Community-based nursing education and nursing accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

The purpose of this article is to describe the application of accreditation standards of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in community-based nursing education. In response to changes in the health care delivery system, involving increased implementation of managed care systems, greater use of outpatient services, and increased care provided in community-based settings, baccalaureate nursing education is changing to incorporate student learning experiences in community-based settings. Community-based nursing care is characterized by the development of community-education partnerships, implementation of nursing interventions for prevention and health promotion, and collaboration to ensure continuity of care. Changes in the delivery system to increase community-based care necessitate changes in professional nursing education to ensure that graduates of baccalaureate nursing programs are prepared to practice in community-based settings. Accreditation is a mechanism to evaluate quality in educational programs. Accreditation by CCNE offers a process for assessing the quality of nursing programs while encouraging flexibility and innovation in those programs. The CCNE accreditation standards can be interpreted in the context of community-based education. Descriptions of the CCNE standards and examples of application of the standards in community-based nursing education are included.