Does NLN accreditation matter?

Hi everyone,

I hope it's OK that I'm posting on the general nursing forum. I've been accepted into an ADN program that is state board accredited but NOT NLN accredited. It allows me to sit for the N-CLEX/get RN licensure.

I have been desperately trying to figure out if the NLN accreditation is really important or not and am having a really hard time getting straight answers from anyone. My biggest concern would be whether it would affect employment opportunities as an RN, or whether that RN license would be all that mattered.

My other concern would be whether it would affect my progression into an RN-MSN pathway (I may ultimately want to do this). I already have a bachelor's in an unrelated field.

I thought about doing an accelerated BSN, but just getting the prerequisites I'd need would take me two semesters and would cost twice what the entire ADN program would (and that doesn't even count the actual cost of the accelerated BSN!)

If anyone has advice on this subject, please post. Thanks!

In my opinion, unless they are barely starting out with the program they should have NLN accreditation. It just makes sense and gives the students a sense of security that the school is qualified. I belive the process is voluntary not an obligation, but most of the programs seek the accreditation for a reason. Ultimately, the decision is up to you whether or not it bothers you or you think believe you are getting a worthy education (qualilty wise).

Good luck and God Bless

Jessica

As far as I know, graduate schools require that you graduate from an NLN or a CCNE accredited program in order to gain admission into an MSN program. If continuing your education is in your future, I would be careful about attending the program you are referring to.

Yes, it matters if you plan on continuing your education. Thankfully I went to a NLN accredited school and now 10 yrs. later I am going back for my BSN. If my school wasn't NLN accredited I would have to take many classes over with the labs.

Either NLN or CCNE accreditation is acceptable, but I would not go to a school that was not accredited by one or the other.

Wow, thanks for the the answers everyone.

I feel like a real dumba$$ for not realizing this sooner and applying to a different program. If I had figured this out and gotten my act together earlier, I possibly could have made it into the accelerated BSN this fall. But now I'm going to have to wait another full year if I do it at all. At this point I'm so bummed out that I'm thinking about scrapping the whole idea of going back to school.

I feel a little resentful that this school didn't make the accreditation issue a little clearer. In speaking with them, it seems like they feel it is an unecessary expense to get nat'l accreditation, and possibly offended that I am even asking the question. I know that I might seem obsessive to them to be so worried about accreditation, but it is two years of my life and my entire career future we're talking about here, and that stresses me out just a tad!

My husband seems to think I am nuts to turn this opportunity down, and that I'm only going to work locally anyway and not necessarily go on for the masters. He might be right, but I just can't shake the worry that I am making a foolish choice if I do this non-NLN program.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. Better now than later, I guess.

I was accepted at a school that is not NLN accredited. I was very concerned, so I e-mailed the head of NLN to get her opinion on the matter. Luckily, she used to live in this area, so she is very familiar with the school, and has friends who teach there. She said it has an excellent reputation, and she had no reservations recommending the program. She explained the reason it is not accredited is beacuse up until last year, private, hospital-run, Associates degree programs in New York State could not be NLN accredited.

The school is, of course, accredited in NYS. I've done my research and have found many schools with great reputations where I could get my BSN that accept students from my school. I've spoken to nusres who attended my school who all spoke highly of the education they received, and all said they had no problems getting jobs. The only issue the woman from NLN mentioned is that you must attend an NLN accreddited school if you want to work for the Federal government.

Best of luck to you! :)

Beth

I was accepted at a school that is not NLN accredited. I was very concerned, so I e-mailed the head of NLN to get her opinion on the matter. Luckily, she used to live in this area, so she is very familiar with the school, and has friends who teach there. She said it has an excellent reputation, and she had no reservations recommending the program. She explained the reason it is not accredited is beacuse up until last year, private, hospital-run, Associates degree programs in New York State could not be NLN accredited.

The school is, of course, accredited in NYS. I've done my research and have found many schools with great reputations where I could get my BSN that accept students from my school. I've spoken to nusres who attended my school who all spoke highly of the education they received, and all said they had no problems getting jobs. The only issue the woman from NLN mentioned is that you must attend an NLN accreddited school if you want to work for the Federal government.

Best of luck to you! :)

Beth

Beth - do you remember who you might have contacted at the NLN? I was thinking of maybe sending an e-mail off myself to them and seeing if I could get the same sort of help you did. Sounds like your program had a legitimate reason not to be accredited. I don't know that that's the case with the one I'm looking at, but it would be worth asking.

what are the NLNAC- or CCNE- acronyms for? I just finished my orientation for my classes that begin in AUgust and there was mention that the school's program did not have national acredidation. When i asked the chairperson what that meant she said that there are very few community colleges that have national acredidation. She said that University of North Carolina Chapel Hill accepts thier AAS-RN for thier BSN program. My problem is that we are looking to move back to Michigan when I am finished with school. Does anyone know if my degree will not be acceptable for me to go to a four year school?

Christa

what are the NLNAC- or CCNE- acronyms for? I just finished my orientation for my classes that begin in AUgust and there was mention that the school's program did not have national acredidation. When i asked the chairperson what that meant she said that there are very few community colleges that have national acredidation. She said that University of North Carolina Chapel Hill accepts thier AAS-RN for thier BSN program. My problem is that we are looking to move back to Michigan when I am finished with school. Does anyone know if my degree will not be acceptable for me to go to a four year school?

Christa

NLNAC = National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission

CCNE = Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

The best ting to do is to contact the school(s) that you would want to attend when you get back to Michigan (or wherever you wind up) because every school gets to set its own requirements. Personally, I would not attend a school that did not have either accreditation because it seriously limits your options later on. Many BSN programs require the NLN or the CCNE accreditation and (I think) all graduate schools require one or the other. As a rule of thumb, it is always best to check with the school you are planning to attend to see if your degree will meet their requirements for admission.