(RMUoHP) today announced its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs and all of its nursing certificate programs formally received a 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the accrediting body for all U.S. nursing programs. The reaffirmation comes following a 2020 Self-Report and an Evaluation Site Visit. The reaffirmation of accreditation is the first since RMUoHP’s nursing programs initially received CCNE accreditation in 2015. The next evaluation of RMUoHP nursing programs will be held in 2030.
“We are very pleased to receive the formal notification of continuation of CCNE accreditation,” said Stephanie Richardson, PhD, RN, FAHSE, Nursing Department Chair. “Accreditation is a recognition of the quality of the Nursing Department’s programs, faculty, students, and leadership. In particular, we are pleased to hear that we are accredited for 10 years – the maximum time CCNE allows between reviews. That length of time is a marker of excellence.”
According to the Evaluation Team report, the Nursing Department is lauded for:
- Program leadership: “The chair’s leadership was commended during interviews with the Provost and other administrative members of the university…Her vision and organizational skills have been recognized as contributing to the current and future successes of the program. Finally, university administrators and campus leaders confirmed that her academic, clinical, and leadership experiences are requisite to the university’s growth and stability.
- Faculty quality: 17 faculty are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) with certifications in the areas of family, geriatric, midwifery, emergency, and psychiatric-mental health. Eighty-eight percent are doctorally-prepared including 19 DNPs, two PhDs, and one PharmD. Evaluations of teaching effectiveness remain consistently above 4.3 on a 5-point scale.
- Data-based improvements: Curricular changes (arise) in response to student evaluation data, faculty, a community of interests, and other sources. These include changes in scholarly project course content, moving pediatric content in DNP program Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track from summer to winter semesters, and changing the on-campus intensive week from didactic content to exclusively devoted courses with clinical skill acquisition. Community of interest input led to the development of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate (PMHNPC) track. National provider shortage data, an assessment of surrounding state program data, and RMUoHP student survey data, provided rich information to implement this program.
- Program effectiveness: DNP/FNP students stated that their learning was built on their previous nursing education, but this program had transformed their nursing practice to the highest level they never imagined. In-person and remote student interviewees on campus were 100% positive about teaching-learning strategies enabling expected student outcomes. 100% of the FNPC and PMHNPC graduates (pass) the certification examination on the first or second attempt.
“This reaffirmation of accreditation is an important and strategic moment for the Nursing Department,” said Sandra L. Pennington, PhD, RN, RMUoHP’s Accreditation Liaison Officer to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. “It speaks to Dr. Richardson’s vision to meet the healthcare needs of all Americans by implementing programs to educate APRNs in critical-need specialties.”
The Nursing Department currently enrolls more than 190 students in the DNP, and DNP/FNP, PMHNP, and Emergency Nurse Practitioner certificate programs. These programs are offered in online and blended formats, enrolling students from multiple states and territories.
“Because we enroll students across the nation, and students reside in their home states while they are enrolled, graduate nursing students are prepared to contribute to the health of their home communities after they graduate. CCNE recognized the high quality of our students and the faculty members who teach them,” said Richardson.
