Competency‐based nursing: Reducing cost while maintaining or improving quality

The advent of COVID-19 and subsequent social disruption has exacerbated existing nursing workforce shortages. As education programs healthcare providers struggle to meet the care needs their respective communities, ever-present challenge replenishing candidates persists—particularly when those face financial hardships complete education. In an effort mitigate hardships, competency-based (CBE) offers opportunity for students self-pace learning potentially more quickly. addition CBE typically being affordable that traditional “seat time” credit-based programs, can yield even significant savings. Therefore, considering some providers, accreditors, may be concerned with program quality, this study assesses merit assertion. Through a comparative analysis Western Governors University's (WGU) Nursing Program similar state research finds reduce cost while maintaining or improving quality by measure NCLEX pass rates.