What Agencies Accredit Nursing Programs, Essay Example

Introduction

Nursing education in the State of California is supported by a number of organizations that serve as accrediting bodies to support training and knowledge growth for nurses. These organizations support the continued development of new perspectives and standards to accommodate student learning and high level of quality for graduating nurses. These organizations establish the standards set forth in the State of California in regards to the development of strategies to support nursing education standards that are of the highest possible level. These factors are important because they protect nursing students and faculty throughout the curricular process. The accrediting bodies in California support the ongoing growth and achievement of nursing education and practice standards to enhance quality of care for all patients in healthcare organizations throughout the state.

Analysis

The California Board of Registered Nursing approves a number of nurse education programs, including advanced practice nursing and registered nursing education curricula (California Board of Registered Nursing, 2013). The organization also supports the development of new standards and recommendations to improve nurse education and enhance practice settings on a continuous basis, and to recognize new nurse education programs with respect to quality (California Board of Registered Nursing, 2013). The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing is another important organization that supports the accreditation of teachers who educate nursing students, and this organization supports the continued growth and development of teacher-based education throughout the state (California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, 2014). The Western Association of Schools and Colleges also serve as an accrediting body for California nurse education programs, and supports high quality approaches to nursing education in many schools throughout the state (Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 2014).

When a nursing school loses its accreditation, there is typically a period of time when the school is able to correct its deficiencies and to reapply for accreditation (Carl, 2013). If a school loses its accreditation, it is the responsibility of the accrediting body to work collaboratively with the California Board of Registered Nursing in order to determine if the school is able to work on its deficiencies and to make corrections as necessary (Carl, 2013). In cases where a nursing school is able to correct its errors, it is possible that they could become reaccredited in due time (Carl, 2013). Nonetheless, loss of accreditation places a significant emphasis on poor quality and limited educational potential for nurses (Carl, 2013). When new nursing students are seeking entrance into a nurse education program, accreditation should be a critical factor in determining whether or not the program is of the highest possible quality, and when it does not appear to be the case, then students have an important decision to make regarding the risks of applying to and accepting entrance into the program (Carl, 2013). These considerations must be taken seriously and have a significant impact on student outcomes (Carl, 2013).

Nursing schools must maintain their accreditation in order to demonstrate to students that their programs are of the highest possible quality. This plays a role in shaping outcomes for students so that they are sufficiently prepared to take the required coursework and testing upon graduation. Accreditation is critical to nursing schools across all states because it serves as the primary benchmark in order to ensure that student success is maximized and curricular needs are met. These factors are instrumental in determining whether or not student success is achieved. Students who graduate from unaccredited nursing programs are not likely to achieve the same level of success as students who graduate from programs with full accreditation, as the reputations of the former schools are less than stellar. One means of losing accreditation is to graduate students who perform poorly on the NCLEX examination on a consistent basis. Furthermore, accreditation serves as the primary method of supporting those schools which are of high quality and are able to educate students to prepare them to take the NCLEX examination (All Nursing Schools, 2014). This opportunity represents a challenge for many students, because if the quality of their nursing education programs is insufficient, their performance on the NCLEX may be in jeopardy, thereby creating a number of concerns regarding the accreditation process (All Nursing Schools, 2014). These factors are critical in the development of educational tools and frameworks for nursing students that provide the best possible curricular choices to prepare them for the NCLEX examination and licensure within the state (All Nursing Schools, 2014). Therefore, accreditation is a necessity for nursing schools so that its student body is effectively prepared for graduation and the NCLEX exam (All Nursing Schools, 2014).

Conclusion

Accreditation is a critical component of nurse education programs in the State of California. Several accrediting bodies exist and support high quality nursing education programs to produce graduates who are sufficiently prepared for licensure and employment. However, when an educational institution demonstrates any number of challenges and it does not meet the required standards, it is possible that the organization will lose its accreditation and its reputation for high quality nurse education. These factors play a role in preparing graduates for professional nursing careers, including the required NCLEX examination. Nurse education programs must demonstrate high quality curricular objectives in order to provide students with a framework for excellence in learning and in the formation of knowledge that will prepare them for future employment.

References

All Nursing Schools (2014). Nursing school accreditation. Retrieved from http://www.allnursingschools.com/nursing-careers/article/nursing-school-accreditation

California Board of Registered Nursing (2013). Nursing programs. Retrieved from http://www.rn.ca.gov/schools/programs.shtml

California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (2014). Welcome to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Retrieved from http://www.ctc.ca.gov/

Carl, L. (2013). What to do when your nursing program lost accreditation. Nursetogether.com, Retrieved from http://www.nursetogether.com/nursing-program-lost-accreditation

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (2014). Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Retrieved from http://www.acswasc.org/