Responses of baccalaureate and graduate programs to the emergence of choice in nursing accreditation

Specialized accreditation in nursing is a widely recognized and respected h allmark. of program quality. The advent of a second specialized accrediting agency for baccalaureate and higher degree programs in nursing prompted a survey of these programs to determine their choice of nursing accreditation agency, factors influencing their choice, their perceptions of the value a dded by nursing accreditation, and the difficulties encountered with the ac creditation process. These study variables and the relationships between ch oice of accrediting agency and types of degree-granting nursing education p rograms offered by the institution, agency membership in the National Leagu e of Nursing (NLN) or the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN ), expected date of next accreditation visit, geographic region, public ver sus private status, and type of institution (Carnegie classification) were analyzed. Findings revealed that nearly a quarter (24 %) of respondents int end to continue with the NLN Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), whereas 30 % i ndicated they have already switched to the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or intend to do so prior to their next accreditation cycl e. However, nearly a quarter (24 %) of respondents said they plan to be acc redited by both agencies for the immediate future, and 21 % indicated they are still undecided. Study findings suggest an end to single-source accredi tation, and the beginning of a new market-oriented approach.