1. Differences: ACEN & CNEA
April 2015
Sue Field DNP, RN, CNE

2. Standards & Criteria CNEA ACEN 6 Standards 5 Standards 50 Criteria

3. Title IV Gatekeeper ACEN: Title IV gatekeeper
FA Default Levels
Compliance for Financial Aid
Program Length
CNEA: Not a Title IV gatekeeper
1/4 less criteria
Title IV covered by Higher Learning Commission

4. Compliance for Accreditation
ACEN
100% compliance
in all standards
and criteria
CNEA
“all standards and quality indicators will be used when making recommendations and accreditation decisions, that lack of compliance with one quality indicator would not necessarily result in any adverse decisions. It may result in a
citation for that particular QI which is different from an adverse decision”
Judith Halsted April 2015.

5. Program Length ACEN Length… is consistent with the CNEA
policies of the governing organization,
state and national standards,
and best practices.
CNEA
Rationale is provided to support faculty decisions related to
credit hour requirements,
curriculum sequencing and
progression design.

6. ACEN: Denial due to length
No National Standards published before Summer of 2014 ACEN Report to Constituents was released with 2013 data
PN Programs National Average
30 to 90 with a mean of 45 credit hours
AD Programs National Average
54 to 87 with a mean of 70 credit hours
Dr. Tanner’s (CEO) verbalized to MN prior to 2014
Integrate NA into the nursing program
PN programs 35 to 40 credits max (12 months)
AD programs 60 to 70 credits (5 semesters max)

7. Systematic Evaluation Plan
ACEN
SEP: 3 Years data for:
Program Outcomes
All 6 standards
CNEA
SEP: 3 yrs of data for
Program Outcomes
You decide how often on the other criteria
Multiple accredited programs
complete follow up reports in 2 years
to maintain accreditation.
A typical response from ACEN includes:
Lack of evidence that the Systematic Evaluation Plan (SEP) emphasizes ongoing assessment and evaluation of student learning outcomes, program outcomes, and NLNAC Standards;
Lack of specific and measurable levels of achievement;
Lack of evidence that evaluation findings are used to inform program decision making

8. NCLEX Pass Rates ACEN Standard 6.4.1 NCLEX CNEA Quality Indicator V-D
The program’s 3 year mean for the licensure pass rate will be at or above the national mean for the same 3 year period.
CNEA
Quality Indicator V-D
Licensure pass rate of 80 percent, averaged over the most recent three-year period,
Programs not meeting have developed a plan to address

9. Program Satisfaction Surveys
ACEN
Program Satisfaction
6 to 12 Month Graduate
50% return rate
Employer
Unknown how many
are needed
CNEA
Program Satisfaction
Exit Survey
Graduate
Employer
No numbers given on how many required to be returned
OK with employer focus groups ]

10. SLOs and Role Competencies
ACEN
Requires 3 years of tracked data for measureable ELA
Example: 90% of students will pass the SLOs and competencies during a final simulation.
CNEA
No specific measurable level of achievement required
Student learning outcomes clearly throughout the curriculum.
ACEN:
Required to have 3 years of tracked data on measureable level of achievement for accreditation compliance.
This is one that programs are not passing for ACEN since they have not thought in the past to actually measure all the SLOs in an assignment or in a specific means
They also need 3 years of data for this which is difficult to get if not systematically collecting each year.
CNEA:
No specific measurable level of achievement required, Student learning outcomes clearly throughout the curriculum.

11. Aggregated Data ACEN CNEA:
Data must be aggregated (Location/PT/FT/completion date)
Includes NCLEX, Program Completion, Graduate Surveys, other data
CNEA:
No requirement for aggregation of data unless it makes sense to aggregate

12. Faculty Credentialing
ACEN
PN Master Nursing
FT: 50%
PT: BSN 100%
AD Master Nursing
FT: 100%
PT: 50%
CNEA
FT & PT Masters
100% Masters Degree
Can be in related field
Can be in progress
Can have rationale for not having 100%
One program in state not given accreditation as one person had not completed the graduate degree
Must be in 100% of compliance

13. Those choosing CNEA 1. Core Values
2. NLN framework – Integrating Concepts
3. Faculty Credentialing

14. The Core Values NLN Core Values
Caring, Diversity, Integrity and Excellence
NLN Workgroup Added
Ethics, Patient Centeredness, and Holism

15. The Core Values Present in your Philosophy Statement
Flow through your Curriculum
Flow to your Student Learner Outcomes

16. Core Values Template #1 http://fieldsue.com

17. Integrating Concepts 6 Integrating Concepts Context and Environment
Knowledge and Science
Personal/Professional Development
Quality and Safety
Relationship Centered Care
Teamwork

19. Apprenticeships NLN QSEN Knowledge Practice ‘Know How’ Skills
Ethical Comportment
Attitudes
Benner et al., 2009
Cronenwett et al., 2007

20. Integrating Concepts Three Apprenticeships
Context and Environment
4. Quality and Safety
Knowledge
Practice Know How
Ethical Comportment
2. Knowledge and Science
5. Relationship Centered Care
Personal/Professional
6. Teamwork
Development

21. Integrating Concepts: Gap Analysis
Integrating Concepts Template

22. QUESTIONS???? Accreditation resources Healthforceminnesota.org
AD/PN Accreditation
Password: Nursing