Niagara University nursing programs reaccredited

Niagara University received notification today its nursing programs were reaccredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

CCNE accreditation is a nongovernmental peer review process that operates in accordance with nationally recognized standards established for the practice of accreditation in the U.S.

The 10-year accreditation (through 2023) pertains to all of Niagara's nursing programs, which include a B.S. in nursing, an RN-to-B.S. post-associate completion program and an accelerated B.S. in nursing.

The university also is approved by the New York State Department of Education.

"This is welcome and wonderful news for our nursing students, alumni, faculty and staff," said the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., Niagara University president. "Accreditation is a long and thorough process, indicative of program quality. Our nursing department has emerged from it more determined than ever to continue delivering a world-class education to our students."

Officially recognized by the U.S. secretary of education as a national accreditation agency, the CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCNE 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. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and post-baccalaureate nurse residency programs.

Achieving accreditation is a process of rigorous internal review, evaluation and adjustment that can take several years to complete. During this time, the school develops and implements a plan to meet the CCNE accreditation standards.

"So much university-wide collaboration went into this process, including students, faculty and staff who helped develop our plan. This could not have been accomplished without the hard work and support of the entire Niagara family," said Fran Crosby, Ed.D., chair of the nursing department.

Curricula for Niagara's nursing programs have been developed following guidelines published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the New York State Council of Deans, and the most recent Institute of Medicine report on nursing competencies.

Niagara University is presently planning to construct a state-of-the-art nursing simulation center on its campus. The center will provide "hands-on" opportunities for students to manage patient encounters and skills in a risk-free, virtual reality environment, while supporting traditional classroom learning and clinical practice experiences.

NU's nursing department also has established a strong relationship with Catholic Health, a nonprofit health care system that provides care to Western New Yorkers through a network of hospitals, primary care centers and other facilities. Catholic Health currently sponsors a cohort of 30 nursing staff members in the degree completion program.

For more information about Niagara University's nursing programs, visit www.niagara.edu/nursing or call 716-286-7358.