I found out my nursing school wasn't accredited, is my degree worthless?

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I have been an RN since 2008. I've held one paying RN job. However, because my spouse is military, I've tried getting jobs at Military hospitals and the VA. I finally got a job offer at a VA and then they told me my school wasn't accredited by the CCNE or the NLNAC. So they are taking the offer back.

I am so bummed because I really needed a job and getting a state license to work where we live isn't an option because of the transient military lifestyle. Furthermore, I don't believe I quality for a GA ( where we live) RN license anyway due to the accreditation issue.

Will I be able to get my BSN and use my ADN credits towards the BSN degree if the ADN program wasn't accredited?

I could have sworn that I heard during orientation that the program was accredited, but turns out it was only accredited with the state BON. Why would they withhold such important information?

This was a well known community college program that had put out hundreds of nurses in our state. Now that I know that I won't be eligible to work at any government hospitals or clinics, I'm really saddened. I turned down another job, not nursing, when I got the initial offer from the VA. And I really need to work right now.

Is my degree worthless after this? I wasted so much time and money out of my own pocket. And I worked so hard to get that degree. I'm so upset right now I feel sick to my stomach.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Hind sight is always 20/20. Even when I went to school I knew that to have your schooling accepted NCLAC/NLN was the accreditation to receive. As far as Your credits being transferring able???? That can only be answered by the accepting college.

I'm sorry you are experiencing this....:hug:

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

If you are sure that what the VA told you is absolutely correct, I'd write a letter to the editor in the city where the comm. college is located to warn others before they waste two years of their life. And why not post it on AN? Your story is very dispiriting. Shame on the BON for allowing that program to graduate a single student.

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Specializes in Emergency.

i finally got a job offer at a va and then they told me my school wasn't accredited by the ccne or the nlnac.

correct me if i am wrong, but i thought that ccne only did accrediting of bsn/ msn programs and not asn programs? i could be wrong, but this was just my understanding. the nlnac i think does do adn, and diploma programs.

i also know that the va does require you to have a bachelor's degree, even if it's not in nursing, they require a minimum of a bs/ba degree. i graduated from a school that was not ccne accredited with my adn and i've been accepted to a cal state university for the degree completion, as well as two other private schools that hold regional and ccne accreditation. i think as long as your school has a recognized department of education regional accreditation, you should be fine transferring to a bsn program. i also agree that if you got screwed with your education, make it public so that others are aware and don't get screwed also.

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Specializes in ICU.

correct me if i am wrong, but i thought that ccne only did accrediting of bsn/ msn programs and not asn programs? i could be wrong, but this was just my understanding. the nlnac i think does do adn, and diploma programs.

i also know that the va does require you to have a bachelor's degree, even if it's not in nursing, they require a minimum of a bs/ba degree. i graduated from a school that was not ccne accredited with my adn and i've been accepted to a cal state university for the degree completion, as well as two other private schools that hold regional and ccne accreditation. i think as long as your school has a recognized department of education regional accreditation, you should be fine transferring to a bsn program. i also agree that if you got screwed with your education, make it public so that others are aware and don't get screwed also.

simply not true. i work for the va system as a nurse, and many of my coworkers only have their adn. it is true that the school must be either nlnac or ccne accredited, but there are many associate colleges that offer this nlnac cert in my state.

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Ohh my school told us on the first day that they are not CCNE or the NLNAC credited. And that we can't work in VA. My plan is to get BSN where it credited. I don't think your degree is worthless. (You had worked as RN before.) It's just you can't work in VA that's all.

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

This is only marginally related but there is a trend in my area where ADN programs are choosing not to renew their NLN certification. It makes me wonder if NLN certification is truly relevant anymore?

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Most facilities will run an accredidation check on the school you attended, to include the Government system.

***FACT*** - The VA "DOES" hire ADN nurses. If you want to join active duty military they do not accpet the ADN degree. (you need a BSN or you will be coverted to an LPN)

"Will I be able to get my BSN and use my ADN credits towards the BSN degree if the ADN program wasn't accredited?"

The only one who can honestly answer this is the school counselors at the school that you apply to. Each school is different in what they will and wont accept from various other colleges.

I reccomend that you apply to a BSN school to find out. $75.00 application fee is the only fee you should have to pay... I can not promise that you be able to transfer the credits or not.

However I just completed my Bachelors Degree through a great program (I am not affiliated with the school LOL) I just really had a great experience with this school and program. I went to Thomas Edison State College (TESC) (located in Trenton, New Jersey) I am a Military spouse as well, so I completed my ADN(Community College), then my BSN(TESC) and now I am working on my Masters degree(TESC)...

It is completely online all of the courses and is very flexible and works wonderfully with the military. You know as a military spouse you can use the education center on post for assistence too..

My last piece of advice is to turn this school in, in some way shape or form so others will not have to go through the same thing you are....

A couple questions for ya....

Have you taken the NCLEX?

What state are you currently licensed in?

What was your RN position?

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

Some RN-to-BSN programs specify that ADNs must have been earned from a NLN accredited program. Double check this when you inquire.

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I do have a Bachelors in Biology. But HR said that they only recognize the Nursing educations accreditation status. My other degree was not a factor at all.

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Thanks for your advice. I did take the NCLEX 2009, licensed in VA and FL. And worked 18 months in Med Surge and volunteered part time at a children's clinic. I know I can work at civilian hospitals, but being that we're ALWAYS moving, it isn't always practical to get my license everywhere we go. So the most practical thing, I thought, was to work @ on post hospital or the VA; because they would allow me job transferability. I was banking on the easy portability when I married my active duty spouse shortly before finishing RN school. When I heard that my program was accredited with the state BON during orientation, I didn't worry about it anymore. National accreditation wasn't on my radar. Little did I know then that the government only recognizes two accrediting bodies, and that regional accreditation wont cut it. But like a previous poster said, " Hindsight is 20/20"

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Since you've passed the NCLEX and have an active license in two states, I think it's a hefty exaggeration to ask if your education is worthless. Clearly if you've been licensed in two states, were hired as an RN, and have worked for over a year and half, your education is not worthless.

ONE facility would not accept you because you didn't graduate from an accredited school. That's hardly a representation of the majority opinion here. While it might be ideal for you to work in a military hospital, your current location might not be an option right now. If that's the case then I would work in a civilian hospital for now and when you move to your next location, apply in the military system again.

As for whether you or not you can get your BSN, that will depend on the school that you apply to. Since there are many unaccredited programs, I'm sure there are some schools somewhere that will accept you.

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