Continuing Education Gains Six Year Accreditation

The American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, has accredited the School of Nursing & Health Studies Office of Continuing Education for six years as a provider of continuing education.

This is no small feat for such a young program, and is evidence of the innovation and dedication of the continuing education director and staff.

Accreditation is a voluntary process for assessing and granting recognition to an organization that meets established standards based on predetermined criteria, requirements, and compliance with national standards. The national process is a complex one and requires up to six months of preparation. NHS's Office of Continuing Education submitted a 163-page document providing an in-depth analysis of department activities raging from the office's inception to the development, implementation and evaluation of a cadre of educational programs.

After review of the application, the accreditation team determined that the application complied with the appropriate standards set forth by ANCC and scheduled a site visit to the School, the final component of the lengthy process of accreditation. Site visitors performed a number of interviews and on-site analyses to ensure adherence to policies and procedures.

What does this mean for the Office of Continuing Education? "The ANCC accreditation process provides us with a seal of approval and strengthens the quality and integrity of our programs," says Lyons. This also means that NHS is now a direct provider of continuing education under the ANCC and no longer reports to the State Board of Maryland. In addition, the accomplishment also allows NHS to build on its reputation as a leader in the health care industry.

According to ANCC, the benefits of accreditation include:

• Recognition by most state licensing boards.
• Indicates an organization's willingness to have their education programs reviewed for adherence to objective national standards.
• Respect for achieving a high standard of excellence.
• Provides an avenue through which nurses can maintain professional competence.
• Promotes commitment to high quality nursing practice.

What's next for the Office of Continuing Education? "As we continue to develop programs for all health care professionals we are always looking creatively at how best to share our expertise," says Lyons.  She adds, "Whether it is through a partnership with an outside organization, contracting our services to a health care facility or having a conference on campus, the CE office is an exciting place to grow professionally."  

For more information on continuing education at the School of Nursing & Health Studies, e-mail  nhsce@georgetown.edu.