MSN accreditation help

[danny_RN]

I wonder if anyone can give me some good advice about MSN program accreditation. I am currently attending an online MSN program that is not CCNE or NLNAC accredited. When I started the program, I had no idea that the program was non-accredited. I guess I just assumed that all major nursing programs in the United States in 2012 were accredited (silly me).

I contacted the director of the nursing department and I was informed that the program was currently seeking CCNE accreditation. The program is very new and only started its MSN program last year in 2011 which is why it has not yet earned accreditation. The director also told me that once accreditation is obtained that it would be retroactice and I will then be able to state that I graduated from an accredited program. Is that true? I plan to continue into a doctoral program once completing the MSN program in the upcoming months- is this going to restrict me?

Does accreditation at the MSN level matter? I have heard that particularly at the graduate level, graduation from an accredited program is essential. I have worked hard and don't want to earn a graduate degree for nothing if you know what I mean.

I first went to LPN school (which was also non accredited), and later earned an ADN degree and became an RN. Later, I completed a BSN program that was accredited by both the CCNE and NLNAC. Now, I am about half way completed with an MSN degree from this school and I am learning that I have been doing all of this hard work for an unacredited program! I'm sure you can understand my concern. I'll be thankful for any advice!

[llg, PhD, RN]

Usually, if accreditation is awarded, it is retroactive back for a few years. That part is true. But there is no guarantee that the school will succeed in its acreditation attempt.

I assume that the school already has a CCNE accredited BSN program. Is that correct? Or will this be the first time that the school will be attempting to meet the CCNE standards?