Samford University's Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing has received accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for its baccalaureate and master's degree programs.
The accreditation, which will be in effect for five years, is the result of an extensive evaluation by the CCNE national accrediting agency. Established in 1996, the CCNE is an autonomous arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
According to a CCNE report, the Samford nursing school successfully met all four accreditation standards of quality and effectiveness: mission and governance, institutional commitment and resources, curriculum and teaching-learning practices, and student performance and faculty accomplishments.
"We were pleased that the evaluation included no major recommendations for improvement," said School of Nursing Dean Dr. Marian Baur. "This positive report acknowledges the support of our mission and vision by the University, and the on-going efforts of the faculty, staff and current students."
The accreditation process, says Dr. Baur, "assures students that certain standards are met and will be maintained in order to offer them the best education possible."
Specific qualities cited included the school's genuine nurturance of students with open communication between students and faculty, the expressed belief by faculty that an overall philosophy of professional standards drives the curriculum, and a student/faculty ratio that provides for small class size and individual student attention.
The CCNE also cited the school's financial support from Baptist Health System for enhanced educational resources, and from Pew Charitable Trust Foundation for the development of problem-based learning.
The review included as self-study process and an on-site evaluation in September by a CCNE review team. The team interviewed university officials, nursing faculty, students, alumni and community representatives, and also visited clinical placement sites.
The School of Nursing enrolls 162 students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and 80 in its Master of Science in Nursing program. Master's level specialty tracks prepare nurses for advanced roles in the fields of nurse practitioner, education, nurse manager, missions, parish nursing and clinical nurse specialist. A joint MSN/Master of Business Administration degree is also available.
The School of Nursing is a cooperative effort of Samford and Baptist Health Systems, which provides clinical and classroom space as well as financial support.