The College of Nursing and Health Science at Northern hosted an accreditation site visit with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) from April 11–13 as part of its reaccreditation process for the RN to BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program, which earned five-year accreditation from the CCNE in 2011. The visit concluded April 13 with the CCNE evaluation team giving an ‘exit interview’ to College of Nursing and Health Science faculty and staff.

“I am pleased to report that the RN to BSN Program received a glowing report at the exit interview by the CCNE Evaluation Team,” said College of Nursing and Health Science Dean, Ellen Trabka. “The Team had so many positive things to say about the College, the program, the students, program faculty, staff, and the nursing community advisory board.”

The CCNE evaluation team did not find compliance concerns with any of the accreditation standards. The final decision on the RN to BSN program's reaccreditation status will be made by the CCNE Board of Commissioners in September, and the College should be notified of the Board’s decision in October.

Dr. Darlene Hess, Associate Director of Northern’s RN to BSN Program, especially recalled some of the evaluation team’s reactions as they observed students in the program during the site visit. “The evaluation team noted that there is a lot of support for the students in Northern’s RN to BSN program,” said Dr. Hess. “They also said that the students are engaged and able to articulate clearly how they are applying to professional practice what they are learning in the classroom.”

CCNE accreditation is granted when a program completes the CCNE accreditation process and is found to meet CCNE Standards. CCNE program quality standards cover mission and governance, institutional commitment and resources, curriculum and teaching-learning practices, and assessment and achievement of program outcomes.

Tagged: College of Nursing and Health Science, Nursing, RN-BSN