About SIM Essentials

A free, faculty-driven authoring tool for designing AACN-aligned nursing simulations.

Our Mission

SIM Essentials was created by nursing faculty who recognized the time and expertise required to design competency-aligned simulations. Our goal is to reduce that burden through a shared, structured authoring process grounded in the AACN 2021 Essentials and Progression Indicators.

The platform is free to all nursing faculty. There is no institutional purchase required. The simulation design documents you create belong to you — download them, adapt them, and use them in whatever environment works best for your program.

What Drives Us

Built by Educators

Created by nursing faculty who understand the challenges of simulation design firsthand.

AACN Aligned

Every design is grounded in the AACN 2021 Essentials domains and Progression Indicators.

Free for Faculty

No cost, no institutional purchase required. Start designing simulations immediately.

Fully Portable

Download your design blueprint and use it in any simulation lab, LMS, or commercial platform.

What You Create

Using our guided authoring process, you create a complete simulation design document that includes:

  • Selected AACN domain, sub-competency, and Progression Indicators
  • Behavior-based learning objectives
  • Patient scenario and clinical cues
  • Assessment criteria aligned to PIs
  • Debriefing and reflection prompts

This is a simulation design document — a complete blueprint ready to facilitate in your lab or build into your preferred simulation platform.

Start Designing Today

Join nursing faculty across the country using SIM Essentials to create AACN-aligned simulation design blueprints.

SIM Essentials

© 2026 SIM Essentials — A free, faculty-driven simulation design tool. Created by nurse educators to support AACN-aligned, competency-based simulation.