NATIONAL ACCREDITATION

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NATIONAL ACCREDITATION

• ACTE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
• RUTH ECKENSTEIN/GINA RIGGS
• CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

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National League for Nursing Education Commission
(NLNAC)

• The National League for Nursing Accrediting
  Commission (NLNAC) both post-secondary and higher
  degree (Masters Degree, Baccalaureate Degree,
  Associate Degree, Diploma, and Practical Nursing
  program). 
• The Commission has authority and accountability
  for carrying out the responsibilities inherent in
  the application of standards and
  criteria, accreditation processes, and the
  affairs, management, policy-making, and
  general administration of the NLNAC. 
• NLNAC is a nationally recognized
  specialized accrediting agency for all types of
  nursing programs. EP is the largest programmatic
  accreditor in the health sciences field. In
  collaboration with its Committees on
  Accreditation, CAAHEP reviews and accredits over
  2000 educational programs in twenty (20) health
  science occupations.

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Committee on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs

• What is CAAHEP?
• CAAHEP is the largest programmatic accreditor in
  the health sciences field. In collaboration with
  its Committees on Accreditation, CAAHEP reviews
  and accredits over 2000 educational programs in
  twenty (20) health science occupations.
• CAAHEP is recognized by the Council for Higher
  Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• What is Accreditation?
• Accreditation is the status of public recognition
  that an accrediting agency grants to an education
  institution or program that meets the agencys
  standards of requirements.

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COST

• Initial 1,900
• Site Visit 2,500

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WHAT IS ACCREDITATION AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

• Assess Quality against agreed-upon standards
• In the case of post-secondary education and
  training, there are two kinds of accreditation
  institutional and programmatic (or specialized).
• Institutional accreditation helps to assure
  potential students that a school is a sound
  institution and has met certain minimum standards
  in terms of administration, resources, faculty
  and facilities.

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WHAT IS ACCREDITATION AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

• Programmatic (or specialized) accreditation
  examines specific schools or programs within an
  educational institution (e.g., the law school,
  the medical school, the nursing program).
• The standards by which these programs are
  measured have generally been developed by the
  professionals involved in each discipline and are
  intended to reflect what a person needs to know
  and be able to do to function successfully within
  that profession.
• Accreditation in the health-related disciplines
  also serves a very important public interest.
  Along with certification and licensure,
  accreditation is a tool intended to help assure a
  well-prepared and qualified workforce providing
  health care services.

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CAAHEP HEALTH PROGRAMS

• Medical Illustrator
• Orthotic Prosthetic Practitioner
• Perfusionist
• Personal Fitness Trainer
• Polysomnographic Tech
• Respiratory Therapist
• Specialist in Blood Bank Technology
• Surgical Assistant
• Surgical Technologist

• Anesthesiologist Assistant
• Cardiovascular Technologist
• Cytotechnologist
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
• Electroneurodiagnostic Tech.
• EMT-Paramedic
• Exercise Physiologist
• Exercise Scientist
• Kinesiotherapist
• Medical Assistant

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• WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION?

• Demonstrates the institutions commitment to
  achieving and maintaining quality.
• Provides an external evaluation that publicly
  attests to the quality of the program.
• Already establishes eligibility to become CHEA
  certified and may eventually be required.
• Establishes eligibility for graduates to qualify
  for selected jobs.
• Establishes eligibility for graduates to qualify
  for selected doctoral fellowships.
• Enhances graduates ability to apply for and be
  accepted into doctoral training programs.
• Establishes eligibility for students to qualify
  for federal public health traineeships.

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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION?

• Graduation from an accredited program enhances
  the geographic mobility of graduates.
• Frequently establishes institutional eligibility
  for federal funds.
• Enhances ability of program to seek external
  funding.
• Establishes clear expectations about skills and
  competencies that the employer should expect.
• Positions programs within their universities and
  makes them more competitive for resources.
• Status enhances the ability to recruit
  well-qualified students.
• Status enhances the ability of universities to
  recruit and appoint top faculty.

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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION?

• Widespread use of accreditation aligns health
  education with the practices of other health
  professions.
• Widespread use of accreditation helps establish
  programmatic relevance.
• Facilitates building bridges and networks with
  similar preparation programs.
• Widespread use of accreditation addresses the
  fragmentation concern expressed by practitioners.
• Places health education on equal footing with
  other units in the health sciences.
• Can be an effective leverage to bring about
  change in a program.
• Conveys a certain status and societal
  recognition.

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BENEFITS IN SHORT

• Marketing
• Outside quality assurance
• Maintaining curriculum currency
• Ability of graduates to sit for exams or obtain
  employment

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LENGTH OF ACCREDITATION

• Never expires
• Initial accreditation is 3 or 5 years
• Comprehensive review at least once every 10 years

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FIRST STEP

• Complete
• A CAAHEP Request for Accreditation Services Form
• CoA will send you materials (fees, self-study,
  and on-site review)
• Complete self-study prepare for site visit

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CAAHEP BOARD

• Reviews recommendations 6/year
• Letter sent to Program w/certificate (website)
• Once awarded, accreditation remains in place
  until Board votes otherwise
• Probation, withdrawal, withhold

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Committees on Accreditation

• CoA represents the actual profession and are
  CAAHEP experts in evaluating programs

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NLNAC Accreditation Process

• Ruth Eckenstein, M.ED, RN
• Health Careers Education Division (ODCTE)

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Planning

• "Great things are not done by impulse, but by a
  series of small things brought together."
  Vincent Van Gogh

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Overview

• Promulgate a common core of standards and
  criteria for the accreditation of nursing
  programs
• Strengthen educational quality through assistance
  to associated nursing education units, by
  evaluation processes, functions, publications,
  and research.

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Overview

• Advocate self-regulation in nursing education.
• Promote peer review.
• Foster educational equity, access, opportunity,
  mobility, and preparation for employment based
  upon type of nursing education.

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Benefits of Accreditation

• Provides recognition that a nursing education
  program has been evaluated by a qualified,
  independent group of respected and competent
  peers who have found it to be meeting appropriate
  post-secondary, and higher educational purposes
  in a satisfactory manner.

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Benefits of Accreditation

• Assures professional development opportunities
  and validation for faculty.
• Identifies areas needing development.
• Fosters on-going, self examination,
  re-evaluation, and focus on the future.

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Benefits of Accreditation

• Aids in student recruitment and retention.
• Assists employers seeking graduates
• Facilitates career and education decision-making.
• Promotes professional and educational mobility
  for program graduates.

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Plan of Attack

• Understand all of the criteria
• Use a time table and projected due dates
• All instructors need to do their part
• Use a growing experience for both the program and
  the instructor
• Use as ongoing plan for evaluation

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Standard 1 Mission and Administrative Capacity

• The nursing education units mission reflects the
  governing organizations core values and is
  congruent with its strategic goals and
  objectives.
• The governing organization and program have
  administrative capacity resulting in effective
  delivery of the nursing program and achievement
  of identified outcomes.

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CRITERION 1.1

• The mission/philosophy and outcomes of the
  nursing education unit are congruent with those
  of the governing organization.

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CRITERION 1.2

• The governing organization and nursing education
  unit ensure representation of students, faculty,
  and administrators in ongoing governance
  activities.

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CRITERION 1.3

• Communities of interest have input into program
  processes and decisionmaking.

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CRITERION 1.4

• Partnerships exist that promote excellence in
  nursing education, enhance the profession, and
  benefit the community.

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CRITERION 1.5

• The nursing education unit is administered by a
  nurse who holds a graduate degree with a major in
  nursing rationale is provided for the acceptance
  of other graduate credentials.

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CRITERION 1.6

• The nurse administrator has authority and
  responsibility for the development and
  administration of the program and has adequate
  time and resources to fulfill the role
  responsibilities.

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CRITERION 1.7

• With faculty input, the nurse administrator has
  the authority to prepare and administer the
  program budget and advocates for equity within
  the unit and among other units of the governing
  organization.

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CRITERION 1.8

• Policies of the nursing education unit are
  comprehensive, provide for the welfare of faculty
  and staff, and are consistent with those of the
  governing organization differences are justified
  by the goals and outcomes of the nursing
  education unit.

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CRITERION 1.9

• Records reflect that program complaints and
  grievances receive due process and include
  evidence of resolution. .

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CRITERION 1.10

• Distance education, as defined by the nursing
  education unit, is congruent with the mission of
  the governing organization and the
  mission/philosophy of the nursing education unit.

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Standard 2 - Faculty and Staff

• Qualified faculty and staff provide leadership
  and support necessary to attain the goals and
  outcomes of the nursing education unit.

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CRITERION 2.1

• At least 50 of the full-time faculty who provide
  didactic instruction hold a graduate degree in
  nursing. The remaining full-time faculty members
  hold a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in
  nursing
• Progress towards a graduate degree in with a
  major in nursing
• - Current course work
• - Related continuing education or
• - Certification relevant to the current teaching
  role

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CRITERION 2.2

• Faculty (full- and part-time) credentials meet
  governing organization and state requirements.

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CRITERION 2.3

• Credentials of practice laboratory personnel are
  commensurate with their level of
  responsibilities.

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CRITERION 2.4

• The number and utilization of faculty (full- and
  part-time) ensure that program outcomes are
  achieved.

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CRITERION 2.5

• Faculty (full- and part-time) expertise is
  maintained in areas of responsibility

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CRITERION 2.6

• The number, utilization, and credentials of
  non-nurse faculty and staff are sufficient to
  achieve the program goals and outcomes.

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CRITERION 2.7

• Faculty (full- and parttime) are oriented and
  mentored in their areas of responsibilities

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CRITERION 2.8

• Systematic assessment of faculty (full- and
  part-time) performance demonstrates competencies
  that are consistent with program goals and
  outcomes.

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CRITERION 2.9

• Non-nurse faculty and staff performance is
  regularly reviewed in accordance with the
  policies of the governing organization.

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CRITERION 2.10

• Faculty (full- and part-time) engage in ongoing
  development and receive support in distance
  education modalities including instructional
  methods and evaluation.

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Standard 3 - Students

• Student policies, development, and services
  support the goats and outcomes of the nursing
  education unit.

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CRITERION 3.1

• Student policies of the nursing education unit
  are congruent with those of the governing
  organization, publicly accessible,
  non-discriminatory, and consistently applied
  differences are justified by the goals and
  outcomes of the nursing education unit.

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CRITERION 3.2

• Student services are commensurate with the needs
  of students pursuing or completing the practical
  program, including those receiving instruction
  using alternative methods of delivery.

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CRITERION 3.3

• Student educational and financial records are in
  compliance with the policies of the governing
  organization and state and federal guidelines.

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CRITERION 3.4

• Compliance with the Higher Education
  Reauthorization Act Title IV eligibility and
  certification requirements is maintained.

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CRITERION 3.5

• Integrity and consistency exist for all
  information intended to inform the public,
  including the program's accreditation status and
  NLNAC contact information.

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CRITERION 3.6

• Changes in policies, procedures, and program
  information are clearly and consistently
  communicated to students in a timely manner.

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CRITERION 3.7

• Orientation to technology is provided and
  technological support is available to students,
  including those receiving instruction using
  alternative methods of delivery.

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CRITERION 3.8

• Information related to technology requirements
  and policies specific to distance education is
  clear, accurate, consistent, and accessible.

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Standard 4 - Curriculum

• The curriculum prepares students to achieve the
  outcomes of the nursing education unit, including
  safe practice in contemporary health care
  environments.

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Standard 5 - Resources

• Fiscal, physical, and learning resources promote
  the achievement of the goals and outcomes of the
  nursing education unit.

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Standard 6 - Outcomes

• Evaluation of student learning demonstrates that
  graduates have achieved identified competencies
  consistent with the institutional mission and
  professional standards and that the outcomes of
  the nursing education unit have been achieved.
• .

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Materials

• NLNAC Accreditation Manual
• www.nlnac.org

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Next Steps

• Committee assignments for survey preparation
• Meeting Schedule for PN Faculty Meetings and
  Survey Preparations Meetings

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Success

• A non-doer is very often a critic-that is,
  someone who sits back and watches doers, and then
  waxes philosophically about how the doers are
  doing. It's easy to be a critic, but being a doer
  requires effort, risk, and change." Dr. Wayne W.
  Dyer

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Questions???