NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) Announces Inaugural Commissioners

Taking an important step forward in the continuing development of the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), the League’s Board of Governors has approved the first NLN CNEA Board of Commissioners. Working with executive director Judith A. Halstead, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, the 15-member board will provide leadership and direction to accreditation services and will be responsible for overseeing all accreditation decisions for nursing programs that seek accreditation from the CNEA.

“The NLN is proud to offer an avenue, through the NLN CNEA, to accredit nursing programs across the academic spectrum in a spirit reflective of the NLN’s core values: caring, integrity, diversity, and excellence,” said NLN CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN. “With representation from nursing education, nursing practice, and the public, the commission is responsive to the key stakeholders in accreditation: nursing programs, faculty, and students.” A list of the board of commissioners is available here. Serving as officers are: Dr. Joan Darden, chair; Brother Ignatius Perkins, vice-chair; Dr. Betty Horton, secretary; and Dr. Cathleen Shultz, treasurer.

"Our accreditation services are all about assuring the highest quality in nursing education and meeting the needs of our students,” asserted Dr. Halstead. “I am enthusiastic about working with these esteemed leaders to move the NLN CNEA ahead in providing the very best service we can to the global nursing education community."

The NLN CNEA will be designated a US Department of Education Category 2, non-Title IV purpose accrediting body. It operates to promote excellence and integrity in nursing education globally through a process that respects the diversity of program mission, curricula, students, and faculty; to emphasize a culture of continuous quality improvement; and to influence the preparation of a caring and competent nursing workforce. Included within its purview are programs that offer LPN/LVN, diploma, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and clinical doctorate degrees.

In accordance with its collaborative approach, the NLN CNEA issued a call for public review and comment on five categories of accreditation standards it intends to apply to nursing programs across the board. They are:

NLN CNEA standards will be finalized and published this spring. More information about the standards, with accompanying quality indicators and interpretative guidelines for each indicator, may be found on the NLN website here.

For more information, please contact Dr. Judith Halstead: 202-909-2487; jhalstead@nln.org.