From Novice to Expert: A Novel Framework for Understanding Nursing Educator Competency in the Digital Age

Introduction: Educator competency is vital for teaching quality and student success, especially amid evolving educational technologies and paradigms. Traditional models often overlook the interplay of individual, institutional, and technological factors. Objective: This study aimed to identify predictors of educator competency and examine the influence of teaching experience, institutional context, and technology integration on teaching effectiveness in higher education. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 626 educators from universities, health science colleges, and polytechnics. A validated questionnaire assessed five competency domains: Teaching Methods, Digital Literacy, Content Knowledge, Assessment Skills, and Communication. Data were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, Bayesian estimation, and effect size measures. Results: Teaching experience significantly predicted competency progression from novice to expert levels (d = 0.45), with Communication emerging as the strongest domain. Digital literacy scored lowest, particularly in virtual lab implementation (mean = 58.5), indicating a critical gap. Institutional disparities revealed resource limitations impacting competency development. Hybrid learning was the most effectively adopted technology (mean = 88.2). Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of experience, institutional support, and strategic technology use in shaping educator competency. The ACDE-DA framework offers a holistic model for guiding policy and professional development. Targeted interventions in digital literacy, equitable resource distribution, and ongoing training are essential. Future research should employ longitudinal designs to validate findings across diverse educational contexts.