Module Components

• Overview
• Assignments

Topics

• United States Department of Education
• Institutional Accreditation
• Licensure and Governance
• Accreditation of Nursing Programs

NRSG 794 - Introduction to the Nursing Faculty Role

Module 5: Approvals and Accreditation

Licensure and Governance

National Council of State Boards of Nursing

Individual U.S. states have control of nursing regulation. These state boards are coordinated by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, (NCSBN).  As you see the mission of this organization is to “… empower and support nursing regulators in their mandate to protect the public.” (Mission Statement Adopted by Delegate Assembly 2019)

Nation-wide coordination of testing graduates of nursing programs for competent practice is managed by the NCSBN. As you read about the NCLEX exams, you can appreciate the complexities of test development, construction, administration, and scoring. At intervals, analyses of nursing practice studies are conducted to assure that the content of these exams accurately assess essential nursing knowledge to assure safe nursing practice. You can even review pass rates for various groups of test-takers.

Data - Statistics and Research

The NCSBN collects data for numerous reports as well as conducts research related to nursing practice. For example, every two years, they produce a National Nursing Workforce Survey which yields information for resource planning.
The NCSBN research is wide ranging For example, you may be familiar with their recent report on Current Regulations and Practices related to simulation that allow clinical simulation to be used for up to 50% of nursing clinical experience to be in simulation.

The official journal of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing is the Journal of Nursing Regulation. It offers an interesting range of articles. NCSBN also has a video library of hot topics, and example here is about the new “Next-Gen NCLEX” (NGN) exam.

 

Nurse Licensure Compact

Actual licensure of registered nurses is the purview of state boards. Governance of nursing practice is a state function, though the NCSBN serves as a resource for states and has a coordinating function.

One of these coordinating functions relates to Nurse Licensure Compact. A list of Nursing Education Programs NOT approved is also found on the Maryland Board of Nursing webpage. Originally, a nurse needed to be licensed in every state where they work. Nurses are known as a mobile workforce so this multi-licensure can be inconvenient and expensive. With the compact agreements, nurses can practice in their licensing state as well as others who have signed on to the compact. This is an important function of the NCSBN as it can greatly expand career options by increasing the ease of mobility for nurses.

Nurse Practice Acts

Nurse Practice Acts are important to the individual nurse as well as the public. They are also important in setting standards for nursing education programs. Nurse Practice acts for any state can be found in a NCSBN Directory.

Nurse Practice Act for Maryland
Maryland’s Nurse Practice Act can be ordered as hard copy and parts of it can be found online. It is an important resource for nurses, particularly when working with students in clinical environments.

Approval of Nursing Education Programs
The Maryland Board of Nursing also approves nursing education programs within the state. This approval is typically done during accreditation of nursing education programs. A listing of approved nursing education programs in Maryland is also available.