RN program not accredited

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I just transferred to an Associate's RN program, it is a hospital affiliated school. I have advanced placement in Nursing IV and will be done by the summer. I just found out the school is not NLNAC accredited, although they have future plans to become accredited. A fellow student told me the school said this over a year ago in a different class. Is this a deal breaker?

If the school becomes accredited after I graduate, will my program fall under that? I am unsure what to do...should I seek another program? I am in NYS

Thanks for any info!

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The answer may vary from School to School, and from hospital to hospital.

On the NLNAC website, it will give the dates of accreditation (starting/ending). At my institution we look to see if a school was accredited at the time of an applicant's graduation. We do not look at what happened before or after a student was enrolled at that school.

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I would not go to a non - accredited school. I also wouldn't believe anything they tell you "might" happen in the future.

What are the other options around you? I know that it seems fast and you'll be done quicker, but I think it will be better for you in the long run. What will happen when you want to get your BSN? They aren't going to take records from a non - accredited school.

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My school is not accredited. Up until recently private schools (like hospitals) weren't allowed to apply for accreditation. My understanding is that you cannot work in government facilities such as the VA hospital for example. However, check with your school. Although not ALL 4 year colleges accept credit from a non accredited school most 2 year schools have affiliations with 4 year. So for me I have a list of school that work with mine that I KNOW will take me into their accredited BSN program. I know lots of graduates from my school that all found jobs with no problems. I personally don't plan to work in government but like I said if you complete your BSN from an accredited facility you would have the option to. I hope this helps a little:redbeathe

It's the same in other professions as well. My husband was going to go back to school for engineering but the program wasn't accredited.. they told him the same thing.. no government.

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Up until recently private schools (like hospitals) weren't allowed to apply for accreditation.

This is not true -- my hospital-based diploma program was NLNAC accredited back in the '80s when I went there (and had been for a long time at that time), and many other private programs I'm aware of have been accredited for many, many years.

Are you maybe referring to academic accreditation, rather than nursing accreditation? It's true that diploma programs and tech/voc schools aren't eligible for accreditation by the same academic accrediting bodies that accredit "regular" colleges and universities. But that's an entirely different issue from NLNAC accreditation.

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I will be attending Kaplan ADN program in Fall '10. It is NOT nationally accredited, however, recognized by the FL BON. I am attending their program for 2 reasons.

1. I will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX exam and thereby obtaining my FL RN license

2. Their BSN is CCNE accredited. I know I will be going for my BSN and they will gladly accept me because I would have already attended their ADN program.

That's my future nursing plan.

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