Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2026

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Journal of Professional Nursing

Source ISSN

8755-7223

Abstract

Background

Nursing education is in the process of transition to competency-based education (CBE) for both prelicensure and graduate students. Competency-based assessment is one of the biggest challenges facing CBE implementation as there are few rigorous instruments available.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to modify the Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument (CCEI) for use with nurse practitioner (NP) students and to evaluate the validity and reliability of the CCEI-NP.

Methods

Surveys were used to conduct the content and construct validity testing of the CCEI-NP. Content validity testing evaluated whether each CCEI-NP item was essential to be included, reflective of the category in which it was included, and easy to understand. Further validity testing evaluated representativeness by determining the alignment between each CCEI-NP items' ability to assess the AACN (2023) Essentials' competencies. Interrater reliability was evaluated as part of CCEI-NP instrument training completed by clinical preceptors.

Results

The CCEI-NP demonstrated strong validity and reliability evidence. The CCEI-NP instrument was determined to be able to assess 76% (or 34 of the 45) of the AACN Essentials competencies.

Conclusions

An instrument like the CCEI-NP, firmly established in the Essentials competencies and supporting the core principles of competency-based assessment, is important for consistent evaluation of NP students across specialties. Further testing to establish additional psychometric rigor is warranted.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Professional Nursing, Vol. 63 (March-April 2026): 90-98. DOI. © 2026 Elsevier Inc. Used with permission.

Download

Available for download on Saturday, May 01, 2027

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

COinS