Master in nursing program granted CCNE accreditation

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Board of Commissioners recently granted five-year accreditation to the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offered at Baker University’s School of Nursing. Five is the maximum number of years that can be granted to a new program.

The accreditation took effect Feb. 13, 2017, at the beginning of CCNE’s on-site evaluation. School of Nursing conducted an in-depth self-study and submitted it to CCNE six weeks before the visit.

“This accreditation signifies that Baker University meets the rigorous education standards that have been established on a national level,” said Carol Moore, associate dean of Baker’s School of Nursing. “It provides an assurance to prospective students that they will receive a quality education and that graduating from Baker is a significant achievement.”

Accreditation by CCNE serves as a statement of good educational practice in the field of nursing and ensures that graduates are professionally qualified and competent. CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public’s health. CCNE strives to ensure the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs. Baker’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is also accredited by the CCNE.

Throughout Baker University’s history, new programs have been introduced to serve the changing needs of students, including adult students and lifelong learners. Baker’s School of Nursing was established in 1991 at the Pozez Education Center at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka, Kansas, to provide nursing education for the students in Baker’s service region. Consistent with Baker’s history, the School of Nursing established the MSN program to meet the needs of nursing alumni and the local and regional community. Baker University admitted the first MSN students in the spring of 2016 and will graduate the program’s first class in May 2018.