing (NLN Outcome Statement: Graduates should be prepared to promote and enhance human flourishing for patients,
families, communities and themselves).
ADN Competency: Advocate for patients and families in ways that promote their self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings.
1A. QSEN: Patient Centered Care
Student will recognize the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care
based on respect for patient's preferences, values, and needs.
2. NLN Nursing Judgment (NLN Outcome: Graduate should be prepared to show sound nursing judgment)
ADN Competency: Graduate will make judgments in practice, substantiated with evidence, that integrate nursing science in the provision of safe,
quality care and that promote the health of patients within a family and community context.
2A. QSEN: Safety
Student will minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.
2B. QSEN: Informatics
The student will use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision making.
3. NLN Professional Identity (NLN Outcome: Graduate will continually develop their professional identify).
ADN Competency: Graduate will implement one's role as a nurse in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving
identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and safe, quality care for diverse patients within a family and community
context.
3A. QSEN: Teamwork and Collaboration
Student will function effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared
decision-making to achieve quality patient care.
4. NLN Spirit of Inquiry (NLN Outcome: Graduate will maintain a spirit of inquiry as they move into the world of nursing practice and beyond).
ADN Competency: Graduate will examine the evidence that underlies clinical nursing practice to challenge the status quo, question underlying
assumptions, and offer new insights to improve the quality of care for patients, families, and communities.
4A. QSEN: Quality Improvement
Student will use data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously
improve the quality and safety of health care systems.
4B. QSEN: Evidence Based Practice
Student will integrate best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health
care.
Template 3
For AD Nursing Programs: Program Learner Outcomes and Competencies
Measurements of Achievement
1. Human Flourishing (NLN 2010 Outcome and Competency)
NLN AD Program Outcome Competency: A professional (AD) nurse advocates for patients and families in ways that promote their
self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings.
1A. QSEN: Patient Centered Care Program Outcome
Student will recognize the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and
coordinated care based on respect for patient's preferences, values, and needs
The following competencies fulfill students apprenticeships of Knowledge/Practice/Ethical Comportment for
Human Flourishing and Patient Centered Care
Course and Outcome
Learning Activity
Clinical/Classroom/Simulation
(e.g. case study, nursing care plans,
critical analysis project, group work,
test items, simulation)
Grading
What is Passing for
this competency?
Be specific.
Location
Program
Portfolio/Clinical
Portfolio/Simulation
Portfolio, etc.
2. Nursing Judgment (NLN 2010 Outcome and Competency)
NLN AD Program Outcome Competency: The professional (AD) nurse makes judgments in practice, substantiated with evidence,
that integrate nursing science in the provision of safe, quality care and that promote the health of patients within a family and
community context.
The following competencies fulfill the students’ apprenticeship of KNOWLEDGE/PRACTICE/ETHICAL COMPORTMENT for
Nursing Judgment
Course and Outcome
Learning Activity
Clinical/Classroom/Simulation
(e.g. case study, nursing care plans,
critical analysis project, group work, test
items, simulation)
Grading
What is Passing for this
competency?
Be specific.
Location
Program Portfolio/Clinical
Portfolio/Simulation
Portfolio, etc.
2A. QSEN: Safety
Student will minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual
performance.
The following competencies fulfill the students’ apprenticeship of Knowledge/Practice/Ethical Comportment for Safety
Course and Outcome
Learning Activity
Clinical/Classroom/Simulation
(e.g. case study, nursing care plans,
critical analysis project, group work,
test items, simulation)
Grading
What is Passing for
this competency?
Be specific.
Location
Program Portfolio/Clinical
Portfolio/Simulation
Portfolio, etc.
2B. QSEN: Informatics
The student will use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision
making.
The following competencies fulfill the students’ apprenticeship of Knowledge/Practice/Ethical Comportment for Informatics
Course and Outcome
Learning Activity
Clinical/Classroom/Simulation
(e.g. case study, nursing care plans,
critical analysis project, group work,
test items, simulation)
Grading
What is Passing for
this competency?
Be specific.
Location
Program Portfolio/Clinical
Portfolio/Simulation
Portfolio, etc.
3. Professional Identity (NLN 2010 Outcome and Competency)
NLN AD Program Outcome Competency: The professional (AD) nurse implement one's role as a nurse in ways that reflect
integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring,
advocacy, and safe, quality care for diverse patients within a family and community context.
The following competencies fulfill the students’ apprenticeship of Knowledge/Practice/Ethical Comportment for Professional
Identity
Course and Outcome
Learning Activity
Clinical/Classroom/Simulation
(e.g. case study, nursing care plans,
critical analysis project, group work,
test items, simulation)
Grading
What is Passing for
this competency?
Be specific.
Location
Program Portfolio/Clinical
Portfolio/Simulation
Portfolio, etc.
3A. QSEN: Teamwork and Collaboration
Student will function effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual
respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care.
The following competencies fulfill the students’ apprenticeship of Knowledge/Practice/Ethical Comportment for Teamwork and
Collaboration
Course and Outcome
Learning Activity
Clinical/Classroom/Simulation
(e.g. case study, nursing care plans,
critical analysis project, group work,
test items, simulation)
Grading
What is Passing for
this competency?
Be specific.
Location
Program Portfolio/Clinical
Portfolio/Simulation
Portfolio, etc.
4. Spirit of Inquiry (NLN 2010 Outcome and Competency)
NLN AD Program Outcome Competency: The professional (AD) nurse examines the evidence that underlies clinical nursing
practice to challenge the status quo, question underlying assumptions, and offer new insights to improve the quality of care for
patients, families, and communities
4A. QSEN: Quality Improvement
Student will use data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes
to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems.
The following competencies fulfill the students’ apprenticeship of Knowledge/Practice/Ethical Comportment for Spirit of Inquiry
and Quality Improvement
Course and Outcome
Learning Activity
Clinical/Classroom/Simulation
(e.g. case study, nursing care plans,
critical analysis project, group work,
test items, simulation)
Grading
What is Passing for
this competency?
Be specific.
Location
Program Portfolio/Clinical
Portfolio/Simulation
Portfolio, etc.
4B. QSEN: Evidence Based Practice
Student will integrate best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for
delivery of optimal health care.
The following competencies fulfill the students’ apprenticeship of Knowledge/Practice/Ethical Comportment for Evidence Based
Practice
Course and Outcome
Learning Activity
Clinical/Classroom/Simulation
(e.g. case study, nursing care plans,
critical analysis project, group work,
test items, simulation)
Grading
What is Passing for
this competency?
Be specific.
Location
Program Portfolio/Clinical
Portfolio/Simulation
Portfolio, etc.
© Copyright 2011
National League for Nursing. (2010). Outcomes and competencies for graduates of practical/vocational, diploma, associate
degree, baccalaureate, master’s, practice doctorate, and research doctorate programs in nursing. NLN.
Hirst, D. & Foster, B. (2009). Undergraduate curriculum mapping: Faculty interactive approach using QSEN competencies. Poster
presentation. (Template modeled after Hirst & Foster’s work).