NLN Board of Governors Approves Expansion of Recognition Programs

New Centers of Excellence Category Recognizes Non-Academic Partners in Nursing Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY — October 25, 2011 — The NLN Academy of Nursing Education and Centers of Excellence (COE), two key programs created by the National League for Nursing to recognize institutions and individuals that have contributed in significant and sustainable ways to nursing education, are being expanded, the NLN Board of Governors announced.

In a move that reflects the NLNs mission and core values — caring, integrity, diversity, and excellence — the NLN board has approved the addition of honorary fellows to its Academy of Nursing Education and created a new COE recognition category, Creating Workplace Environments that Promote Academic Progression of Nurses, targeted to health care organizations that effectively collaborate and partner with academic institutions. The Centers of Excellence were first established in 2004; the Academy of Nursing Education, with its prestigious ANEF credential, launched in 2007.

"Both these changes are designed to broaden the NLNs understanding of what constitutes excellence, by recognizing the efforts of different categories of individuals and organizations in the US and abroad to advance standards of nursing education to best prepare a diverse, culturally competent nursing workforce to deliver safe, effective patient care," said NLN CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN.

In the case of the Academy of Nursing Education, honorary fellowship may be awarded to retired nurse educators or those in affiliated professions or public service whose contributions to the field of nursing education deserve recognition. Honorary fellows may only be nominated by current fellows, and once chosen, will be entitled to use the standard ANEF credential and receive full fellowship benefits, including listing in the directory of fellows.

"Honorary fellows will bring an added dimension to the diversity of the academy as the NLN seeks to spotlight individuals from outside the profession and other nursing leaders from around the country and around the world who may not be eligible for full fellowship," noted Judith A. Halstead, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, the president of the NLN.

The NLN Centers of Excellence currently recognize schools of nursing that have achieved a level of excellence in one of three areas: Creating Environments that Enhance Student Learning and Professional Development; Creating Environments that Promote the Pedagogical Expertise of Faculty; or Creating Environments that Advance the Science of Nursing Education.

To be eligible for consideration in the new COE category, a health care organization must meet a set of criteria that demonstrates development and/or implementation of programs and staff support to facilitate academic progression of a diverse nursing workforce to meet the needs of an increasingly complex health care environment.

The first honorary fellows and COEs in the category of Creating Workplace Environments that Advance Academic Progression of Nurses will be announced during the NLNs next Annual Education Summit in Anaheim, California, September 19-22, 2012.

For more information about NLN Recognition Programs, please contact Tish Hess at 212-812-0374 or thess@nln.org.

Reporters/Editors: For interview opportunities, please contact Karen R. Klestzick, chief communications officer, at 212-812-0376 or kklestzick@nln.org.

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 faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 34,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members who represent nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education.