Arapahoe Community College’s nursing program recently earned
accreditation, meaning its graduates will enjoy an easier time
obtaining jobs or transferring to a four-year university.
The National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission bestowed
the designation upon the associate degree in nursing program
following a five-year application process. Accreditation also will
mean increased access to grants, nursing program director Susan
Scheuring said.
“The benefits will be seen by students seeking employment and
further education, by the school applying for grants and by the
community and the program for forging articulations and
partnerships,” Scheuring said.
The accreditation process included a comprehensive application,
a site visit from NLNAC representatives, a panel review and a
self-study report.
Arapahoe Community College became the 11th institution in
Colorado to hold accreditation, according to the NLNAC’s
website.
The nursing program already serves as one of the best in the
region, Scheuring said. Graduates have earned a 100 percent pass
rate on national licensing exams for the past four semesters, and
local hospitals have come to expect quality from nurses with a
degree from Arapahoe Community College.
“The hospitals know that they can trust our graduates,”
Scheuring said. “The reputation has been here and it keeps on
going.”
Nursing program administrators expect the accreditation to bring
a swell in recruitment. The college currently accepts about 80
students a year and graduates 50 to 60, Scheuring said.
The Arapahoe Community College nursing program already was
approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing and the Colorado
Community College System. Graduates typically work in the areas of
obstetric and pediatric, medical and surgical or psychiatric
nursing.
The initial accreditation will last through 2015. After that,
the program will seek re-accreditation for an eight-year term.