The Development and Design of a Competency-Based Curriculum for a Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program

The transition from a baccalaureate-prepared registered nurse (RN) to graduate nurse practitioner (NP) is challenging, as nurses shift from care providers to prescribers. Competence and confidence grow over time in a supportive environment, with intentional mentorship crucial in the first year. Fellowship programs can reduce nurse turnover, enhance job satisfaction, and improve clinical competence. This article outlines the development, design, and implementation of a competency-based curriculum for a postgraduate fellowship program aimed at enhancing competencies, self-confidence, and role socialization during the first year of NP practice. It identifies core competencies, evaluation methods, and curriculum for program development. (c) 2025 The Author. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).