The Accreditation Process of Nursing - Term Paper Example

REG Regulatory Influence on Curriculum I. Introduction Curriculum "is the prescribed set of studies or programs in a for a particular course or study (Chambers Paperback Dictionary, page 131)." A good curriculum or program should have the following characteristics (Esperanza- pages 4-5): 1) Comprehensive - for the program to he comprehensive it must be made available during the school year and should include all phases of the study that is to be incorporated in different learning activities. 2) Continuous - the schools current program must be based on previously developed and approved concepts, and should progressively include new concepts. 3) Functional - school instructions and activities must be related to home and community. 4) Planned, organized and administered according to the characteristic of the learner. 5) Flexible the phases of instruction must be updated whenever circumstances make education desirable. 6) A community program - the basis of the curriculum must be based on a wide range of resources in the community. 7) Individualized - it is significant that the curriculum must be based on the individual needs of the learners. 8) Interrelated - the relationship of the program to other courses must be examined to avoid gaps and overlapping that hinders or stagnate the learning process. REG 2 9) Utilizes guidelines - curriculum development should be made in line with the national programs and trust of the government. Based on the foregoing, an effective program must enable the students to meet the needs of a society that is continuously changing. Hence, the objectives, content and evaluation of the curriculum should conform to the standards and criteria set forth by the U.S. Department of Education and its recognized regulatory/licensing agencies. II. The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) is the National accrediting entity for all types of nursing education programs, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (NLNAC). It oversees the interests of nursing education, nursing practice and the public, by way of accreditation. Accreditation is a process wherein non-governmental associations recognize institutions or programs that are found to meet or exceed the standards and criteria for education quality. Improvement assistance is also carried out to ensure that proper procedures are followed and results are accomplished, "the accreditation process likewise involves constant monitoring of certificates, diplomas and degrees offered in universities and schools that is interrelated to state examinations and licensing rules (NLNAC). The objectives of the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission are: 1)Promote common standards and criteria for the nursing field; 2)maintain educational quality by assisting associated programs and schools by way of evaluation processes, functions, publications and research; 3) supports self-regulation in nursing organization; 4) promotes peer review; 5) encourages educational equity, access, opportunity, mobility and preparation for employment based on nursing education; and 6) is in charge of Title 1V-HEA programs REG 3 which the National League tor Nursing Accrediting Commission is the accrediting agency. In order to be accredited with the NLNAC the schools curriculum or program for nursing must establish professional standards, guidelines and competencies that must be reviewed constantly for thoroughness and updates. Aside from this, the program must also incorporate the proper guide for instruction delivery with regards to learning activities and the evaluation of the students progress. Cultural, ethnic and social concepts innate within the program must be diverse and should be related to regional, national and global standpoint. Bearing such criterion, the curriculum should likewise reflect learning achievements and program results. The NLNAC accreditation program gives institution integrity. To be accredited means having been able to comply satisfactorily with ail the requirements pertaining to the standard and criteria that is required for nursing education. Therefore, to be able to enter said accreditation program, the curriculum that was developed must conform to the current values set by the NLNAC. Strict policies and procedures with regards to the development, revision and evaluation of the program must be adhered to, in order to achieve optimum and desirable results. At present, accreditation is organized by region, profession and type of institution, where health, welfare, safety and professional competence arc matters that require quality improvement and consideration. The benefits of being accredited is that aside from being publicly recognized for having and providing quality nursing education, it provides better employment opportunities to graduates of affiliated schools and competent employees for employers who are in need of qualified professional nurses. REG 4 III. The National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN) The National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN) is a non-profit organization, which is made up of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the four (4) U.S. territories, namely: America Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands and the Virgin Islands. The duties of NCBSN are: 1) to develop licensure examinations, 2) perform policy analysis and promote uniformity in the regulation of nursing practice, 3) giving information on data related to licensure of nurses, 4) conducts pertinent research to NCSBNs purpose and 5) serves as the information exchange center for members (NCSBN). Licensure is the process by which an agency of state government grants permission to an individual to engage in a given profession, when the applicant is determined to have adequately passed all the needed requirements and examinations related to practice his or her profession safely (NCSBN). Certification on the other hand is another type of credential that gives title protection and recognition of accomplishment - but this does not include a legal scope of practice (NCSBN). The nursing profession is regulated because it is a kind of profession that deals with the health of the public and may pose as a risk if practiced by someone who is incompetent or unqualified. Consequently, the NCSBN is appointed to create examinations that would determine the competence of a nursing applicant who wishes to apply for license in order to practice health care services. Keeping in line with the principles of nursing regulation, NCSBN has the following guiding principles in the performance of its duty as a professional licensing entity for health care providers (NCSBN): 1)Protection of the public - regulation of nursing is needed to make sure that the public receives quality and safe nursing services; 2)Competence - the various REG 5 levels of nursing are assessed on their entry level and are monitored their whole life with regards to their proficiency and aptitude of nursing skills; 3) Due Process and Ethical Decision Making - regulation procedures are fair and consistent with due process. Nurses are held accountable for any decision-making in relation to their profession; 4) Shared Accountability- nursing regulation requires a distinction between individual errors versus system errors; 5)Strategic Collaboration – nursing regulation entails that other individuals and agencies cooperate to ensure public protection, patient safety and education of nurses: 6) Evidenced Based Regulation - NCSBN uses or employ means to identify valid proof (credentials of applicants) and ways to protect the public from incompetent health care providers; 7) Response to the Market Place and Health Care Environment - nursing regulation responds to the needs of the community with regards to need of nursing care; 8) Globalization of Nursing – nursing regulation addresses the challenges of globalization. NCSBN recommends that ethical recruitment policies be employed when addressing the shortages of nurses. Ethical recruitment pertains to "a hiring process that is free of intimidation, misleading information and exploitation (NCSBN)." The recruitment process involves hiring of qualified nurses who are not educated in the United States but should have the following qualifications in order to be able to practice their nursing profession in America: 1. Comparable nursing education - the curriculum from the applicants country must be in conformity to the curriculum or program required in the U.S. to achieve a degree in nursing profession. 2. English language proficiency the applicant must be able to communicate fairly in English to be able to practice nursing services safely. REG 6 3. Applicants must not have any disciplinary or criminal actions that are connected to the practice or licensing of the nursing profession. 4. Successful completion of the NCLEX RN or NCLEX PN licensing examination. 5. Possess no fraudulent or other illegally obtained documents or credentials in relation to required nursing credentials. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing "supports the nursing programs of other countries and that the recruitment and migration of all nurses to be held in the highest ethical and legal standards (NCSBN)." NCSBNs duty as a licensing and regulatory entity has a great impact on curriculum development and revision. Once a license has been issued, compliance to state laws and professional ethics will be continuously monitored. Primarily, since regulatory policies allow the hiring of nurses abroad to fill in shortages of qualified nursing practitioners in the U.S., the program of study of the applicants must be at par with the educational standards that is required. Nurses hired overseas must be able to pass the NCLEX RN examination to be able to qualify for employment within the United States. The consequence of not being able to pass the licensing requirements set-up by the NCSBN will hinder nursing graduates to acquire license to be able to practice their profession. Currently, the passing standard for NCLEX-RN was increased. This is in response to the changes of the health care delivery and nursing practice in the U.S. that requires a higher level of knowledge, skill and ability (The NCLEX-RN Examination..., page 1). As such schools that provide nursing education must modify their curriculum to conform with such required standards in order to maintain quality instruction and education at all levels. REG 7 IV. Conclusion The NLNAC and NCSBN as certified regulatory nursing entities provide the much needed fairness in decision making and quality control with regards to nursing curriculum and education. The checks and balances provided by these organizations enhances the credibility of the nursing profession in terms of quality in skills, talents and training. As a result, their continuous effort to provide satisfactory nursing service for the public welfare earns respect from the community. REG 8 References Chambers Paperback Dictionary. (1999). Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd: Hopetoun Crescent: Edinburgh EH7 4AY, p. 131. Esperanza, Gloria R. (2004) Module on Curriculum Development. Second Semester, 2003 - 2004, pp 4-5. NCSBN. (n.d.) Retrieved April 12, 2008 from https://www.ncsbn.org NLNAC - National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (n.d.) Retrieved on April 11, 2008 from http://www.nlnac.org The NCLEX -RN Examination Passing Standard Revised for Public Safety. 2006) Retrieved on April 12, 2008 from https://www.mcsbn.org/1090htm, p.1. Read More