Nursing accreditation: what's a librarian got to do with it?

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Accreditation Standards
• Library Science

Background:

• Accreditation is crucial for ensuring quality in nursing education programs.
• Nursing education accreditation visits share similarities with healthcare accreditation processes, such as those by JCAHO.
• Hampton University School of Nursing sought accreditation from two national bodies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the role of the nursing library in the accreditation process.
• To outline the steps taken by the library to support nursing accreditation.
• To report the outcomes of the accreditation visits.

Main Methods:

• The article is a descriptive account from a librarian's perspective.
• It details the library's contributions to meeting accreditation requirements.
• The process involved collaboration between the library and the nursing school.

Main Results:

• The Hampton University School of Nursing achieved full accreditation.
• The library's resources and services were instrumental in the successful outcome.
• The accreditation visits confirmed the quality of the nursing program.

Conclusions:

• A well-resourced and supportive nursing library is vital for successful accreditation.
• The library plays a key role in demonstrating program quality and compliance.
• Effective collaboration enhances the accreditation journey for nursing schools.