What is an Accredited Nursing School?
When students choose to enter a nursing college or university, they often pick a school that matches their career goals. The school may also have the best curriculum, financial aid resources or location. However, students should also consider the school's accreditation. An accredited nursing program is very important in how well students do in class and on the job.
Accreditation Organizations
Many important accreditation organizations oversee nursing schools and their programs. The most prevalent are the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. These organizations set guidelines on what accredited nursing programs must offer their students.
- Curriculums that teach every aspect of nursing and healthcare.
- Access to financial aid resources.
- Trained staff that teach and interact with each student.
Steps to Accreditation
Nursing schools must submit an application signed by an administrator for accreditation approval. An application fee accompanies the submission. The organization that provides the accreditation physically examines the course outlines, classrooms and clinical areas through site visits. An organization may also require school catalogs listing the program and everything it entails to be submitted for evaluation. This is a critical point for schools. They can either pass or fail the initial consideration. Those that pass the initial evaluations typically undergo several more before the evaluating organization grants accreditation.
Education and Training
An accredited school's education and training requirements must prepare each student for employment. Program accreditation depends on how well students pass exams; perform their clinical training and complete course work. Students who attend accredited schools typically gain better employment and job positions than students who do not attend an accredited school.