New BSN program-no accreditation yet?

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So, I am looking to transfer over to Western Illinois University, which just recently added a bsn program in 2009. I am currently entering my senior year at another University and switched career paths from communication science and disorders to nursing. But my current school doesn't offer a nursing program and is actually quite pricey.

On the CCNE list of accreditated schools, Western is listed under new application status. I really want to enter the program, but I am worried, what happens if it doesn't become accreditated by the time I graduate in three years? Is anyone familiar of how long it takes for a school to become accreditated and what happens if I do graduate, get my BSN and pass my NCLEX, but the school has yet to receive accrediation will I be unable to get a job? The only information I was able to find is that the CCNE evaluated the school in Feb. 2010.

If accepted, should I enter the program?

Thank you for any help or advice.

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

Check with your board of nursing to see if they even would accept apps for a school that hasn't been accred. yet. Personally, I think it's a risk.

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Well it is accredited by the Illinois Board of Nursing, so I would be eligible to take the NCLEX.

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Sorry I thought you were doing RN-BSN :) Good luck anyway! :)

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As long as you are able to sit for the nclex, it is an accredited school. CCNE is an extra accreditation. Here is the web address explaining more. http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation/

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Specializes in Psych/CD/Medical/Emp Hlth/Staff ED.

I also graduated from a new nursing program that was not yet fully accredited at the time I graduated. This is because part of the accreditation process is based on the program's graduation rate and NCLEX pass rate, which aren't available until after the first cohort has finished. You are still able to sit for the NCLEX and get a job. It actually far more risky to attend a program on the brink of loosing accreditation that it is to enter a new program. The upside of a brand new program is that they aren't weighed down by out of date equipment, nursing education practices, and nursing philosophies.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care, Cardiac Ca.

I looked into this with an unaccredited school...here's the thing.

If you have ANY plans to go on through graduate work, don't go to an unaccredited school. 90% of the graduate schools I asked said they would not accept an unaccredited BSN as a Bachelors in nursing. :(

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
I also graduated from a new nursing program that was not yet fully accredited at the time I graduated. This is because part of the accreditation process is based on the program's graduation rate and NCLEX pass rate, which aren't available until after the first cohort has finished. You are still able to sit for the NCLEX and get a job. It actually far more risky to attend a program on the brink of loosing accreditation that it is to enter a new program. The upside of a brand new program is that they aren't weighed down by out of date equipment, nursing education practices, and nursing philosophies.

I would also think that if the school has had its CCNE visit and has either graduated its first cohort or will do so soon, you can reasonably expect the school to become CCNE accredited before you graduate. Ask the director of the program about the process and perhaps he/she can tell you a bit more about what to expect.

I agree with HamsterRN that it is much riskier to attend a school that is in danger of losing its accreditation. I can't speak for employers or graduate schools, but while most say they want nurses who have graduated from CCNE-accredited programs, I would think they would look differently at the graduate of a new program that has not yet been accredited than they would at the graduate of a school that either lost its accreditation due to problems and deficiencies (often problems with NCLEX pass rates) or one that was never accredited by the CCNE in the first place. There are some programs like that so buyer beware!

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I agree with Moogie. If they've petitioned already they will probably have the accreditation before you graduate. If they hadn't petitioned, that would be a different story and I would say NO!!

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