Dr. Claudette V. Gordon, EdD, MS, RNAssistant Professor

City University of New York (CUNY) at Bronx Community College

Jamaica Diaspora ConferenceToronto, Canada

July 9 – 12, 2014

What is Accreditation?Accreditation is a voluntary, self-regulatory process

which Provides verification to stakeholders

(students/employers/patients) that educational programs are in compliance with established standards and criteria for educational quality and professional licensing.

Evaluates acquisition of established competencies, learning /program outcomes in nursing education/ nursing practice.

Promotes global affiliations: challenge educational institutions to meet criteria for global program expansion.

Encourages evidence-based practices that support nursing education, nursing practice, and care delivery.

Purpose of AccreditationAchieving AccreditationLegitimizes local/international impact for

nursing education programs. Encourages on-going compliance through quality

improvement activities, periodic self evaluation/peer review.

Promotes educational equity, access, and mobility through the functions of the accreditation process.

Substantiates need for adherence to an accreditation model and related services for local (& international) nursing education programs.

Benefits of AccreditationNursing Education Programs benefit from Alignment of accreditation criteria with

program policies/curriculum standards for nursing education

Preparation of Self-Study Report: Aligns accreditation criteria with student learning

outcomes/program outcomesQuantifies cost of program

implementation/maintenanceEvaluates program efficiency/portability/sustainabilityProvides basis for evaluation of standards of practice/

need for quality improvement

Benefits of Accreditation (2)Accreditation Demonstrates that local nursing programs

adhere to Accepted standards and criteria for nursing education

(See ACEN & ICN). Best evidence-based practices for nursing education.

Provides basis for admission/retention of candidates in academia & practice development of innovative teaching strategies /programs) programs that attract international students

Eligibility Criteria for all Nursing ProgramsA nursing program is accredited with Placement within a governing organization that

is authorized to grant the credential - awarded at completion of the program.

Placement within a governing organization that is accredited by an approved accrediting agency

Or Holds unconditional approval by the

appropriate regulatory agency that has legal authority for nursing education programs

(ACEN (2013) Accreditation Manual, Policy #3).

Eligibility Criteria for all Nursing Programs (2) English Proficiency:

Program faculty and students must speak and understand English proficiently.

Program must produce all documents and written materials which are required for the accreditation processes in English.

All fiscal documents must be in English with currency equivalents in U.S. dollars.

(ACEN (2013) Accreditation Manual, Policy #3).

The Review Process Candidacy Presentations

reviewed by two (2) professional staff members to establish whether the nursing education unit has demonstrated compliance with the selected ACEN Standards and Criteria.

Each reviewer will independently recommend: Candidacy, Deferral, or Disapproval.

Candidacy program will need to complete the Candidacy process

within two (2) years.Completion of the process includes writing the

complete Self-Study Report and scheduling a site visit.

The Review Process (2) Deferral

program will have the opportunity to resubmit the Candidacy Presentation within one (1) year. Failure to resubmit within a year will require the program to restart the process.

Disapproval program was not able to demonstrate the ability for

compliance with two (2) Candidacy Presentations. The program will be required to restart the Candidacy Process

(ACEN (2013) Accreditation Manual, Policy #3).

International Processes & ProceduresInternational Nursing education units (outside the

U.S.) considering accreditation by ACEN should:

Contact ACEN to begin the process

Review current syllabi Ensure that current syllabi are congruent with

ACEN standards/criteria

(ACEN (2013) Accreditation Manual, Policy #3).

Complete and submit the International Candidacy Application : to determine eligibility for International

Candidacy Status. Submit the International Candidacy

Application Fee:Application must be accompanied by an

application fee of $5,000 ($2,500 of which is refunded if the program is determined not to be eligible for accreditation by ACEN).

(ACEN (2013) Accreditation Manual, Policy #3).

International Processes/Procedures (2) ACEN professional staff determine a program’s

eligibility and suitability for ACEN accreditationReview of the application may include

information indicating that a program is: eligible to pursue International Candidacy

Status. required to submit additional

formation/clarificationOR that a program

is deemed ineligible to pursue International Candidacy Status and will be withdrawn from the process.

Mapping the Process for Nursing Schools

Questions??

Thank you for your attention

ReferencesAccreditation Commission for Education in

Nursing (2013). ACEN Accreditation Manual: Supplement for International Programs Retrieved from www.acenursing.org

Institute of Medicine (2010). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.