Accreditation for Nursing Schools
There are two national bodies that accredit nursing schools. The first is The National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC). The other is The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which only accredits bachelor's degree and master's degree nursing programs. These two organizations are granted the right to accredit nursing schools from the United States Department of Education.
It is not necessary for someone applying to nursing schools to attend a school that is accredited by one of these organizations but it is a good idea, especially if the student intends to pursue more education after completing their basic education. Accreditation by one of these organizations is a mark of distinction that ensures a quality education for the student. Well educated students help ensure that patients will be well cared for after the student graduates and enters into the healthcare field. Some scholarships are only available to students who attend an accredited school. Upper level programs, for example, those that advanced practice nurses attend, will only accept students that have attended accredited nursing programs for their initial degree. Financial aid might not be available for a non accredited school. If a student transfers schools, only credits from an accredited school will be recognized. Employers will be more apt to hire those nurses that received their training at an accredited school because they feel they will be better able to treat patients and be better employees.
For most nursing students it just makes sense to attend an accredited nursing school. These types of institutions meet and exceed standards of basic nursing education. The curriculum and staff at these schools are not sub standard, as they might be if the school was not accredited. Individual states need to approve a school before the school can begin training nurses. Gaining state approval is not the same as a school being accredited though. It is possible for the school to be approved by the state and not accredited. State approval gives permission for training students to take the NCLEX exam.
Accreditation for nursing schools is dependent on several factors within the school itself. First of all, faculty and staff at the school must be properly trained and qualified. Course work will also be critiqued. The school will also be graded on clinical and didactic experiences that are provided to students. The size of the school of nursing is also considered. Schools that become accredited must reapply for accreditation periodically in order to assess if the schools are maintaining a good standard. This process is time consuming and often very expensive for learning institutions, but is necessary to be able to compete with other nursing schools. Luckily for students, there are many accredited schools in every region in the United States to train nurses. Most websites and information on nursing schools will recognize their accrediting body because it is so important.
While non accredited schools are often capable of providing a nursing student with an adequate education, it is still important to understand the benefits of accreditation. Because accreditation is the "gold standard" of nursing schools, it is a good idea for those choosing between an accredited and non accredited school to do their research and plan for the future of their career and education.
Published: 2009-11-03
