Nursing Program Receives National Accreditation
April 8, 2016
Ephraim, UT – The Snow College Nursing Department is excited to announce their recent accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) for their Registered Nursing (RN) Program.
The Snow College RN program was previously associated with Weber Stated University but is in its second year of being an independent program. Due to it being a new program, accreditation is required, and through the diligent commitment of the faculty and staff, the program has achieved initial accreditation status.
“We wanted more independence and the ability to dictate our curriculum,” said Cyndi Jorgensen, Nursing Instructor. “This gives us the opportunity to push this program to reach its full potential. This accreditation is important in providing a quality nursing education within a dynamic program that continuously evolves through self-assessment and improvement.”
There are six standards that need to be met to qualify for accreditation: Mission and Administrative Capacity, Faculty and Staff, Students, Curriculum, Resources, and Outcomes. To fulfill these standards, the program must reflect the governing organization’s core values and goals. There must be effective delivery of information and achievement of desired outcomes established by the state. The qualified faculty is necessary to ensure the achievement of the student learning outcomes. Student support must be evident to achieve student success in a safe and contemporary healthcare environment. Resources must be sustainable and sufficient to ensure the quality education of each student and a program evaluation must show that graduates are competent and able to meet the demands of a thriving health care field.
The nursing program has been a significant part of the Snow College curriculum for decades with their Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Program accredited since the 1970’s. The Nursing Department is based out of the Snow College Richfield Campus with curriculum also available on the Ephraim campus and the LPN program also available in Nephi. Dr. Steve Hood, Academic Affairs Vice President, said, “Snow College has had a strong nursing program for many years, and we look forward to expanding our offerings. The faculty have worked hard to reach this milestone, and they are to be commended. We consistently place students in the field, and they are well prepared because of their Snow College experience.”
The ACEN accreditation program is based on the need to specialize accreditation contributing to the centrality of nursing for the public good and providing for the maintenance and enhancement of quality education. Accreditation indicates to the general public and to the educational community that a nursing program has clear and appropriate educational objectives and is working to achieve these objectives. Emphasis is placed upon the total nursing program and its compliance with established standards and criteria in the context of its mission/philosophy as well as current and future nursing practice.
ABOUT SNOW COLLEGE
Snow College, founded in 1888 by Utah pioneers, is a two-year college with campuses located in Ephraim and Richfield, Utah. Serving more than 5,000 students, the college has been nationally recognized for its student success rates, affordable cost-for-value, involvement opportunities, and exceptional teaching.