Value of Accreditation Issue - April 2025

Accreditation ensures the quality and excellence of nursing programs. For our Practical Nursing (PN) program, maintaining ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) accreditation has provided substantial benefits. Our PN program is a 1200-hour diploma program with a primary campus located in an urban area and an extension site in a remote rural community.

In 2022, we embarked on an 18-month transformation journey under continuing accreditation with conditions. Through assessment, we identified that faculty hired between 2020 and 2022 had limited experience in higher education or teaching. However, these faculty members were validated to have clinical expertise and a strong commitment to student learning and success. While they met the regulatory and governing body requirements at the time, their lack of experience may have correlated with challenges in teaching effectiveness, student content mastery, and program assessment and evaluation. We used ACEN Standards to guide our work on faculty preparedness, teaching effectiveness, curriculum review, and developing a robust Systematic Program Evaluation (SPE) with analysis and action.

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This assessment and quality improvement process has strengthened our program, improved student outcomes, enhanced faculty development, and deepened community partnerships.

Key Impacts of ACEN Accreditation

Faculty Development & Effectiveness

As previously mentioned, an opportunity was identified to deepen faculty understanding of effective assessment and evaluation practices, including test analysis, ATI, use of the NCLEX blueprint, and intent to use Mountain Measurement Reports.

ACEN Standards formed the foundation for faculty assessment and development, emphasizing teaching effectiveness, best practices, and competence. Faculty embraced Standard 2 to refine their expertise and teaching methods, better preparing them to support student success.

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Strategies Implemented:

• In-Service Training: We held multiple sessions to review the Standards and their importance, emphasizing how they contribute to overall success. These sessions ensured that faculty understood expectations and how to meet them. Additionally, education was provided on curriculum and assessment and included assessment practices, effective teaching, learning strategies, higher education best practices, and curriculum mapping.
• Faculty Data Sheet Creation: We developed a comprehensive faculty data sheet that requires faculty members to provide documented evidence of their teaching effectiveness, commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), integration of evidence-based practice (EBP), and ongoing professional development. Faculty now complete the ATI Academy new nurse educator series and additional educational development programs of their choice relevant to their teaching loads. This document is shared annually with the program director and compliance coordinator, demonstrating compliance and promoting accountability for professional practice.
• Ongoing Assessments: We implemented regular evaluations, starting with a 30-day review for new faculty, followed by peer reviews, student evaluations, and annual evaluations to ensure teaching effectiveness.
• Faculty Mentorship and Development: A strong mentoring program paired new faculty members with experienced mentors to offer guidance, support, and professional development. This relationship fosters collaboration and ongoing growth, ensuring new faculty feel welcomed and empowered. We allocated financial resources for conference attendance. For example, all faculty attended the Virtual NCLEX Update in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Afterward, a round table discussion occurred to facilitate further understanding and sharing of the information. In late 2024, we implemented an assessment and evaluation professor who will continue to monitor progress and provide ongoing learning opportunities for faculty.

This ongoing development, guided by ACEN Standards, ensures faculty stay effective, up-to-date, and committed to best practices that foster student success.

Curriculum Enhancement and Continuous Improvement

Guided by ACEN Standard 4, we revised our curriculum to incorporate best practices and to better prepare our students.

• Curriculum Alignment: We updated our curriculum to reflect the latest healthcare trends and best practices, incorporating simulation to support further competency-based learning, interactive classrooms, and evidence-based practice principles. We used the NCLEX test plan and curriculum map to ensure our curriculum was sound and linked to our EPSLOs.
• Student-Centered Learning: During a comprehensive curriculum and program review, we identified the opportunity to shift to a student-centered learning philosophy. This approach embraces diverse learning styles; we have been able to validate through formative and summative assessments, ensuring that each student's needs are met and enhancing their readiness for the NCLEX exam and future careers.
• Ongoing Evaluation: We implemented ongoing and systematic evaluation processes, including program evaluation through formative and summative evaluation methods, a course report to trend and document curriculum changes, and a biannual evaluation committee. Student feedback and data-driven decision-making support a continuous improvement cycle, ensuring the quality of education we provide.

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These efforts ensure that our curriculum remains dynamic and supportive of student success.

Outcomes-Focused Approach

Utilizing an outcomes-focused approach in line with ACEN’s Standard 5, we established a robust systematic plan for evaluation, starting with a review of end-of-program student learning outcomes (EPSLOs), a review of admission criteria, academic rigor, academic readiness of our students, and trending of program outcomes. Changes include updating the expected level of achievement (ELA) to be varied, genuine, and appropriate for each EPSLO, increasing the TEAS Admission score from 45 to 50, closing the assessment loop, and ensuring faculty understand assessment and evaluation best practices and the importance of data-driven decisions.

Summary

Using the ACEN Accreditation Standards as a guide has been instrumental in improving several key programmatic outcomes for the PN program.

Outcomes to date:

• Improved NCLEX Pass Rates: One of the most significant impacts of accreditation has been improving our NCLEX-PN pass rates. In 2021, our pass rate was 47%, and by 2024, it reached an impressive 95%. This success is due to our commitment to aligning the curriculum with best practices, providing hands-on learning opportunities in labs and simulations, and preparing students thoroughly for the licensing exam using resources such as the blueprint.
• Systematic Evaluation: We now regularly assess student-learning outcomes and use data-driven insights to improve program effectiveness. This process has fostered continuous improvements in program effectiveness and student achievement.
• Job Placement Rates: Our curriculum aligns with industry needs thanks to strong ties with local healthcare employers. This has strengthened our reputation and contributed to a 100% job placement rate for graduates who pass the NCLEX and obtain licensure in 2024.

ACEN accreditation has catalyzed continuous growth and transformation in our Practical Nursing program. Faculty have played an integral role, collaborating on curriculum reviews, leading revisions, and embracing innovative teaching methods. Their dedication to continuous improvement has been pivotal in enhancing the quality of education and student-student preparedness.

We achieved continuing accreditation, with our next visit in 2029. We continue to maintain high standards for nursing faculty and the education we deliver, ensuring our students are well-prepared for the NCLEX and equipped for successful nursing careers. Ultimately, this benefits both the community and the broader healthcare workforce.

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