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As you're looking into nursing programs, one of the things you should look at is
whether or not the program is NLN accredited. Attending a program that is accredited
will only help you in the long run for your career. But what if you find out later that
your program isn't accredited? What if your program loses accreditation while you're taking
classes? Is that really such a bad thing?
What is NLN accreditation??
If you are in a nursing program that has NLN accreditation that means the National
League for Nursing (NLN) has evaluated the program and determined it meets their
standards and criteria for accreditation. Accreditation is simply a way for the NLN
to regulate what nursing programs teach, and how, to ensure that those who graduate
from the programs are ready to be licensed as nurses. By evaluating programs using
the same criteria, they can better regulate nursing education.
Why is NLN accreditation important??
If you are in a nursing program that has NLN accreditation that means the National
League for Nursing (NLN) has evaluated the program and determined it meets their
standards and criteria for accreditation. Accreditation is simply a way for the NLN
to regulate what nursing programs teach, and how, to ensure that those who graduate
from the programs are ready to be licensed as nurses. By evaluating programs using
the same criteria, they can better regulate nursing education.
Why is NLN accreditation important??
NLN accreditation should be important to you as a student. If you are in a NLN
accredited program, you can be assured that you're learning everything you need to
know to be a successful nurse once you graduate and get your license. It can also be
important to potential employers, who look at whether or not your program was accredited
before hiring you. If you were in an accredited program, they know that you'll be a
capable nurse on their healthcare team.
What problems could there be if my program is not NLN accredited??
The biggest concern with graduating from a program that is not NLN accredited is
that you may have trouble furthering your education. If you go through a LPN program
that is not accredited, for example, and then you want to get your degree as a RN,
some of the work you did in the LPN program may not transfer over. That means you
would have to take classes over again, which adds to the time and cost of your nursing
education. The same is true in other types of programs. If you get an Associate's
degree in Education, for example, but your college wasn't accredited in Education,
you may have to take some of those classes over if you go to a different college to
get your Bachelor's degree in Education..
If you find out that your nursing program has not been NLN accredited, you may want
to consider transferring to a different program that has been accredited. That way,
there will be no question about what you've learned or where you are in your education
and you can avoid having to repeat classes if and when you decide to further your education.
Of course, the first step would be to talk to your adviser about your concerns, and make sure
you have all the information you need before you decide to go to a different program.
Ultimately, only you know what is best for your nursing career, but NLN accreditation
certainly doesn't hurt!
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