Over the past year, nursing education and professional practice leaders across the system have partnered to address a longstanding challenge in competency validation: inconsistency. Historically, competencies were developed and assessed at the unit or campus level, which allowed for local customization but led to variable expectations, limited visibility into validated skills and duplication when nurses transferred between units or facilities. As nurse mobility increased and clinical practice continued to evolve, the need for a standardized, system-wide approach to competency validation became increasingly clear.

In response, multidisciplinary workgroups were intentionally formed with a focused charge to standardize nursing competencies across defined levels of practice in preparation for system implementation within Kahuna. These workgroups included nurse educators, frontline nurses, subject-matter experts and nursing leaders to ensure competencies accurately reflected clinical practice, regulatory expectations and progression by role. The emphasis was placed on defining clear performance expectations rather than task completion alone, ensuring competencies were meaningful, observable and aligned with professional practice standards.

This collaborative work resulted in the development of leveled competency checklists that clearly articulate expectations for nurses at different stages of practice. Content was deliberately structured to support both initial validation and ongoing assessment, creating a sustainable framework that could be consistently applied across the system. While units retain the ability to address specialty-specific needs, the standardized checklists establish a common foundation that promotes equity, transparency and shared system-wide understanding of competency expectations.

With the recent implementation of Kahuna, these standardized checklists are now being deployed within a centralized platform for competency documentation and visibility. Kahuna provides a single source of truth for nursing competencies, allowing validated skills to follow nurses across units and facilities. Leaders, educators and supervisors can view competency records in real time, ensuring expectations are consistent across practice locations and reducing unnecessary repeat validations.

The implementation of standardized Kahuna checklists represents both a structural and cultural shift in how nursing competency is defined and assessed. This approach supports nurse mobility, strengthens accountability and reinforces the idea that competency has the same meaning across the organization. By establishing clear, system-wide expectations at each level of practice, the organization is better positioned to support safe, high-quality care and professional growth.

As Kahuna continues to be integrated into nursing practice, the workgroup model and standardized competency framework provide a strong foundation for ongoing refinement and expansion. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to consistency, transparency and excellence in nursing practice, ensuring that, regardless of location, nurses are supported by the same clear expectations and standards of care.