LOST Accreditation

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2011

When we talk about accreditation in regard to nursing programs, it's important to clarify specifically what kind of accreditation we're talking about.

Many people don't realize there is a difference between a nursing program being approved by the state BON, meaning that its graduates are eligible to sit the NCLEX and get licensed, and being accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE, which are the two independent organizations that accredit nursing programs. Many nursing programs are approved for licensure (by the state BON) but not accredited (by the NLNAC or CCNE) -- which means that, if you wish to further your education later on and the program you're wanting to get into requires that you have graduated from an accredited program (as many do), you'll be in trouble if you went to a basic nursing program that wasn't accredited even though you have no problems with licensure. Some hospitals, also, will only hire people who are graduates of accredited programs (even though you have a valid, active license, they will not consider you if your school wasn't accredited).

Once you go beyond accreditation specific to nursing, it gets even more confusing. Nursing programs within colleges and universities can get NLNAC or CCNE accreditation, but there is also general academic accreditation that applies to the school in general, overall. Usually, in nursing, we're mainly interested in the nursing-specific accreditation, but the other matters, too. People who go to the proprietary (private-for-profit) tech/vocational schools for their nursing education may get a perfectly fine nursing education and have no problems getting licensed by the state, but, often, when they want to go back to school, they find that "regular" colleges and universities won't recognize or accept any of their credits from the tech/voc school. That's because the other school is not accredited (generally, not specifically regarding nursing) by the same organization(s) that accredit "regular" colleges and universities. The various proprietary trade schools have gotten together and formed their own accrediting agencies which accredit them -- so they can say in their advertising that they're accredited (because they are) -- but other colleges and universities don't recognize (in many/most cases) their credits, and won't accept them for transfer, because they're accredited by the "wrong" organizations, and aren't held to the same standards as "regular" colleges and universities.

BTW, ACICS is one of the organization that accredits (only) tech/voc/trade schools. That doesn't (necessarily) mean you won't get a good (at least adequate) nursing education, and one wouldn't have trouble getting licensed (assuming it's approved by the BON -- but I can't imagine a nursing program would stay in operation long if its students couldn't write the NCLEX :); BON approval is pretty much a given), but furthering one's education in the future could well be a problem.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/what-does-accrediation-455026.html

The proprietary schools don't mind at all that most people don't have any idea how any of this works -- they put on their websites and brochures that they're "accredited," and that is a true statement, and most people don't ask any more questions about that (until they suddenly find they're up against a brick wall when they want to return to school somewhere else). With the tech/voc/trade schools, like so many things in life, it's a case of "buyer, beware" -- some may be v. good schools but some are little more than scams. You've got to investigate carefully before you invest a significant amount of time or money ... Elkpark 2010

I couldn't have said it better myself..... :smokin:

FLArn · Nov 7, 2011

Call your state BON. So sorry this happened to you

TX RN · Nov 7, 2011

Means you better look to transfer to a different nursing program.

If a nursing program loses accreditation their graduates are not eligible to sit for licensure examination.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2011

Means you better look to transfer to a different nursing program.
If a nursing program loses accreditation their graduates are not eligible to sit for licensure examination.

As previously mentioned...important to determine/specity with whom they lost their accreditation.

Blackcat99 · Nov 7, 2011

I am currently enrolled at a Community College that Lost there Accreditation. Im not sure what that exactly this means. Can someone please help me understand.

I think it means that you need to find a new college ASAP. I don't believe other colleges will accept classes taken at a college that is not accredited. I don't think the state board will accept classes that are not accredited.

I don't think you are allowed to take your nursing state board test if your classes are not accredited. :crying2:

Jenni811, RN · Nov 7, 2011

If you wish to continue education later on it would probably be best if you transferred schools.

otherwise it doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot other than it just looks better on resumes.

we have several nursing schools in my area. i graduated from an accredited school of nursing. One technical college lost their accreditation as well, something about extrmely low pass rate on NCLEX. i'm not really sure. Anyway, our hospital won't even look at their resumes.

netglow, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2011

http://www.nlnac.org/forms/directory_search.htm

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation/accredited-programs

d419 · Nov 7, 2011

Thank you to all, this helps a lot. The College lost NLNAC accreditation. I do plan on go further with my education so I have decided to look into other opposition to obtain my RN

:bluecry1:

d419 · Nov 7, 2011

As previously mentioned...important to determine/specity with whom they lost their accreditation.

They lost... The National League for Nursing Accreditation

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 8, 2011

You might want to talk with an attorney. You and your classmates may be able to get a settlement from the school to compensate you for the damages done to you by their failure to maintain the NLNAC accreditation. If I were in your situation, I be talking with a lawyer.

FocusRN · Nov 8, 2011

I honestly wouldn't give up my spot in a BON approved nursing program just because they lost NLN accreditation. NLN and CCNE still is VOLUNTARY, and be aware that colleges can and WILL still either deny admission, and refuse transfer courses from schools that ARE "accredited" by the NLN or CCNE. You can still continue your education without it. Think long and hard before you make a decision.