***Press Release***
Nearly three year process
finally complete
Northeastern Junior College’s
nursing department was recently notified that both the practical nursing and
associate degree nursing programs have received national accreditation through
the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC). The NLNAC
accreditation process is a voluntary peer review process intended to enhance
quality improvement in nursing education.
According to NLNAC Accreditation
Manuel NLNAC accreditation: Provides recognition that a nursing education
program has been evaluated and periodically re-evaluated by a quality,
independent group of respected and competent peers who have found it to be
meeting appropriate postsecondary and higher educational purposes in a
satisfactory manner; Assures professional development opportunity and
validation for faculty; Is a gateway to licensure, certification, and
eligibility for entitlement programs; and Identifies areas needing
development
NJC’s nursing department started
to prepare for the accreditation process in fall of 2009 and faculty and staff
have worked diligently to prepare. A 300 page self- study report was completed
by faculty and submitted to NLAC. In addition, a team of five NLNAC surveyors
came to campus in late October to visit with the students, faculty,
administrators, clinical sites and the NJC nursing advisory board. At that
time the surveyors recommended initial accreditation for both the practical
nursing program and the associate degree nursing program. The next step in the
process occurred in January 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia when the nursing programs
were reviewed by an evaluation review panel. This panel reviewed the findings of
the visit team as presented in the site visitors’ report compared to the
programs self-study and college catalog. It was this panel that made
recommendations for NJC’s accreditation status to the commission. The NLNAC
Board of Commission then reviewed the findings of the site surveyors and the
evaluation review panel and had the sole authority to determine accreditation.
NJC’s nursing department was
notified in writing by NLNAC in April that it was granted initial
accreditation. The director of the nursing department at NJC, Julie Brower,
reports that many individuals played important roles in reaching this goal.
“Faculty put in numerous hours to prepare and each had a chapter in the self
-study to complete,” she explains. “NJC’s administration was very supportive
during the process and provided many resources to the department in order for
this goal to be met. Clinical sites and advisory board members were all
questioned by the surveyors and gave their perspectives on our programs. Another
key to NJC’s success was the financial contribution made by Frank and Gloria
Walsh. Frank and Gloria have made many financial contributions to our program
and also helped the college pay to hire a consultant to assist with NLNAC
preparations, helped faculty further their education and have been long time
contributors to nursing student scholarships. The nursing faculty and staff
would like to thank all of those who have made this accomplishment possible. Our
community can be proud of this achievement and quality of our nursing programs
here at Northeastern Junior College.”
Northeastern offers several
options when it comes to nursing training. Students may attend training to
become a certified nurses’ aide, a licensed practical nurse, or after becoming
a licensed practical nurse, may continue for another year to complete an
Associate of Applied Science Degree and be eligible
to apply to take the NCLEX exam to obtain licensure in the state of Colorado as
a Registered Nurse.
The nursing program will hold a
pinning ceremony for its’ 2012 Practical Nursing Class on Thursday, June
21st at 6 p.m. in the Dorothy J. Corsberg Theatre in E. S. French
Hall. It holds a pinning ceremony for those students completing the Associate of
Applied Science Degree to become registered nurses each December.
