Nursing Accreditation Essay Discussion Paper

1. Discuss the need of accreditation for a school of nursing? Why is accreditation important to future nursing students?

2. Select a standard from one of the accrediting bodies and compare and contrast it to a similar standard from the other accrediting body  Nursing Accreditation Essay Discussion Paper

Discussion

1. Need of Accreditation for a School of Nursing

Nursing accreditation ensures that a nursing school and program meets specific quality standards for graduates to practice safely as nurses.  According to Nurse Journal Staff (2022), accreditation involves the review of nursing programs and schools by an independent body to determine how well they prepare their students for the nursing profession.  Accreditation for nursing schools is essential because it upholds quality nursing education and training.

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Additionally, it is a requirement for nurses hoping to take National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) or any other certification examination for an advanced practice role. NCLEX is a certification exam that nurses should take to be registered nurses (RNs) or practical nurses (PNs)Nursing Accreditation Essay Discussion Paper.  One of the conditions for sitting for the assessment is that an individual must have completed an accredited program and from an accredited nursing school.  NCLEX is critical for nursing students’ future because it shapes their career path (Nurse Journal Staff, 2022). Therefore, accreditation of the school and the program is crucial because it impacts nursing students’ transition into practice.

Accreditation also influences nursing schools’ funding and financing, graduate employment, and transfer to other states for education or practice.  NurseJournal Staff explained that unaccredited schools risk not getting government funding and credit facilities.  The author also noted that employers consider nurses from accredited programs and schools. They also stated that students transfer to other nursing schools or sit for the NCLEX exam if they move to a state where accreditation is mandatory. In a nutshell, without accreditation, it is challenging for nurses to access employment, take certification exams, and practice in various states Nursing Accreditation Essay Discussion Paper.

 Reference

Nurse Journal Staff (2022, Nov 15). What is accreditation and why is it important? Nurse Journal. https://nursejournal.org/resources/what-is-accreditation/

2. Comparing and Contrasting Accrediting Bodies’ Standards

There are two accrediting bodies for nursing schools and programs. The Nurse Journal Staff identifies Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) as bodies that accredit nursing programs.  CCNE accredits bachelor’s and master’s degree programs while ACEN all levels of nursing education. The agencies have standards that nursing programs must meet to be accredited. They compare in some aspects and contrast in others (ACNE, 2023; CCNE, 2018). In this brief discussion, we focus on one of the standards of the one accrediting body (CCNE) and determine how it compares and contrasts with the other accrediting agency (ACEN)Nursing Accreditation Essay Discussion Paper.

One of the standards of CCNE accreditation is that the parent institution should demonstrate its capacity as an institution and resources for supporting a specific program (Standard II).  There should be financial resources to enable the program to achieve its goals, objectives, and outcomes. Also, the institution should have physical resources to support the program, including equipment, facilities, educational and laboratory supplies, and clinical sites. Other resources required are the library, research, and technology that enhance students’ performance. The institution should also have sufficient skilled faculty members and be governed by a nurse administrator. The preceptors should be trained to fulfill the demands of their roles (CCNE, 2018)Nursing Accreditation Essay Discussion Paper. Nursing schools should meet the criteria for this standard to show their ability to provide various baccalaureate and graduate programs.

The CCNE’s standard II compares and contrasts with standard I of ACEN accreditation.  The ACEN standard requires the governing institution to have the leadership and resources to meet the goals and student outcomes of the program. To meet the criteria, institutions must demonstrate how their mission and vision are embedded in the nursing program. They must also show the involvement of the nursing administrator, the students, and the community of interest’s engagement in the program governance. It also calls for adequate physical and fiscal resources for program fulfilment (ACEN, 2023). However, while CCNE standard II includes an elaboration of what are the physical, fiscal, and faculty resources needed for nursing programs, the ACEN standard I, is concise and brief.

References

ACEN (2023). ACEN 2023 Standards and criteria. ACEN. https://www.acenursing.org/acen-2023-accreditation-manual/acen-2023-standards-and-criteria/

CCNE (2018). Standards for accreditation of baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs. CCNE. https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/CCNE/PDF/Standards-Final-2018.pdf

Nurse Journal Staff (2022, Nov 15). What is accreditation and why is it important? Nurse Journal. https://nursejournal.org/resources/what-is-accreditation/ Nursing Accreditation Essay Discussion Paper