Abstract
Current trends in healthcare related to renewed focus on quality and safety are leading to dramatic changes in nursing education. Although first published in 1984, the work of nursing theorist Patricia Benner clearly describes the manner in which nurses develop and progress from one skill level to the next (Benner, 2001). This aligns with current evidence based practice (EBP) in nursing education. Knowledge of theory is not enough. Learning technical nursing skills in isolation is not enough. Benner posited that nurses learn by exposure to the environment in which they will practice. To that end, and in light of current EBP in education, this project creates new skills lab curriculum for first semester nursing education at California State University, Sacramento.