First in Iowa: National nursing commission awards full accreditation to NICC nursing programs
Monday, March 18, 2019
NICC DISTRICT—The National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) has awarded full six-year accreditation to Northeast Iowa Community College’s one-year Practical Nursing and two-year Associate Degree Nursing programs. The national accreditation for the two programs is currently a first among the state of Iowa’s 15 community colleges.
“The accreditation for the College's nursing programs is a sign of excellence in nursing education, and a valuable factor for nursing graduates in seeking employment or advancing their education,” stated Sue Schneider, district-wide dean of nursing. "We are very grateful for the support of the Northeast Iowa Community College Board of Trustees, administration, district health facilities, advisory committees, faculty and students.”
The NLN CNEA evaluated Northeast Iowa Community College's nursing programs using five standards of accreditation. The five standards are: 1) Culture of Excellence – Program Outcomes; 2) Culture of Integrity and Accountability – Mission, Governance, and Resources; 3) Culture of Excellence and Caring – Faculty; 4) Culture of Excellence and Caring – Students; and 5) Culture of Learning and Diversity – Curriculum and Evaluation Processes.
Mike Myers, CEO of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, believes the national accreditation serves as a strong indicator of the outstanding quality of the nursing programs at NICC and the career readiness of graduates.
“I am very pleased to learn that Northeast Iowa Community College has received accreditation from the NLN CNEA Board of Commissioners. I have had the pleasure of hiring several of the College’s nursing students to work at Veterans Memorial Hospital, and from the first hire to the most recent, it is obvious they have been well prepared to begin their careers as Registered Nurses. I have been a part of the advisory council for the program, and the dedication of the instructors to make sure they have these students ready to care for patients in any setting is remarkable. The accreditation is a validation of the outstanding effort this College puts into the nursing program,” Myers stated.
Dubuque area healthcare leaders expressed similar praise for the nursing programs at NICC, their partnership with the College and the national accreditation news.
"MercyOne in Dubuque and Dyersville, and Northeast Iowa Community College, have been longtime partners in preparing nurses to provide the highest standards of care to patients and families. We are grateful for our relationship with NICC and look forward to continuing to work together with them to ensure that aspiring nurses receive an excellent education and develop a love for learning and improving that lasts throughout their nursing careers. This latest accomplishment is highly appreciated and well-deserved," expressed Kay Takes, president of Eastern Iowa Region, MercyOne.
The NLN CNEA accreditation is effective immediately and affects all graduates of either Nursing program, beginning May 2019.
For more information on accreditation through NLN CNEA, visit www.nln.org.
ABOUT THE NLN CNEA MISSION: The National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation promotes excellence and integrity in nursing education globally through an accreditation process that respects the diversity of program mission, curricula, students, and faculty; emphasizes a culture of continuous quality improvement; and influences the preparation of a caring and competent nursing workforce.