NLN Encourages Accreditation for Programs Across the Academic Spectrum
NLN Encourages Accreditation for Programs Across the Academic Spectrum
Originator of Accreditation in Nursing Programs, League Offers Innovative Values-Driven Accreditation through NLN CNEA
Washington, DC — The National League for Nursing, which was the first organization to introduce accreditation in nursing programs, encourages all nursing schools and programs to pursue accreditation to ensure they are recognized by the public and current and prospective nursing students as reputable, quality programs. In the wake of “Operation Nightingale,” which brought federal charges in the alleged illegal sale of fraudulent diplomas and transcripts, accreditation by qualified accreditors is more important than ever to provide public confidence in nursing education.
As the leading voice of nursing education, the National League for Nursing takes great pride in its historic and contemporary impact on accreditation. In 1938, after publishing A Curriculum Guide for Schools of Nursing to upgrade and standardize education for the licensure of nurses, the League initiated accreditation services for nursing programs, a novel approach at the time that boosted the professional standing of nursing.
As the National League for Nursing’s name became increasingly associated with promoting the highest educational standards and authoritative, ethical accreditation, the League was recognized in 1952 by the U.S. Department of Education to assume responsibility for accreditation for nursing programs nationwide. That formal role eventually led to the creation in 2001 of a League subsidiary, the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), which is still solely owned by the League and continues to operate independently as the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
In 2013, in response to member demand for expanded options in accreditation services, the League established a new, autonomous division, the NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). This history of accreditation leadership demonstrates the National League for Nursing’s commitment to both the value of accreditation and the importance of nursing student education and quality health care.
For more information about the NLN CNEA, visit CNEA.NLN.org.
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About the National League for Nursing
Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers professional development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its nearly 45,000 individual and 1,100 institutional members, comprising nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and health care organizations. Learn more at NLN.org.