The accreditation is for five years, the maximum possible. "The CCNE accreditation is a defining moment and a great landmark for our BSN program. It was a huge undertaking and we are blessed to have gotten this far," said Mariamma Mathai, program director.
Fresno Pacific created a bachelor's degree completion program to give Valley registered nurses the skills they need to advance in their careers and better serve their profession and community. While the RN designation trains nurses for entry work, such as hospital wards, a bachelor's degree is needed for positions in supervision, administration and research or for entry into graduate study.
The first group of six students completed their studies in August 2010 and will participate in commencement December 10. Three more cohorts totaling 22 students are now underway at the North Fresno and Visalia regional centers. "Many people have worked very hard, and now we are accredited by one of the most recognized agencies in the nation," said Cindy Steele, director of regional centers. "This accreditation ensures nursing students the ability to secure sufficient financial aid and help them find employment,"
Recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency that ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing. "CCNE serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices," according to the commission website: (aacn.nche.edu/accreditation/). "CCNE accreditation supports…continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education."
Accreditation benefits students, the university and the community. "This process gives assurance to the public and the professional communities that we are providing quality education and are meeting the educational standards for professional nurses. The BSN program will put out graduates who are effective professionals and socially responsible citizens," Mathai said.