Nursing program receives 10-year accreditation

Bernadette Fetterolf, Ph.D.

The Newman University nursing degree programs received a clean bill of health this past summer from both national and state accreditation agencies. The national Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) granted a full 10-year accreditation of the university’s nursing degree programs, and the Kansas State Board of Nursing awarded a full 10-year reapproval. Both agencies granted their awards with no recommendations, which refer to areas that require attention or follow-up for a nursing education program to receive unconditional accreditation.

“I offer my enthusiastic congratulations to the School of Nursing and Allied Health on achieving approval for the nursing program at both a national and state level for 10 years with no recommendations,” said Newman President Noreen M. Carrocci, Ph.D. “It is a tribute to the faculty, staff and outstanding leadership within the school.”

“We are certainly pleased and honored by these affirmations from the commission and the Kansas board,” said Bernadette Fetterolf, Ph.D., director of the School of Nursing and Allied Health and associate professor of nursing. “I very much appreciate the faculty for all they do. Their desire is to continually improve the school and find better ways to help students learn. They, and our student body and alumni, were great strengths during the CCNE reaccreditation visit.”

The CCNE is the nation’s leading autonomous accrediting agency for baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. It is officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency that contributes to the improvement of the public’s health by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. In addition to ensuring that nursing programs adequately prepare individuals for professional practice, the CCNE encourages ongoing self-assessment, and supports continuing growth and improvement of the programs through planning and resource development, peer review, enhanced teaching and learning assessment, and other means.

The Newman nursing program is highly respected in the region for its dedication to excellence. The number of Newman nursing graduates who pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on their first attempt is consistently above state and national averages. In 2009, the NCLEX pass rate of Newman nursing graduates was 98 percent.

In addition to teaching students the clinical skills required for nursing, the Newman program provides an ethical framework to help graduates meet the needs of diverse populations in today’s complex healthcare environment.

The Newman School of Nursing and Allied Health offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, Bachelor of Science degree programs in Sonography and Healthcare Science, Associate of Science degree programs in Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care and Occupational Therapy Assistant, and a Master of Science degree program in Nurse Anesthesia.

The school also launched an online “RN-to-BSN” degree completion program in fall 2010. The program, which will be offered at about half the university’s standard tuition, is designed to give working Registered Nurses a flexible means of earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.